Ph.D. Program Handbook

 

2006-2007

 

 

 

 

Kent State University

College of Business Administration

Graduate School of Management

 

 

 

 

 

Preface.............................................................................................................................................. ii           

 

Kent's Ph.D. Program: Philosophy and Goals....................................................................................... 1           

 

General Degree Requirements and Policies of the

            Ph.D. in Business Administration Program............................................................................... 5

 

Coursework Requirements.................................................................................................................. 8

 

Comprehensive Examinations............................................................................................................ 20

 

Dissertation Guidelines...................................................................................................................... 23

 

Dissertation Defense......................................................................................................................... 28

 

Final Oral Defense Timeline.............................................................................................................. 32

 

Graduation........................................................................................................................................ 34

 

The Faculty...................................................................................................................................... 36

 

 

Appendix A - University Information

 

            College Offices and Services

            College of Business Administration Phone Directory

            Student Services Information

            Academic Calendar

            Campus Map

 

Appendix B - Commonly Used Forms

 

Appendix C - Samples of Forms

 

            Program Sheet

            Waiver, Substitution, and Transfer Form

            Program Revision Request Form

            Independent Study Form

            Outside Minor Approval Form

            Application to Take Comprehensive Examinations

            Dissertation Committee Approval Form

                                                                             

 

 

 

 

The program handbook is designed to facilitate your orientation and adjustment as a Ph.D. in Business Administration student in the Graduate School of Management at Kent State University.  It contains information pertinent to all stages of the Ph.D. program and should serve as a reference manual supplementing normal advisory procedures.  These guidelines and regulations directly affect you.  It will be to your advantage to read through them carefully and retain this copy for future reference.

 

The Handbook is designed to serve as a guideline only.  The rules governing graduate students as outlined in the Graduate Catalog and University Policies take precedence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The mission of the Ph.D. program is to prepare students to conduct high quality, scholarly research and to teach effectively in the field of business.

 

The doctoral program in business administration at Kent is predicated on the philosophy that research creativity and scholarship is vital and integral to the process of:

 

            (a)        discovery and integration - contributing to and advancing a coherent understanding of the economic and organizational complexities involved in managing a business enterprise subject to a continually changing global environment;

 

            (b)        intellectual renewal and professional development - keeping abreast of an evolving and ever increasing body of knowledge;

 

            (c)        teaching - improving the societal pool of current and future managerial talent through quality education; and

 

            (d)        service - enhancing communal welfare through professional activities, and participation in local, state, and national affairs.

 

Specifically, the four key objectives of the program can be described as follows.  Through advanced coursework and apprenticeship with graduate faculty, each student will be expected to:

 

            Area of Specialization

 

                        acquire the knowledge necessary for establishing expertise in a functional area of business;

 

            Research Competence

 

                        develop the conceptual and methodological skills required for conducting original research in the chosen area of specialization;

 

            Teaching Commitment

 

                        prepare for the responsibility and challenge of undergraduate and graduate business education through classroom experience;

 

            Service Orientation

 

                        acquire expertise to promote effective resolution of prevailing business and social problems at the local, state, or national level.

 

 

In order to enhance the quality of the doctoral program, each area of concentration within the Graduate School of Management has adopted goals for mentoring Ph.D. students.  The following sections describe details of the program in each discipline.

 

 

 

The advising/mentoring program in Accounting prepares doctoral students to become accounting academics through developing their research and teaching skills.  The advising/mentoring program supplements the course and other requirements of accounting doctoral students as they make the transition from professionals to accounting academics.  It builds on their knowledge of accounting from a professional viewpoint as they enter the doctoral program.  The Ph.D. Coordinator serves as the advisor for courses until such time as the student either chooses another advisor or chooses a dissertation committee chair.

 

The advising/mentoring program begins in their first year when students are assigned as laboratory assistants in Accounting 23020 and Accounting 23021.  Students are placed under the tutelage of one of the instructors in these large lecture/laboratory sections.  This early development of their teaching skills is coordinated with research methods and background courses taken in the first year of the doctoral program.

 

The advising/mentoring program proceeds in subsequent years in three ways prior to the completion of the comprehensive examination.

 

¨       Student assignments in the second and third years proceed to some combination of laboratory assistant, research assistant, and instructor.  The goal of these assignments is to develop research skills and teaching skills.

 

¨       Students are encouraged to work with individual faculty in joint projects in addition to assignments as research assistants.  During this time, students are taking accounting concentration seminars and other doctoral courses.

 

¨       The advising/mentoring program for development of research skills is tested through the required pre-comprehensive examination Ph.D. paper, an individual empirical research paper prepared and orally presented to the faculty.

 

Upon completion of the comprehensive examination, all students will serve as the instructor of one course (under supervision), preferably at the ACCT 30000/40000 level if courses are available, to further refine their teaching skills.  Students are simultaneously working on a dissertation.

 

The mentorship program in Finance prepares doctoral students for their eventual transition to professional careers in academia and industry by fostering the acquisition and development of teaching and research expertise through individual apprenticeship with the faculty.

           

In teaching, doctoral students are initially assigned by the department Chair to assist faculty in classroom instruction.  They observe the teaching styles of faculty, participate in the discussion and creation of teaching materials, provide tutorial aid for undergraduate and graduate students, and otherwise immerse themselves in the teaching experience.  Upon successful completion of this initial assignment, doctoral students are given pedagogical responsibility for their own section of undergraduate courses under appropriate faculty direction and supervision.

 

In research, doctoral students are strongly encouraged to initiate and complete a research paper prior to taking their comprehensive exams in the major.  They learn how to conduct research by doing a guided independent study with faculty of their choice.  The results of the research are disseminated to faculty and doctoral students for comment and critique.

 

 

The purpose of the mentorship program for doctoral students in Management Systems is to help prepare students for careers through the development of research and teaching skills.

