Business Administration (PhD)

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www.utrgv.edu/grad

www.utpa.edu/grad

Business Administration (PhD)

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration at a minimum consists of 63 academic hours. Each student selects a specialization area such as finance, management, marketing, or information systems. In consultation with his or her advisory committee, the student selects courses to create an individual degree program. All students are expected to complete quantitative methods and major field courses designed to provide an understanding of the cultural, political and social implications of global business. Students complete core course work requirements within the first two years of their training. After required coursework is completed, students take comprehensive examinations followed by the writing and defending of the dissertation. Each dissertation is expected to make a significant contribution to the field of knowledge encompassing global business administration. In consultation with his or her advisory committee, the student selects courses to create an individual degree program. All students are expected to complete a quantitative methods sequence and a support field sequence designed to provide an understanding of the cultural, political and social implications of global business administration.

Easy access to the maquiladoras and numerous exchange agreement make it possible for the student to complete an internship in a foreign business or to engage in joint research projects with an international university. After coursework is completed, students take comprehensive examinations followed by the writing and defending of the dissertation. Each dissertation is expected to make a significant contribution to the field of knowledge encompassing global business administration.

Admissio n Requirements Apply to the UTRGV Graduate College:

Step #1: Submit a UTRGV Graduate Application at www.applytexas.org.

The university application fee of $85 ($100 for International Applicants) can be paid online by credit card or electronic check (in the online application). All application fees are nonrefundable.

Step #2: Register on the UTRGV Recommenders and Document Upload

Webpage (www.utrgv.edu/gradupload). This is where you will request recommenders and upload program requirement documents, and where the graduate office will upload your transcripts. If you do not complete this step, we will not be able to process your application.

Step #3: Request your transcripts and other supporting documentation to

be mailed to:

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley The Graduate College

Marialice Shary Shivers Bldg. 1.158 1201 W. University Drive

Edinburg, TX 78539-2999

The minimum admissions criteria for this program are:

 Earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or a recognized international equivalent in a similar or related field.

 Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.

 Official transcripts from each institution attended (must be submitted directly to UTRGV).

 GMAT or GRE General Test with scores submitted by February 1st _for admission the following Fall semester.GMAT and GRE test scores are valid for 5 years.

 Submission of 3 letters of recommendation from academic sources.

 Submission of a personal statement describing goals, experiences, scholarly accomplishments, reasons for obtaining the degree, and possible research questions or topics of interest.

 Submission of resume or curriculum vitae.

Additional requirements for domestic applicants who attended foreign universities:

 TOEFL or IELTS Language Proficiency Test with minimum scores: 550 on

paper-based, 213 on computer based, or 79 on internet-based for the TOEFL; 6.5 for the IELTS. TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for 2 years. For additional information, click here.

 English translation of educational records.

 Transcript Evaluation by the Foreign Credentials Service of America

(FCSA). For additional information, click here.

Additional requirements for international applicants:

 TOEFL or IELTS Language Proficiency Test with minimum scores: 550 on

paper-based, 213 on computer based, or 79 on internet-based for the TOEFL; 6.5 for the IELTS. TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for 2 years. For additional information, click here.

 English translation of educational records.

 Transcript Evaluation by the Foreign Credentials Service of America

(FCSA). For additional information, click here.

 Financial Documentation showing sufficient funds (minimum of

$25,000) to cover all expenses (living and academic) for the first year of study. For additional information, click here.

 Immigration documents, including a current copy of your valid

passport. For additional information, click here.

Transcripts or any supporting documentation should be sent to: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

The Graduate College

Marialice Shary Shivers Bldg. 1.158 1201 W. University Drive

Edinburg, TX 78539-2999

Important Information

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www.utrgv.edu/grad

www.utpa.edu/grad

Your personal statement must describe your objectives in pursuing a

doctoral degree in business administration and this letter is one of the documents that must be in your file before any admission evaluation is made.

The personal statement also discuss any previous doctoral program you have been enrolled in and reasons for leaving the program, if applicable. Applications for the doctoral program will not be evaluated until all

application documents are submitted to the doctoral program at the College of Business at UT Rio Grande Valley and payment of the processing fee has been made.

Program Contact

Program Director: Dr. Michael Abebe. Phone: (956) 665-5225 E-Mail: [email protected] BUSA 124A Deadlines Fall Domestic Feb. 1st International Feb. 1st

Recommenders and Document Upload Page

Click here to request recommendations and upload documents that are required.

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Program Requirements

Computer Information Systems

Concentration:

Required Courses 21

BADM 9310: Comprehensive

Independent Studies 3

INFS 8318: Global Information Systems 3 INFS 8330: Information Technology

Concepts and Research

Methods 3

INFS 8338: Computer Information Systems

Theories and Pedagogy 3

INFS 8348: Data Mining and Business

Intelligence 3

INFS 8358: Information Technology

Administration 3

INFS 8368: Selected Topics in Computer Information

Systems 3

Research Method Courses 15

INFS 8322: Scholarship Seminar 3

QUMT 8310: Applied Multivariate

Data Analysis I 3

Data Analysis II 3

QUMT 8312: Experimental Design

and Analysis 3

QUMT 8313: Nonparametric Data

Analysis 3

Electives 12

QUMT 8314: Selected Topics in Quantitative Methods* Graduate course(s) as approved by academic advisor

Capstone Requirement

Dissertation 15

BADM 9690: Dissertation Residency

(taken twice) 12

BADM 9391: Dissertation Extension 3

* Not a required elective, but can be repeated as topic changes to fulfill 12 hours of elective.

