PHD, Business Administration: Management Information Systems

Degree Program Summary:

Thank you for your interest in the Ph.D. of the Terry College of Business. The Ph.D. program emphasizes the development of research and teaching skills. In order to fully develop these skills in our students, we intentionally keep these programs rather small in terms of the number of students admitted. This size allows for the close, long-term interaction between faculty and students that we think is critical for the students’ professional development. Because this student-faculty interaction is essential, these programs are designed and carried out within individual departments of the Terry College. This means that coursework, research projects, and teaching assignments are under the direction of the faculty within a particular department. The program is individually planned with each student by his/her major professor and advisory committee. The student and the committee evaluate previous work and designate sufficient coursework to provide the necessary proficiency to do research and teach in a chosen field of specialization. The Ph.D. Degree in the Terry College of Business trains individuals for teaching and research in universities, colleges, government and business.

The primary goal of the Ph.D. program in management information systems at the University of Georgia is to develop competent scholars and teachers—individuals who will excel in research and teaching positions at other major universities. With this goal in mind, we have developed a Ph.D. Program that will provide you with significant individual flexibility, while at the same time ensuring that you acquire the necessary conceptual and methodological skills to begin work toward a leadership position in your field.

The program typically takes a four year, full-time commitment. Students spend their first two years completing course work in MIS, research methods, and a supporting field, usually related to the student’s dissertation research topic. The doctoral dissertation is completed in the final two years. Students are expected to remain at the University of Georgia until their dissertation is successfully defended.

MIST Ph.Ds require:

• An in-depth knowledge of systems theory and practice, MIST and related theory, MIST techniques, and MIST technology;
• Research skills appropriate to study problems arising within the MIST domain;
• A sufficiently detailed knowledge and understanding of an MIS sub field to conduct leading edge research in that sub field;
• Ph.D. students gain their skills through formal courses, research apprenticeships, faculty and industry interaction, presentations at seminars, and writing research papers. Ph.D. students are expected to present two conference papers and submit one journal paper during their four years in the program.

You can find more details about the doctoral program structure here.

Doctoral students are required to take a minimum of 5 major field courses.

Students must also take three courses in research methods and three courses in a supporting field. In the past, supporting fields have included strategic management, artificial intelligence, and production and operations management.

Previous graduate coursework may satisfy some of the requirements.

The Terry College of Business requires two forms of prerequisite course work for students seeking a Ph.D. You may satisfy these requirements through previous undergraduate or graduate course work, or by taking the specified courses during your first quarters in residence.