 

Upon entering the program, doctoral students are advised to seek out at least one faculty member whose research expertise matches the students’ interests.  Faculty members are eager to work with doctoral students, and in need of their assistance.  Thus, faculty will be looking for qualified doctoral students to work with them on their research.  However, the student bears the primary responsibility for finding one or more faculty mentors whose research match his or her own.  If the student does not take this initiative, the student will be assigned to work with a faculty member who needs research assistance, irrespective of the match between student and faculty research interests.  Doctoral students with fellowships will provide at least 10 hours per week of faculty research support for the duration of their program. 

 

It is important that students begin to focus on research topics of potential interest to them at the earliest possible time in their program.  By the end of their program, students must know how to formulate research questions, carry out research and write publishable journal articles on their own.  This knowledge cannot be gained solely through coursework; acquisition of this expertise requires one-on-one interaction with faculty over a four-year period.  Thus, students should work closely with faculty on a continuous basis throughout their entire doctoral program.  Students will be granted authorship credit commensurate with their contributions to research articles and conference presentations.  Each student should have at least one sole- or joint-authored research paper completed and ready for submission to a refereed journal prior to taking the comprehensive examination.

 

           

Students who enter the program prepared to teach will be assigned to teach a course on their own during the first year.  Students who are not prepared to teach when they enter the program will be assigned by the department Chair to assist faculty members with classroom instruction or to become a member of the tutorial team.  They learn how to conduct classroom teaching by observing and helping faculty members.  When a student is ready, he or she will be given classroom responsibility as an instructor for one course under the supervision of a faculty member who is responsible for that area of instruction.  All doctoral students will be given an opportunity to be an instructor for at least one course before graduation, unless he or she declines to be one.  Doctoral students with fellowships will either assist faculty with teaching or will independently teach one course per semester throughout their doctoral program.

 

 

Our mentorship program is a very special and unique part of our program.  In the research mentorship program, all students are assigned a faculty member.  Working jointly with the mentor as a research “team” they develop a research idea which the student presents in a one hour lunch time “brown bag” session at the end of the first semester.  After receiving feedback from faculty and students, the research team completes the study in the second semester and the student does another “brown bag” presentation.  The research team is then, at a minimum, expected to submit a completed paper to the Internal Department of Marketing Working Series.

 

A new faculty/student assignment typically will be made during each year until the student reaches candidacy (i.e., passes comprehensive examinations).  In most cases by the third year, students are working on research related to their dissertation.

           

An important idea behind the mentorship program is that students should be exposed to a variety of research perspectives.  Normally, during the program, students will be involved with three different faculty mentors.  Each mentor will have different perspectives on research, as well as differing individual strengths (and weaknesses).  The student can maximally benefit from working with a variety of mentors.  Regardless of whether the study is actually accepted for publication, the student learns a great deal about the process of research from these experiences.

 

The amount and type of work done by the student should be expected to change as the student progresses.  Typically, first-year students will need more guidance at all stages of the process than will third-year students.  In general, the student should be heavily involved in the creation of the research idea, in the execution of the design, in the analysis of the results, and in the writing of the early drafts of the research paper.  The faculty mentor will often be heavily involved in the development of the research design, in guiding the analysis, and in “polishing” the research paper and moving it through the publication process.

 

The Mentorship Research Forum presentations give the students the opportunity to develop and refine their research ideas and methodology and their presentation skills.  These skills will be necessary when the student presents research at conferences, does job interview presentations, and are similar to those used in some classroom situations.  It is intended that the Ph.D. student (not the mentor) make the presentation and address questions at the Research Forum.  The mentor should play a minor supporting role during the forum presentation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          …………………………………………………

 

GENERAL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES FOR THE PH.D. IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM

 

¨       The doctoral program in the Graduate School of Management normally admits students once a year, during the spring, for the Fall term.  Under extenuating circumstances, together with review by the Doctoral Admissions Committee, an applicant’s file will be considered for any other semester.

 

¨       The Ph.D. in Business Administration is a full-time only program.  Doctoral students must maintain full-time (at least 8 hours per semester) status for the duration of their Ph.D. program.  Exceptions may be granted in the last semester of coursework before the comprehensive exam, with approval of the major area coordinator, Ph.D. director, and office of Research and Graduate Studies.  International students with an F-1 or J-1 visa also are required to complete the Reduced Courseload Authorization Form, available in the office of International Students and Scholar Services.

 

¨       The normal courseload in the doctoral program is nine (9) hours per semester (excluding ONTAP and College Teaching of Business courses in the first semester).  More than nine hours may be taken with the approval of the major area coordinator or department chairperson and the doctoral director.

 

¨       It is expected that the graduate student working toward a doctoral degree normally will complete all coursework and comprehensive examinations within five (5) calendar years of the student's first graduate registration at Kent if the student enters with a bachelor’s degree, or within four (4) calendar years of the first graduate registration as a doctoral student if the student enters with a master’s degree.  Failure to meet this deadline may result in dismissal from the program.

 

¨       A doctoral student is expected to maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average at all times.  A student who fails to do so or who receives more than seven (7) hours of "C" (2.0) grades or lower, or more than four (4) hours of grades lower than "C" (2.0), is subject to dismissal.  A student must receive grades of "C" (2.0) or better in all courses.  If a student receives a grade below "C" (2.0), that course must be repeated.

 

¨       Students must register continuously each fall and spring semester until the program is completed.  Where exceptional circumstances exist, a student may request a leave of absence of no more than one (1) academic year.  Such leaves may be granted only upon written request to the Ph.D. Director who, in consultation with the student’s major department, approves or disapproves the request.  Requests for leaves of absence should be filed at least sixty (60) days before the leave becomes effective.  The Graduate School of Management cannot assure that the Teaching Fellowship will be available to the returning student.  The approved leave period will not count toward the nine-year maximum allowed for a student to complete the degree or other time-to-completion deadlines.  After completion of coursework, students should obtain permission to register for BAD 80199, Dissertation I, in preparation for comprehensive examinations.  After passing comprehensive exams, students should register for BAD 80199, Dissertation I, for a second semester to complete 30 credit hours in this course.  From then until they fulfill requirements for their degree, students must register each semester for BAD 80299, Dissertation II.

