Graduate Bulletin

Business Administration/Management Information Systems, Ph.D.

FOX SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: January 15

Applications for the Ph.D. program are processed together after the deadline.

A supplemental application is required. To obtain the supplemental application, please contact the program at www.mis.temple.edu.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 2

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should come from college/university faculty members familiar with academic competence

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

TBA

Master's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

Yes. Management Information Systems, Computer Science, or completion of specific pre-requisite courses.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

No.

Statement of Goals:

The Statement of Goals should be approximately 500-1,000 words and should include the following elements: your specific interest in Temple's program; your reasons and motivation for applying for a Ph.D. program in Business Administration; your future career goals; and your academic and research achievements.

Standardized Test Scores:

The GMAT is required. 600

Minimum TOEFL score or range of scores needed to be accepted: 600 on the paper version and 250 on the computerized version.

Resume:

A resume is required.

Program Requirements

Campus Location:

Main Campus

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered before 4:30 p.m.

General Program Requirements:

Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Master's: 36

Required Courses:

BA 601: Org. & Mgt. Theories

BA 602: Scientific Inquiry

ECO 603: Managerial Economics

MIS 784: Qualitative and Interpretive Methods in Information Systems

MIS 785: Information Systems Foundations and Theory

MIS 786: Contemporary Topics and Research Approaches in Information Systems

MIS 787: Advanced Reasearch Methods/Topics in Information Systems

STA 503: Stat. Methods I

STA 504: Stat Methods II

3 Electives Course work includes 0-4 prerequisites based upon experience, 5 core business and methods courses, 4 MIS concentration courses and 3 electives

Internship: No internship is required.

Language Examination: No language examination is required.

Additional Requirements:

Summer Research Paper

Statistics Competency Examination:

An assessment of proficiency in statistical theory and methodology will be made at the end of the first year in the program. The examination is offered in June. Students who fail the statistics competency examination on the first attempt must sit for reexamination prior to the fall semester of their second year. A second failure will result in dismissal from the university. No third attempt is allowed.

Culminating Events:

Preliminary Examination:

The purpose of the preliminary examination is to demonstrate critical and interpretive knowledge of current research.

Subject Areas/Major Components of the Preliminary Examination The subject areas will be determined, in advance, by the faculty of the department.

At what point in the program is the student expected to take the preliminary examination The preliminary examination should be completed no more than one semester after the student completes the coursework component of the program.

Writing the Questions for the Preliminary Examination The members of the student's department write the questions for the preliminary examination.

Evaluating the Preliminary Examination The Department Committee will evaluate the examination. Each member votes to pass or fail the student. In order to pass, a majority of the committee members must agree that the exam has been satisfactorily completed.

Criterion for Passing the Preliminary Examination. The student must answer every question on the examination in order to be evaluated. The evaluators look for (a) a breadth and depth of understanding of specific research areas, (b) a critical application of that knowledge to specific phenomena; and (c) an ability to write technical prose.

Administering, Scheduling, and Proctoring the Preliminary Examination Students who are preparing to write their preliminary examinations should confirm a time and date with their departmental advisor.

Dissertation:

Dissertation Advising Committee Information The Dissertation Advising Committee is formed to oversee the student's doctoral research and is comprised of at least three Graduate Faculty members. Two members, including the Chair, must be from the student's department. The Chair is responsible for overseeing and guiding the student's progress, coordinating the responses of the Committee members, and informing the student of his or her academic progress.

Dissertation Examining Committee Information The Dissertation Examining Committee evaluates the student's dissertation and oral defense. This committee is comprised of the Doctoral Advising Committee and at least one additional Faculty member from outside the department.

Advisor/Committee Information If any member of the committee decides to withdraw from the committee, the student shall notify the chair of the dissertation committee and the Director of the PHDBA program. The student is responsible to find a replacement, in consultation with his or her chair. Inability to find a replacement shall constitute evidence that the student is unable to complete the dissertation. In such a case the student may petition the Director of the PHDBA program for a review. Once review of the facts and circumstances is completed, the Director will rule on the student's progress. If the Director rules that the student is not capable of completing the dissertation, he or she will be dismissed from the program. This decision may be appealed to SBM's Senior Associate Dean. If the student is dismissed, he or she may appeal to the Graduate School.

