The Business and Technology Ph.D. program is a full-time residential program. The program will focus on theory development and testing in areas relating to the management of three critical resources of any organization—namely, management of a firm’s customers, management of a firm’s supply chain and management of a firm’s information infrastructure. Because management of these resources requires organizations to depend on all functional areas within the firm as well as partners outside the firm, adopting an inter-functional, inter-disciplinary approach is essential. Accordingly, the program and course content have been designed so that students can understand and appreciate the inter-functional, inter-disciplinary nature of business problems and situations that arise in these three areas.

The curriculum is comprised of 74 credits of coursework, including a minimum of 18 credits of graduate coursework that must be completed before admission to the Ph.D. program (see: Who Should Apply, Academic Prerequisites). It is expected that students will require a minimum four years to complete the program.

As is true of Ph.D. programs in any field, the primary focus of our program will be on research. The program has been designed to help students develop excellent research skills and the ability to conduct high quality scholarly research.

Moreover, because most of our doctoral students will pursue careers in academia, the program also emphasizes the development of pedagogical skills and a student’s passion for teaching and ability to teach.

The program will require full-time participation of students. Learning outside the classroom under the guidance of faculty mentors will be a key component of doctoral education. Students can expect to invest 50 or more hours per week in classroom-related and outside the classroom learning activities. It will not be suitable for individuals seeking a part-time learning experience or for individuals seeking graduate distance education.

Spotlight

This new program development occurs at a critical time in business education. According to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which accredits business programs, a shortage of 1,800 qualified business faculty will exist in 2008—and the shortage is projected to reach 2,500 by 2012. By some estimates, more than 1,000 PhD vacancies remain open today. Yet less than one-third of accredited business schools have doctoral programs.

Mike Crum, Ph.D.
(515) 294-8105
mcrum@iastate.edu
2200 Gerdin Business Building
Ames, IA 50011