 

¨       Doctoral students should not accumulate more than a total of 175 credit hours of graduate work at all Ohio universities combined.

 

¨       Each student is expected to be proficient in written and oral communications, statistics, mathematics, research methodology, and in core areas of business administration, such as accounting, economics, finance, marketing, decision sciences, and organization and administration.  (See section on Ph.D. Proficiency for more details.)

 

¨       Each student should meet with the Ph.D. Advisor before his/her first semester of enrollment in the Ph.D. program to prepare a program sheet.  The student is expected to complete the coursework listed on this program sheet unless changes have been approved in writing.

 

¨       All waivers or substitutions for required proficiency or supportive coursework must be approved within the first two (2) semesters of a student’s entry into the Ph.D. program.

 

¨       The Graduate School of Management allows the transfer of coursework from an accredited program to a maximum of six (6) hours into the minor area and zero (0) hours into the major area in consultation with the appropriate area coordinator and doctoral director. 

 

¨      Doctoral students are not permitted to take any coursework on a pass/fail basis.

 

¨       If a student receives an incomplete (IP or IN) in a given term, the student will not be allowed to receive another "I" until that incomplete has been cleared.  If a student has more than two (2) incompletes, he/she may not be permitted to register for classes.

 

¨       BAD 80098, Research/Individual Investigation, will be limited to a maximum of two (2) courses, in consultation with the appropriate area coordinator and doctoral director, for the duration of a student’s academic program to fulfill a major and/or minor course. 

 

¨       Students who complete all coursework will be advanced to candidacy for the degree of Ph.D. in Business Administration.

 

¨       The student is expected to pass the final dissertation defense within five (5) years of passing the comprehensive examinations.  Failure to meet this deadline may result in dismissal from the program.

           

¨       After passing the comprehensive exams the student should obtain a copy of the Dissertation Style Guide at the GSM office.  Completed dissertations must meet the stipulations in this style guide.

 

¨       A student should successfully defend a dissertation proposal within 12 months after receiving notification of passing the comprehensive exams.

 

 

NOTE:                        If a student is not making satisfactory progress toward each of these requirements, he/she

                        may be             subject to dismissal from the program.

 

 

 

 

 

1.         Determination of Coursework

 

            The coursework requirements of a particular Ph.D. student are set by the Director of the Ph.D. program in conjunction with the faculty advisors from the various academic fields in the Graduate School of Management.  Normally, this is done immediately after the student's admission to the program.  Program requirements are made on the basis of transcript evaluations.

 

            All waivers or substitutions for required proficiency or supportive coursework must be approved within the first two (2) semesters of a student’s entry into the Ph.D. program.

 

            If an entering student has had no business courses, it will be recommended that the individual register for background courses first.  They would consist of introductory courses in accounting, management systems, economics, finance, and marketing.

 

 

2.         Ph.D. Proficiency

 

            Students are expected to have a level of understanding of general business with the breadth and depth normally associated with an AACSB-accredited MBA program, equivalent to the core courses in the MBA program at Kent State University plus at least one course in International Business.  Each student is expected to have prior coursework in at least six (6) of these proficiency courses, including at least one from accounting, finance, or marketing.  In addition, the student must satisfy prerequisites for courses in statistics and economics.

 

            A person having an MBA from an AACSB accredited institution can normally expect to have the majority of these courses waived, subject to the condition that the student must have obtained a grade of "B" (3.0) or better in each course.

 

            A student holding a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from an accredited AACSB school may also have some proficiency coursework waived.  Six to nine semester hours of undergraduate credit with grades of "B" (3.0) or better are normally required to waive one three-semester-hour graduate level course.

 

            To satisfy a proficiency requirement, a course must have been taken within the past ten years.  Students should normally complete the proficiency requirements in the first year of the Ph.D. program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.         Supportive Coursework (3 courses)

 

The supportive coursework in Research Methods and Economics may be tailored to aid the student in understanding, analyzing, researching and complementing areas of interest in the student's concentration and minor field.   The student may select similar quantitative courses with the approval of the Area Coordinator.

 

 

            Quantitative Sequence:

                        Required:            BAD 74023  Linear Statistical Models (3 hours)*

 

*Substitution Policy for Linear Statistical Models – An analytical sequence of one or more courses related to probability and statistics may be substituted for Linear Statistical Models.  Any such substitution must be approved by the Ph.D. Coordinator for the area and the Ph.D. Director.  In accordance with the general policy, the substitution request must be approved within the first two (2) semesters of a student’s entry into the Ph.D. program.  When more than one course is substituted, the other course(s) must be treated as meeting another Ph.D. course requirement (excluding the concentration or minor courses unless the minor is applied statistics).  The specific requirement will be described in the substitution request.

 

            One elective from the following list with approval of the concentration Coordinator (3 hours)

                            

                        Commonly selected courses:     

                                    BAD 72054  Econometrics I

                                    BAD 72055  Econometrics II

                                    BAD 84019  Quantitative Management Modeling

                                    MATH 50011 Introduction to Probability                        

 

                        Other courses:

                                    BAD 84012  Scheduling and Planning

                                    BAD 84013  Non-Parametric Statistics

                                    BAD 74014  Operations Research II

                                    BAD 84015  Stochastic Models

                                    BAD 84017  Multivariate Statistics

                                    BAD 84018  Mathematical Programming

                                    BAD 84020  Advanced Statistical Models

                                    BAD 74024  Computer Algorithms

                                    BAD 84025  Linear Statistical Models II

                                    BAD 74048  Network Theory

                                    BAD 85057  Marketing Research

           

 

            Economic Theory (3 hours)

                        One of the following with the approval of the concentration Coordinator:

                                    BAD 72050  Microeconomic Theory I

                                    BAD 72051  Macroeconomic Theory I

           

 

 

4.         Departmentally Selected Courses (3 courses)

 

In addition to the above quantitative courses the student, with the approval of the Area Coordinator, must also select three additional courses (9 hours) related to research (analytical) methodology designed to support and develop the student's area of concentration.

