Doctoral Program Subcommittee on Business
Degree Programs:
Full-Time: M.Phil., Ph.D.
Chair:
John
B.
Donaldson, Ph.D.
818 Uris Hall
Tel:
212.854.4436
The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is offered by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and is administered by the Graduate School of Business. The Ph.D. Program in Business is full-time only; there is no part-time course of study. The average time to completion of the degree program is five years. Students may specialize their study to any of five areas: Accounting, Decision, Risk and Operations, Finance and Economics, Management, Marketing. Each of these areas is the research focus of a specific Division of the School. Requirements for completing the Ph.D. typically differ across these divisions.
Throughout the program, students become familiar with research methods and the relevant literature in their major filed of study through course work, research projects and directed reading. The later years of the program are dedicated to research and to writing the dissertation.
Doctoral candidates begin by mastering basic research tools through the study of subjects such as economics, behavioral science and mathematic methods, and then go on to more specialized course work in their chosen field. The completion of course work and qualifying examinations normally requires two full years. It is followed by comprehensive examination(s).
The research phase begins as early as the first year, when students serve as research assistants and continues throughout their time at the School. Students gradually become more involved in the design and execution of research and, by the end of the third year, have typically produced at least one paper suitable for publication, often coauthored with a faculty member.
Degree Requirements
The requirements listed below are special to this Ph.D.
program and must be read in conjunction with the general requirements of the Graduate School. See http://www4.gsb.columbia.edu/phd
for details of requirements, procedures and regulations of the program.
For the M.Phil. Degree
The M.Phil. degree is prerequisite
to the Ph.D. degree and is awarded upon successful completion of all
requirements of the Ph.D. degree except the preparation and defense of the
dissertation. These requirements include successful completion of twenty approved courses and obtaining a passing grade in the major field examination, and in any tool examinations, if required. It normally takes two to three years to earn the M.Phil.
Examinations
All Divisions require a comprehensive field examination. The timing of this exam varies across divisions: int he Decisions, Risk and Operations Divisions, it is given at the end of the first academic year of study; for the Finance and Economics Division; it is given in May, concluding the second year of study. Most Divisions conform to this latter schedule. The Finance and Economics Division also requires their students to pass tool examinations in microeconomic theory, macroeconomics, and econometrics, typically given at the end of the first year.
These exams are followed, normally in the 3rd year or 4th year- The oral proposal presentation.
For the Ph.D. Degree
Once the M.Phil. has been completed, a dissertation embodying original research, on a topic chosen by the student, constitutes the sole requirement for the Ph.D.. Students should expect to devote two years of full-time work to the dissertation. The dissertation is written under the guidance of a faculty sponsor and is defended before a University committee.
Time Limit
Candidates with a relevant master's degree in their chosen field of study may expect to complete the Ph.D. program in four years; all others require five years of study. A maximum of seven years of registration is allowed by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for completion of the PH.D. degree.
Advanced Standing
Credit for advanced standing is assessed by the doctoral committee.
Residence and Course Load
Students must pursue their studies full-time.
The academic year is made
up of three trimesters. To maintain good standing as a Ph.D. candidate, a
student must be registered for two successive trimesters each academic year. Once involved
in dissertation research, however, students are generally expected to be in
residence in all three terms. Normal course load during the autumn and spring terms is four to five
courses per term; summer-term course loads are generally lighter, with heavier
emphasis on research work.
Academic Review
The Doctoral Program Subcommittee on Business in consultation with the Divsions reviews every student's performance each year for stisfactory progress toward the degree. Students receive a written evaluation once a year. A student's degree candidacy may be terminated if his or her progress is deemed unsatisfactory.
Financial Aid
Admitted students in most cases receive merit-based fellowships covering tuition for up to 15 points of approved courses per term, fees, and a stipend for living expenses, provided that they remain in good academic standing. The duration of these fellowships is guaranteed for 11 semesters (4 years). Students may supplement their income by assuming teaching or research assistantships. Fifth year funding is available on a merit basis only.
Placement
Most Columbia Business Ph.D. graduates assume academic posts at leading colleges and univesities, at which, research is an integral part of a successful career. Others hold research-oriented positions in business or government.
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