Dissertation/Monograph Philosophy The Doctoral Dissertation is an original research study that makes a significant contribution to the field. It should expand the existing knowledge and demonstrate the student's knowledge of research methods and a mastery of his or her primary area of interest. Dissertations should be rigorously investigated, uphold the ethics and standard of the field, demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the primary area of interest and the broader field of business, and be prepared for publication in an academic journal.

Philosophy of the Proposal The dissertation proposal demonstrates the student's knowledge of and ability to conduct the proposed research. The proposal should consists of the following: (a) the context and background surrounding a particular research problem; (b) an exhaustive survey and review of literature related to the problem; and (c) a detailed methodological plan for investigating the problem. The proposal should be completed and approved no more than one year after completing coursework. Upon approval, a timeline for completing the investigation and writing process will be established.

Criterion for Passing the Dissertation and the Defense. The Committee will evaluate the student's ability to express verbally his or her research question, methodological approach, primary findings, and implications. The Committee will vote to pass or fail the dissertation and the defense at the conclusion of the public presentation.

Dissertation Defense Scheduling Students who are preparing to defend their dissertation should confirm a time and date with their Dissertation Advisory Committee and register with the Graduate Secretary at least 15 days before the defense. The Graduate Secretary will arrange the time, date, and room within two working days, and forward the appropriate forms to the student.

Announcing the Dissertation Defense After the Graduate Secretary has arranged the time, date, and room for the defense, the student must send a completed "Announcement of Dissertation Defense" form to the Graduate School (501 Carnell Hall) at least 10 days before the defense. The Department will post fliers announcing the defense.

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

www.mis.temple.edu

Department Information:

Fox School of Business and Management
Speakman Hall LL5
Philadelphia, PA 19122
mis@sbm.temple.edu
215-204-3059

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

Natale Butto
Director of Graduate Admissions
masters@sbm.temple.edu
215-204-8732

Program Coordinator:

Heinz Klein
hkklein@temple.edu
215-204-3059

Graduate Chairperson:

Dr. Munir Mandviwalla
mandviwl@temple.edu
215-204-8172

Chairperson:

Heinz Klein
hkklein@temple.edu
215-204-3059

About the Program

The Ph.D. program in Business Administration prepares the student for advanced research and scholarship. The primary emphasis of our program is to prepare future faculty members for successful academic careers, although many of our alumni are employed in government, industry, and consulting.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 7 years

Campus Location:

Main Campus

Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered before 4:30 p.m.

Department Information:

Fox School of Business and Management
Speakman Hall LL5
Philadelphia, PA 19122
mis@sbm.temple.edu
215-204-3059

Ranking:

Temple University has been rated 71st in the nation for faculty research in the area of business. This ranking was developed based on a study of more than 700 accredited M.B.A. programs nationwide. The rankings were published in the Academy of Management Journal. Additionally, the Fox School of Business and Management has been ranked 14th by Computerworld for our technology programs. The Fox School of Business and Management also holds a specialty ranking of 26th in the nation for its healthcare management programs.

Accreditation:

All Fox School of Business and Management graduate programs are accredited by AACSB - The International Association for Management Education.

Areas of Specialization:

The primary focus of the MIS faculty is on research in the following areas of E. Business and E-Commerce: -IS Strategy, Planning and Sourcing -E-Business and E-Commerce - Virtual Communities and Knowledge Management -Computer Support of Communication, Collaboration and Group Learing -Data Warehousing and Visualization -Innovation and Diffusion and Electronic Scholarship -Theoretical and methodological foundations of IS Research - IS development and use

Job Placement:

The program prepares individuals for academic and corporate research careers.

Affiliation(s):

Not applicable.

Interdisciplinary Study:

Not applicable.

Study Abroad:

No.

Licensure:

Not applicable.

Non-Degree Student Policy:

Non-matriculated students are not permitted to take doctoral courses.

Financing Opportunities

Assistantships are the centerpiece of the program's mentorship philosophy. They require 20 hours of service per week, which can include teaching and supervised research. An Assistantship provides a stipend and tuition remission.

Other Financial Opportunities