 

 

5.         Concentrations and Minors

 

            Each student is required to select an area of concentration and a minor area.  Specific courses contained within concentrations and minor areas are detailed in this Handbook.

 

            The area of concentration will consist of a minimum of five courses (15 hours) with a required comprehensive examination.  The minor area consists of a minimum of four courses (12 hours) without a comprehensive examination.  It is the minor area which defines the minor. 

           

            Possible major concentrations are as follows:

                        Accounting

                        Finance

                        Management Systems

                        Marketing

           

            Possible minors are:

                        Accounting                                           International Business               

                        Applied Business Statistics                     Management

                        Finance                                                 Marketing

                        Information Systems                              Operations Management           

                        Economics                               

 

            In addition, a student may create a minor comprised of at least two (2) courses from each of two existing minors (except International Business).  Approval of the minor must be obtained from the coordinators in both of the minor areas.

 

            All coursework must be approved by the concentration Coordinator.

           

                Ph.D. concentrations and minors undergo continual changes and substantial changes may result from this review.  Current students are assured of being able to complete their degree if changes occur in their programs.  Current students will also have the option of either completing the existing program or, if they choose, undertaking the revised program should one be initiated.

 

 

The chart on the following page summarizes the key elements of the Ph.D. program.

 

 

 

 

Note: Accounting requires majors to take an additional course

as part of the major in order to complete a research paper.

 

 

BAD 83031   Advanced Auditing Theory and Practice

BAD 83033   Managerial Accounting Issues

BAD 83037   Financial Accounting for Managerial Action

BAD 83038   Basic Accounting Research Methodology

BAD 73098   Research in Accounting

 

Unless prior approval is received from the Accounting area coordinator, the economics requirement should be met by taking BAD 72050 - Microeconomic Theory.

 

BAD 86062   Theory of Corporate Finance

BAD 86064   International Financial Markets, Institutions & Management

BAD 86066   Investment Theory

BAD 86061   Theory of Financial Decision Making

BAD 86098   Research in Finance

 

It is recommended that the economics requirement should be met by taking BAD 72050 - Microeconomic Theory, and that the quantitative tools elective be met by taking BAD 72054 - Econometrics I.

 

 

 

Quantitative Tools:

            Requirement -   BAD 74023 - Linear Statistical Models

            Elective -          BAD 84112 – Research Methodology

 

Economic Theory Requirement:

            select either:      BAD 72050 - Microeconomic Theory  or

                                    BAD 72051 - Macroeconomic Theory

 

 

 

 

 

 

BAD 84007      Information Technology

BAD 84047      Manufacturing Technology and Strategy

BAD 84261      Strategic Decision Making and Human Resource Management

 

 

 

BAD 84266      Readings in Management Systems

BAD 84291      Research Seminar in Management Systems

 

In addition, choose three of the following courses (with approval of the Management Systems area coordinator)

BAD 84012      Scheduling and Planning

BAD 84015      Stochastic Models

BAD 84020      Advanced Statistical Models

BAD 84031      Quality and Reliability Systems

 

BAD 84080      Emerging Hardware and Software Technology

BAD 84081      Data Communications and Networking in Business

BAD 84082      Database Management Systems

 

BAD 84263      Employee Selection & Appraisal

BAD 84277      Organizational Behavior & Theory

 

BAD 84275      Strategic Global Management

BAD 84285      Managing High Technology

 

Students who select a Management Systems major area of concentration will be required to take both a Qualifying Examination and a Comprehensive Examination.

 

 

 

 

The inter-disciplinary core curriculum for the Management Systems major area of concentration constitutes the subject matter for the qualifying examination.  The courses of this curriculum are (BAD):

(1)    74023 Linear Statistical Models, (2) 84112 Research Methodology,

(3)    84007 Information Technology, (4) 84047 Manufacturing Technology and Strategy,

(5)    84261 Strategic Decision Making and Human Resource Management.

 

Purpose and Scope of the Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination is part of the concentration’s design to keep doctoral students on track in a four-year schedule for completing the degree and going on to a successful career.  The purpose of the examination is student demonstration of mastery in the inter-disciplinary core course curriculum.  Thus, the subject matter of the qualifying examination, unlike that of the comprehensive examination, is taken

directly from the five core courses.  These core courses should be completed in the student’s first year of doctoral coursework.

 

The grading criteria for the qualifying examination are twofold:  (a) accurate, detailed and specific knowledge of the topics of the five core courses as these have been taught in the concentration, and (b) general demonstration of the ability to articulate subject matter on a level appropriate to a doctoral concentration in Management Systems.  The examination will consist of one question for each core course. Questions will be factual and multi-part rather than comprehensive.  The examination will be given in two parts, on two separate days.  Each session will be four hours in length.

 

Scheduling the Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination will be given in any semester when the departmental Graduate Coordinator determines that it needs to be scheduled for proper progress of the student through his or her concentration.  This examination will be scheduled at the end of the semester in which the student has successfully completed the core curriculum or in the semester immediately following successful completion (including summer).  Requirement for “successful completion” is an average GPA of 3.0 for the five core courses.

