Ph.D. in Business Administration

Prerequisites

Ph.D. candidates must have some proficiency in selected areas of mathematics and quantitative analysis — especially calculus, linear algebra and basic statistics — as these tools are the general foundation for study in all business disciplines. To assure proficiency, the School of Business offers remedial courses addressing these areas.

Required courses

Every doctoral student at Stevens completes PRV 961 Ph.D. Signature Course as part of their studies. All students in the Ph.D. in Business Administration take the following five courses: 

• MA 701 Statistical Inferences

• FIN 703 Microeconomic Theory

• FIN 704 Econometrics

• MGT 719 Research Design

• BIA 652 Multivariate Data Analytics

In addition to the above courses, all students take two independent study courses and three electives from master's or doctoral programs at Stevens.

Concentrations

Each concentration has a specific set of courses that students must complete as part of their doctoral studies.Innovation & Entrepreneurship concentration

• MGT 711 Entrepreneurship Theory and Innovation Management Research

• MGT 753 Theory in Management Research

Finance concentration

• FIN 708 Corporate Finance Theory and Applications

• FIN 705 Asset Pricing Theory and Applications

Information Systems & Analytics concentration

• MGT 734 Design Science Research Seminar

• MIS 722 Business Process Management & Innovation

Dissertation

Following completion of the written exams and all coursework, students are required to write and defend a dissertation in a selected area of concentration. It is expected that doctoral dissertations will make significant contributions to the creation of knowledge and the development of theory and practice in a selected area. The dissertation, and related research, counts for 18 credits and rounds out the 54-credit doctoral degree. 

Admission to the Ph.D. program is decided by the Ph.D. program committee at the School of Business, and is based on a review of the candidate’s scholastic record, professional accomplishments, and the fit between the student's research objectives and those of the school’s faculty. This allows the program to create invaluable opportunities for students to learn from, and work alongside, faculty who share their passion for research in information systems, innovation and entrepreneurship, and analytics applications in business.

A list of Stevens admissions criteria can be found at Graduate Admissions. Some specialized requirements for admission to the doctoral program in Business Administration:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, preferably in a business discipline, computer science, information systems or finance. Candidates with backgrounds in science and engineering are encouraged to apply as well.

• For international students: Candidates must achieve a TOEFL score of at least 90 or an IELTS score of at least 6.5 in each component. 

• Valid GMAT or GRE scores. Admission to School of Business programs is very competitive; excellent scores are required for candidates to be accepted.

• A statement of purpose describing, in three pages, the applicant’s research interests and rationale, and general career objectives.

• Current résumé or curriculum vitae.

• Official transcripts for accredited schools of higher learning attended. Typically, a GPA of 3.0 (on a 4-point scale) or better at the bachelor’s level, and 3.5 or better at the master’s level, are required.

• Three letters of recommendation.

• Evidence of prior scholarly work. This work should be written solely by the applicant; published work under sole authorship will be highly valued.