Program Structure

The main components for the successful completion of the program are:

• Required Courses
• Research Project
• Comprehensive Examination
• Dissertation

A typical program of studies takes four to five years. The bulk of the course requirements, as well as the research project, are completed during the first two years. The comprehensive examination is taken in the summer of the second year. The last two to three years of the program are focused on the thesis research. 

Prior to Entering Program

• Students complete pre-qualifying requirements.

First Year

• Students complete qualifying courses and required courses in their minor fields.
• Students demonstrate outstanding performance in their required courses. 
• Students begin writing their pre-comp research paper, a final version of which will be submitted and presented prior to the comprehensive exam.

Second Year

• Students complete required course work in marketing and minor fields.
• Students present their pre-comp research paper in a marketing area workshop. 
• Students successfully complete their pre-comp research paper and submit it for evaluation
• Students successfully complete their comprehensive exam in marketing.

Third Year

• Students take specialized courses, as needed, such as electives in marketing and their minor fields.
• Students constitute a thesis committee consisting of a supervisor and two other members of the graduate faculty to oversee their dissertation.
• Students get their thesis topic approved by their committee and the Ph.D. coordinator.
• Students begin their dissertation work, aiming to complete a thesis proposal and present it in a workshop for the faculty and their supervisory committee by the end of the academic year.

Fourth Year and Onwards

• Students present their job market paper in the Marketing Area workshop. 
• Students take specialized courses, as needed.
• Students complete their dissertation.

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