 

It is the student’s responsibility to consult with the Management Systems Graduate Coordinator about scheduling the qualifying examination.  This consultation must take place by the end of the fourth week of the semester when he or she has enrolled in the last of the five required core courses.  Prior to taking the qualifying examination, the student must obtain an “Application to Take the Management Systems Qualifying Examination” form from the Graduate Coordinator.  This completed form, along with required verification of core course completion and grades received, must be submitted to the Management Systems Graduate Coordinator prior to taking the examination.

 

Passing the Qualifying Examination

Students must receive a passing score on each question of the qualifying examination.  A student who fails any part of the qualifying examination will have one and only one additional chance at a retake.  The retake will cover only the questions failed.  For a qualifying examination failed at the end of a semester, the retake must be completed before the end of the next regularly scheduled semester (i.e., Fall or Spring).  Failure to pass the qualifying examination after two attempts will result in dismissal from the doctoral program.

 

 

 

 

 

BAD 85066   Marketing Theory

BAD 85063   Analytical Methods in Marketing Research

BAD 85057   Marketing Research

BAD 85064   Buyer Behavior

 

Plus one of the following courses (in consultation with the Marketing area coordinator):

BAD 75060   Marketing Strategy and Planning

BAD 75054   International Marketing

BAD 85097   Seminar in Marketing

 

*NOTE:          The Marketing Department recommends that the above major courses should be taken in order beginning with the first Fall semester attended.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Required courses:

            BAD 83033   Managerial Accounting Issues

            BAD 83037   Financial Accounting for Managerial Action

 

Plus two courses selected with the advice of the Ph.D. Accounting Coordinator from the following:

            BAD 73030  International Accounting

            BAD 73031  Advanced Auditing Theory and Practice

            BAD 73032  Accounting Theory

            BAD 83031  Auditing Issues

            BAD 83038  Basic Accounting Research Methodology

            BAD 83091  Seminar – Selected Accounting Topics

 

 

With approval of the concentration and minor advisors, choose four of the following courses:

 

  BAD 72054  Econometrics I                            BAD 72054    Econometrics I

  BAD 72055  Econometrics II                           BAD 74011    System Simulations

  BAD 74011  Systems Simulation                      BAD 74013    Non-Parametric Statistics

  BAD 74017  Multivariate Statistics                   BAD 74017    Multivariate Statistics                 

  BAD 84015  Stochastic Models                         BAD 84031    Quality & Reliability Assurance

  BAD 84020  Advanced Statistical Models         BAD 75063    Analytic Methods in Mktg. Research

  BAD 84031  Quality & Reliability Assurance    PSYC71651    Statistical Inference in Psychology         

  MATH 70051  Probability I                              PSYC 71654   Psychometric Methods

  MATH 75002  Probability II                            MATH 70051 Probability I

  MATH 70061  Mathematical Statistics I                      

 

Choose four 70000 level economics courses with the approval of the Economics Department Ph.D. advisor, including:

BAD 72051      Macroeconomic Theory I (if not otherwise taken as part of the Ph.D. program)

 

*NOTE: At most, one quantitative course may be taken as part of the Economics minor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Choose four courses from those listed for the concentration.

 

Choose 4 of the 5 courses below

  BAD 84007    Information Technology

  BAD 84045    System Development Methodologies

  BAD 84080    Emerging Hardware and Software Technology

  BAD 84081    Data Communications and Networking in Business

  BAD 84082    Database Management Systems

 

  BAD 72075   Theory of International Trade

 

  Plus three of the following courses:

 

  BAD 72076   International Finance

  BAD 72077   Economic Problems in Developing Areas

  BAD 72078   Seminar in International Economics

  BAD 72180   Regional Economics

  BAD 73030   International Accounting Problems

  BAD 75054   International Marketing

  BAD 76064   International Financial Management

  BAD 74275   Strategic Global Management

 

 

 

 

Choose four of the nine courses below:

 

Human Resource Management

BAD 84108      Advanced Topics in Human Resource Mgt. and Organizational Behavior

*BAD 84261     Strategic Decision-Making and Human Resource Management

BAD 84263      Employee Selection & Appraisal

BAD 84277      Organizational Behavior & Theory

Strategy

BAD 74270      Organizational Analysis

BAD 74185      Business Strategy

BAD 84262      Competitive Strategic Analysis

BAD 84275      Strategic Global Management

BAD 84285      Managing High Technology

Note:  *indicates not an option for students with Management Systems as their major area.

BAD 85066   Marketing Theory

 

Plus three of the following courses:

 

BAD 85063   Analytical Methods in Marketing Research

BAD 85057   Marketing Research

BAD 85064   Buyer Behavior

BAD 75060   Marketing Strategy and Planning

BAD 75054   International Marketing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.         Policy on Medical/Disability Problems

           

            Medical/disability problems will under no circumstances be considered with respect to       comprehensive exams unless a) the student has gone through Disabled Student Services and     has been properly identified by DSS as having such problems, and b) the student has made       timely arrangements so that proper accommodations have been made.  Unless the student has             followed this procedure, any subsequent problems cannot count as an excuse for less than             successful completion of the examination.

 

 

2.         Composition of Comprehensive Exam

 

            Comprehensive examinations pertain to areas of knowledge rather than specific courses.  The material covered, number of questions, and other such details are determined by the graduate faculty in the area developing the exam.  It is strongly recommended that the student consult with the Area Coordinator well in advance (at least two months) of the comprehensive exam date, so that the Coordinator can direct the student to appropriate graduate faculty members for guidance in selecting reading materials for study.

 

            The Coordinator of each area (or departmental chair) requests questions from selected graduate faculty who teach in the area which the student has specified as his/her area of concentration.  These questions are then forwarded to the Area Coordinator.  A Comprehensive Examination Committee composed of graduate faculty in the GSM is appointed by the Area Coordinator.  This committee reviews all questions submitted by the graduate faculty and selects a set of questions which comprehensively examines the student in the area of concentration.  The concentration exam should be designed not to require more than eight hours over two consecutive working days to complete while each minor exam should not exceed four hours over one day.

