Ph.D. in Business Administration

See the section on Objectives, Regulations and Degrees for general information regarding the declaration of intent, residency requirements, candidacy examinations, dissertation requirements, and final examinations.

Application: Applicants for the Ph.D. program in Business Administration must submit an application for admission, official transcripts from each college or university attended, a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, the assistantship application, and a current resume. All documents must be submitted by January 15 for consideration for fall. Applicants for the Ph.D. program in Business Administration must submit a satisfactory GMAT score.

International Application: International applicants must also submit the summary of educational experience form, and a supplemental and financial information form (required for the I-20 visa). All international applicants, whose native language is not English, must submit either a minimum TOEFL score of 550 paper-based test or 213 computer-based test or a 6.5 IELTS, taken within the preceding two years. Doctoral applicants must also present a minimum score of 50 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE).

The application packet should be submitted to the following address:

Graduate School of Business
475 Business Building
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701

The Ph.D. in Business Administration is designed primarily to prepare individuals for teaching, research, service, and collegial roles in academic and research institutions. The degree program provides: a) an exposure to the functional areas of business, b) intensive study of the relevant body of knowledge in a concentration, and c) skills and tools to conduct research in that area.

Through an agreement with the Academic Common Market, residents of certain Southern states may qualify for graduate enrollment in this Ph.D. degree program (with emphasis in accounting) as in-state students for fee purposes. See page 217 for details.

Prerequisites to Degree Program

1. Admission to the Graduate School

2. Satisfactory GMAT scores.

3. Satisfactory previous academic record.

4. Admission to a concentration

5. An MBA or other appropriate master’s degree is generally required for admission. Individuals admitted to the program may be required to take additional courses in accounting, business law, computer information systems, statistics, finance, economics, management, or marketing. The additional courses will be determined by the adviser in the student’s concentration with the approval of the Walton College of Business Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree: The program consists of the following:

1. Concentration
Emphasis areas may be taken in the following fields:

       Accounting

       Information Systems

       Finance

       Management

       Marketing and Transportation

2. Course work and seminars
The requirements for the Ph.D. in business administration will consist of a program of research, appropriate course work, seminars, and independent study as specified by the student’s concentration.

3. Comprehensive Examination
Satisfactory completion of a comprehensive examination in the concentration is required.

4. Dissertation

A dissertation will be written and successfully defended in the concentration.