 

            The writing and grading of Ph.D. comprehensive exams are restricted to graduate faculty members.  Any or all members of the graduate faculty in the student's area of concentration may be called upon by the Coordinator to participate in the Ph.D. examination process.  Thus, the student should not expect only those professors from whom coursework has been taken to participate in the writing and/or grading of the comprehensive exam.

 

 

3.         Applying to Take Comprehensive Exams

            It is the student's responsibility to apply for the comprehensive exams in the GSM at least 45 days prior to scheduled exams.  The dates when the exams will be offered and the deadline for requesting comps are available from the Director of the Ph.D. Program. To be eligible to take comprehensives in the area of concentration, a student must have completed all the courses required by his or her program.

 

            Students should register for BAD 80199 (Dissertation I) during the semester in which they wish to take the exams.  Generally the student should arrange with a faculty member to complete an assigned list of readings in preparation for the comprehensive exams, or to begin work on his/her dissertation.

 

 

4.         Grading and Evaluation

 

            Each department shall establish criteria and procedures for evaluation of comprehensive examinations.  In all cases, prior to the examination, the department and/or examining committee shall convey these criteria and procedures, in writing, to the doctoral student and the director of the doctoral program.

 

Within 20 working days of receiving the exams, the Area Coordinator should, through a written

memo, inform the Director of the Ph.D. Program of the decision of the department.  The decision

should be either pass, fail with possibility of retake, or fail with no possibility of retake.

 

            If the candidate passes most but not all of the questions, it will be at the discretion of the Comprehensive Examination Committee whether to require the student to retake only the parts failed or retake the entire examination.  If the candidate must retake the exam, it may not be taken before the next regularly scheduled testing period.  The student should register for BAD 70198 (Research) during the semester in which he or she wishes to retake the examination.  A student may retake the entire exam a maximum of one time.  Partial retakes will also be permitted a maximum of one time.  If a second attempt proves unsuccessful, the student will be subject to dismissal.

 

            The Director of the Ph.D. Program will inform the student, in writing, of the results of the comprehensive examination immediately upon receipt of the results from the Area Coordinator.

 

 

5.         Frequency of Offering

 

            Comprehensive exams must be taken at Kent State University under the supervision of the Graduate School of Management.  Comprehensive exams are offered twice a year, once every spring and fall, during the 10th week of the semester unless the department (with the approval of the Program Director) has selected a different date.

 

 

1.         Dissertation Requirements

 

The University requirements as stated in the Graduate Catalog are as follows. The dissertation must demonstrate that the student has acquired the ability to conduct research in a discriminating and original manner.  The dissertation should make a significant enough contribution to the field that at least one scholarly article suitable for publication in a professional journal may be derived from it.

 

            Students should register for BAD 80199 - Dissertation I for 15 credit hours for the next two semesters after they pass comprehensive exams.  After completing 30 credit hours in Dissertation I, students should continuously register for BAD 80299 - Dissertation II each semester until the dissertation is completed and they graduate.  Students on campus with an appointment that requires full-time registration, should register for 15 credit hours.  Off-campus students should register for l credit hour.  Students must not exceed 175 hours of graduate work at any Ohio public university.

 

 

2.         Graduate School of Management Dissertation Policies

 

            The dissertation must be written in either the student's area of concentration or minor field.  A reasonable amount of latitude in selecting a topic will be permitted, but there should be some evident relationship between the dissertation topic and the area of concentration or minor field.

 

            Any full member of the Graduate Faculty of the Graduate School of Management may serve as Chairperson of a Dissertation Committee.  That member must be associated with the department or functional field in which the student writes his/her dissertation.

 

            The student should discuss the proposed dissertation topic with various members of the Graduate Faculty in order to determine the appropriateness of the topic and to ascertain the faculty member's willingness to serve on the committee.  The student should also consult with the Director of the Ph.D. Program, and with the Coordinator of his/her area of concentration, about the selection of a dissertation chairperson.  Subsequently, the dissertation chairperson and the student shall submit a recommendation for the membership of the dissertation committee to the Ph.D. Director for approval.  (Forms for this purpose are available in the office of the Graduate School of Management.)

 

            After the dissertation committee has been established, the student will develop a detailed dissertation proposal.  Prior to defense of the dissertation proposal, the student will circulate, to each member of the Graduate Faculty in the Graduate School of Management, an abstract of approximately one page in length (double spaced) briefly describing the nature of the dissertation, the

 

 

 

            methodological approach, and announcing the time and date of the defense of the dissertation proposal.  This must be coordinated with the office of the Graduate School of Management.  It is hoped that members of the Graduate Faculty will attend the defense proposal and make constructive suggestions to the Chairperson of the Dissertation Committee.  All suggestions will be carefully reviewed by the Dissertation Committee.  The committee will have the right to accept or reject these suggestions.

 

            Final acceptance of the dissertation proposal requires the approval of a majority of the members of the Dissertation Committee and the Director of the Ph.D. Program.

 

 

3.         Guidelines for Selection of a Dissertation Committee

 

            The dissertation committee normally has a minimum of three members.

 

            The Chairperson and one additional member also from the candidate's major area will serve on the committee.  If graduate faculty within the student's area are not available to serve, other faculty, preferably from the student's minor, may serve on the committee with the written permission of the Director of the Ph.D. Program.

 

            A third faculty member from a discipline outside of the department in which the student's area of concentration resides should also be appointed.  The departments are as follows: Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management and Information Systems, and Marketing. The third member may be from the School of Business Administration, or from any other area within Kent State University. If a faculty member outside of the University is selected, this member will be considered an additional fourth member.

 

            All of the committee members should be full members of the Graduate Faculty.  When appropriate, an eligible associate member of the Graduate Faculty may serve in place of one of the three members from KSU.

 

            If, for warranted reasons, it is desirous to have a person on the committee who does not meet the above qualifications, special permission must be obtained from the Director of the Ph.D. Program.

 

            In the event that a member of the Dissertation Committee leaves the University, the following will occur:

1.       If the chair leaves, he/she asks for another member of the Dissertation Committee to serve as co-chair to allow the committee to continue;

2.       If a member leaves, the Dissertation Committee must seek another member.  If the person that leaves wants to continue to serve, they would be considered a fourth member;

3.       If a member leaves and is not willing to continue to serve, they will be replaced with a new member.

 

 

 

4.         Dissertation Proposal and Defense

            The dissertation committee is responsible for the progress of the candidate's dissertation and will monitor his/her research progress.  When the advisor believes the dissertation proposal is ready for preliminary approval, it will be circulated in final typewritten form among the members of the committee.  The advisor will allow a minimum of a ten-day period for reading of the dissertation proposal and will then convene the dissertation committee (without the candidate) for the purpose of evaluating it.  Recommended revisions will be noted by the advisor and communicated to the candidate.  When, in the opinion of the advisor and the candidate, the appropriate revisions have been made, the advisor will inform the Graduate School of Management in writing and a dissertation proposal defense session will be arranged. The candidate must formally present the dissertation proposal before the dissertation committee. The student must notify the Graduate School of Management that their dissertation topic has been formally approved, by filing an appropriate form in duplicate with all necessary signatures.  This form may be obtained from the Graduate School of Management, A310 Business Administration Building.

 

            Approval of the dissertation proposal does not insure approval of the dissertation.  It does, however, certify that the Graduate School of Management believes:

 

            1.         The study appears to represent a significant contribution to the field.

 

            2.         The candidate can obtain the necessary data and successfully execute the study.

 

            3.         The timetable for completing the study is realistic.

 

 

5.         Format of the Dissertation Proposal

 

            The specific format required by the dissertation committee may vary somewhat depending upon the nature of the study, but will normally include the following points:

 

            A precise statement of the problem which the student proposes to investigate.

 

            A statement of the reasons for undertaking the study.  This will include specifying relationships being explored, definitions of terms, gaps in the literature and controversies that only research can clarify.

 

            A section indicating previous work which has been done and a relevant bibliography as evidence of the fact that the student has carefully researched the literature on the topic he/she proposes to investigate and that this study will, in fact, represent a contribution to knowledge.

 

            A clear statement of the theoretical foundation of the research and its contribution to the field.

 

 

 

 

 

6.         Completed Dissertation

 

            The final form of the dissertation may follow that suggested by Kate L. Turabian or APA (American Psychological Association). The booklet "A Style Guide for Typing Theses or Dissertations", available at the Graduate School of Management Office, specifies the overall format that should be followed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.         General

 

            Two separate committees will be involved with the progress, completion, and examination of the doctoral candidate's dissertation.  These are (1) the Dissertation Committee and (2) the Examining Committee.  (The Examining Committee includes the Dissertation Committee plus two additional members.)

 

 

2.         Examining Committee

 

            The Examining Committee will consist of the Dissertation Committee (at least three persons as defined above) plus a moderator and a representative from the Graduate Faculty.

 

            The moderator will be selected by the Chairperson of the Dissertation Committee from the full members of the Graduate Faculty of Kent State University.  The moderator will not be a faculty member in the department of the candidate's area of concentration.  The GSM encourages the selection of moderators from the Graduate College or the Graduate School of Education.  The principal duties of the moderator are to preside and moderate at the dissertation defense meeting.  He/she should be familiar with the procedures of the oral defense, and has the authority to suspend the examination should a situation arise which would not be conducive to a fair examination.

 

            The representative of the Graduate Faculty will be appointed by the Director of the Ph.D. Program or by the Director's designate.  To qualify, the faculty member must have directed a dissertation to completion.  A list of those qualified is available in the office of the Graduate School of Management.  The representative may not be a member of the candidate's department and is expected to be familiar with the general content area of the dissertation.  This person represents the Graduate Faculty by noting whether or not the nature of the questioning and responses meet highly respectable scholarly standards. The representative should also determine whether the candidate's literature review, hypothesis(es), data selection, tests, and general research methodology are commensurate with graduate standards of the college.  If the representative has some reservations in this regard, the reservations should be presented immediately to the Dean or his/her designate within the Graduate School of Management.  The Graduate Faculty Representative is expected to question the candidate and to vote on the passing of the final examination.

 

 

3.         Pre-Dissertation Defense Meeting

 

            No less than one week before the final oral defense, the Examining Committee, excluding the moderator, must meet with or without the candidate present to review the dissertation.  Three days before the pre-oral meeting takes place, the Ph.D. Director must be notified in writing of the date, time, and location of this meeting.  The final draft of the dissertation must be made available to the Committee a minimum of fourteen days before the pre-oral meeting. 

  

            If, in the opinion of more than one member of the Examining Committee, the dissertation is not in acceptable form, the pre-oral defense will not be held.  This is to be determined by an informal vote prior to the pre-oral examination, without the candidate or others being present.

 

            A rescheduling of the pre-oral defense, if necessary, will occur when, in the opinion of the advisor, the dissertation has been modified to incorporate the suggested changes.  The dissertation must be acceptable, with no more than one dissenting vote, before the rescheduled pre-orals can be held.

 

            When the pre-oral defense is held, if more than one member of the Examining Committee believes that the dissertation is not in acceptable form, the final oral defense will not be held.  This is to be determined by formal vote prior to the final oral examination, without the candidate or others being present.  If a negative vote occurs the candidate may be called in to provide clarification.  If the final oral defense is delayed because of objections by member(s) of the Dissertation Committee, committee members objecting shall provide such objection(s) in writing to the Chairperson of the Dissertation Committee and to the Director of the Ph.D. Program.

 

            A rescheduling of the final oral defense, if necessary, will occur when, in the opinion of the advisor, the dissertation has been modified to incorporate the suggested changes.  The dissertation must be acceptable, with no more than one dissenting vote, before the rescheduled final orals can be held.  If the dissertation is not in suitable form at the second scheduled orals, the Director of the Ph.D. Program will be so notified.  Further action is then the responsibility of the Director of the Ph.D. Program.

 

 

4.         Final Oral Defense

 

            The Dissertation Chairperson will designate the time and place of the final oral defense and notify all members of the Examining Committee.

 

            The dissertation must be defended on final copy (not merely a late draft).  Page numbers may be omitted in order that certain pages may be corrected or added without retyping the entire dissertation.  In the absence of the Dissertation Chairperson, the oral defense may not be held.  If it is a matter of long-term illness of the Dissertation Chairperson, the Area Coordinator, in consultation with the Director of the Ph.D. Program and the Associate Dean, should make appropriate arrangements for a substitute. With the reduced size of the dissertation committee, all members of the committee should be present at the oral defense, if at all possible.

 

            The final oral defense will be open to the University community.  Copies of the abstract of the dissertation should be available in the Graduate School of Management office prior to the defense and at the defense itself to familiarize members of the graduate faculty with the methodology and findings.  One copy of the complete dissertation should also be available in the Office of the Graduate School of Management.  Please refer to the chart on the next page for deadlines.

 

            The candidate will open the defense with a brief presentation of his/her findings, after which the members of the Examining Committee will question the candidate in an order to be determined by the moderator.  When, in the opinion of the moderator, members of the Examining Committee

 

            have had an adequate opportunity to question the candidate, the moderator may open the examination to appropriate questions from others present.

 

            Questions dealing with the substance, meaning, and usefulness of the research in the dissertation are of greatest importance.  Questions or comments dealing with punctuation or grammatical minutiae, spelling, etc., are out of order; such comments should be written out and privately submitted to the advisor.

 

            When the questioning has run its course, the moderator will adjourn the defense and the room will be cleared of everyone except the Examining Committee.  Parliamentary procedure will be observed to determine the success or failure of the candidate, with the moderator acting without a vote.

 

            The candidate should be evaluated both upon the overall quality and significance of the dissertation and the oral defense of the findings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

            A candidate passes the final oral defense if he/she passes with no more than one dissenting vote.

 

All members of the Examining Committee (except the Moderator) will sign the "Report of Final examination" form, recording their votes (this form is available in the Graduate School of Management office).

 

            Committee members may vote "Yes" or "No", but they may not abstain.  The Moderator and the Director of the Ph.D. Program must sign the "Report of Final Examination" form.

 

            A student who fails the oral defense may be given an opportunity for another defense, with the approval of the Ph.D. Program Director.  A student who fails the second defense will be subject to dismissal from the program. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Degrees are granted each semester and at the end of the summer sessions.  A candidate must file an application for graduation with the Graduate School of Management office.  The deadline date for filing for each term is published in the "Schedule for Classes" and the Graduate School Catalog Calendar.  This and other doctoral deadline dates may also be found on the bulletin board just outside the Graduate Office. The application form is available in the Graduate School of Management office.

 

To be eligible for graduation, a candidate must meet the following criteria:

 

            l.          Must have a minimum of 3.00 overall grade point average in those courses for doctoral study.

 

            2.         Successful completion of credit for all required courses in the program of study.

 

            3.         Fulfilled the residency requirements.

 

            4.         Passed the comprehensive examination in the concentration area, and in the minor area if required.

 

            5.         Successfully defended the significance and findings of the dissertation.

 

            6.         Delivered to the Graduate School of Management office the two final copies of the dissertation printed on bond paper (at least 50% cotton content), with required signatures on the approval pages. It can also be submitted in electronic format at this website, www.library.kent.edu/etd. Click on “How To” on the left, and this will show you how to convert your word document to a PDF, and it will lead you to Ohiolink, where you submit it. A copy of the final dissertation must be submitted to UMI.  Refer to the Dissertation Style Guide for complete guidelines and requirements. 

 

            7.         Submitted two copies of a 350-word maximum dissertation abstract.

 

            8.         Submitted copyright form to the Graduate School of Management.  If copyrighting is desired, the copyright fee must also be submitted.

 

            9.         Submitted the Survey of Earned Doctorate to the Graduate School of Management.

 

            10.        Possess no outstanding debts with the University.

 

 

 

 

 

The faculty of the Graduate School of Management is a diverse academic group which is personally committed to the programs and the success of its students.  The faculty's academic background is distinguished.  They have exceptional scholarly records and take pride in their teaching.

 

The faculty's commitment to quality instruction is enhanced by their years of practical experience in consulting with profit and not-for-profit institutions, governmental agencies, and regulatory bodies.  This combination of academic training with practical experience is revealed in a pedagogical method that blends theoretical foundations and pragmatic approaches to problem solving.

 

GEORGE E. STEVENS, Dean

DONALD R. WILLIAMS, Associate Dean

FREDERICK W. SCHROATH, Associate Dean, Graduate School of Management

JAMES W. BOYD, Director of Ph.D. Program

 

 

 

 

MICHAEL A. PEARSON, D.B.A., Kent State University.  Auditing and Managerial Accounting

PERVAIZ ALAM, Ph.D., University of Houston.  Financial Accounting and Auditing

MARK P. ALTIERI, LL.M., New York University. Taxation

RAN BARNIV, Ph.D., Ohio State University.  Financial, International, and Managerial Accounting

RICHARD E. BROWN, D.P.A., Harvard University.  Nonprofit, Financial and Managerial Accounting

KEVIN DOW, Ph.D., University of South Carolina. Business value of information technology.

LINDA J. ZUCCA, Ph.D