Total graduate hours for degree: 63

Finance Concentration:

FINA 8350: Math for Finance 3

FINA 8360: Theory of Finance 3

FINA 8365: Theory of Investments 3

FINA 8370: International Finance

Management 3

FINA 8375: Corporate Finance 3

FINA 8380: Financial Markets and

Institutions 3

ECON 8370: Econometrics I 3

ECON 8375: Econometrics II 3

FINA 8322: Scholarship Seminar 3

Data Analysis I 3

Data Analysis II 3

Electives 12

The following are suggested electives:

ECON 8351: Seminar in Economic Topics* ECON 8360: Macroeconomic Theory ECON 8365: International Trade FINA 8341: Seminar in Finance Topics* Graduate course(s) as approved by academic advisor

Dissertation 15

(taken twice) 12

*Can be repeated for credit with varying topics

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Management Concentration:

Required Courses 21 BADM 9310: Comprehensive Independent Studies 3 MGMT 8333: Seminar in Organization Theory 3 MGMT 8334: Seminar in Operations Management 3 MGMT 8335: Seminar in Strategic Management 3 MGMT 8336: Seminar in Entrepreneurship 3 MGMT 8337: Seminar in Organizational Behavior 3 MGMT 8338: Seminar in International Management 3

MGMT 8331 or MARK 8309:

Research Methods I 3

MGMT 8332: Research Methods II 3

MGMT 8322: Scholarship Seminar 3

Data Analysis I 3

Data Analysis II 3

Electives 12

MGMT 8339: Special Topics in Management* Graduate course(s) as approved by academic advisor

Dissertation 15

(taken twice) 12

* Not a required elective, but can be repeated as topic changes to fulfill 12 hours of elective.

Marketing Concentration:

MARK 8310: Marketing Strategy 3

MARK 8311: Consumer Behavior 3

MARK 8312: Marketing Theory 3

MARK 8314: Markets and Globalization 3

MARK 8315: Services Marketing 3

MARK 8320: Philosophy of Science 3

MARK 8309 or MGMT 8331:

Research Methods I 3

MARK 8313: Qualitative Research

Methods 3

MARK 8322: Scholarship Seminar 3

Data Analysis I 3

Data Analysis II 3

Electives 12

The following are suggested electives:

MARK 8371: Seminar in Marketing Topics * MARK 8372: Marketing Seminar *

Graduate course(s) as approved by academic advisor

Dissertation 15

(taken twice) 12

*Can be repeated for credit with varying topics

Foundation Coursework

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the student's program advisor for other time limits, a student must complete the following background coursework (and associated prerequisites):

ACCT 6320 Accounting and Financial

Analysis

ECON 6350 Managerial Economics

FINA 6340 Advanced Corporate Finance

INFS 6330 Information Systems for

Managers

MARK 6310 Marketing Strategy MGMT 6330 Organizational Behavior QUMT 6310 Business Research

Course Descriptions

Independent Studies [3‐0]

Doctoral students will conduct Independent study in preparation for their comprehensive exams.

BADM 9391: Dissertation Extension [3‐0]

Students register for this course in each long semester and during the summer following completion of BADM 9690 until the dissertation is defended. May be repeated.

BADM 9690: Dissertation Residency [6‐0]

Students register for this course following completion of all other doctoral course requirements and successfully completing the comprehensive examinations. This course must be registered for a minimum of two consecutive long semesters of six hours each. If the

dissertation is not completed following the 12‐ hour requirement, the student must register in three hours of BADM 9391 each semester in continuous enrollment, including one summer session, until successful defense of the

dissertation. May be repeated.

ECON 8351: Seminar in Economic Topics [3‐0] Selected topics in economics as they relate to current issues. Various contemporary subjects will be developed by the instructor of this

course. Course may be repeated for credit with different topics.

ECON 8360: Macroeconomic Theory [3‐0]

This course will review theories of productivity, output and employment, as well as

consumption saving and investment decisions. An introduction to long‐run economic growth, an extension of savings and investment to the open economy and the functioning of the money market will be provided next. Business cycles and the IS‐LM/AD‐AS models as general frameworks will be discussed, along with exchange rates and macroeconomic policies in the open economy. Monetary policy and the operating procedures of the Federal Reserve System will pave the way for the literature on rules versus discretion. Recent representative articles from professional journals will

complement the basic material.

ECON 8365: International Trade [3‐0]

This course covers theories on international trade including: comparative advantage, resource allocation, income distribution and foreign trade.

ECON 8370: Econometrics I [3‐0]

This course covers cross‐sectional data analysis.

Prerequisite: QUMT 8311.

ECON 8375: Econometrics II [3‐0]

This course covers time‐series data analysis.

FINA 8322: Scholarship Seminar [3‐0]

Doctoral students will have a one to one contact with a faculty member. The purpose of this seminar is to build up the student’s paper development and writing skills toward producing a premier journal article.

FINA 8341: Seminar in Finance Topics [3‐0]

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FINA 8350: Math for Finance [3‐0] This course introduces the mathematical concepts necessary for pursuing microeconomic theory at the Ph.D. level: theory and application of linear algebra and constrained optimization.

FINA 8360: Theory of Finance [3‐0]

This course entails a rigorous development of the fundamental theories within the field of finance. Topics include utility theory, decision‐ making under uncertainty, information and capital market efficiency, agency theory and dividend policy.

FINA 8365: Theory of Investments [3‐0]

This course covers issues in investment analysis. The first part of the class is devoted to asset pricing theories beginning with Markowitz Portfolio Analysis and moving on to the Capital Asset Pricing Model, the Arbitrage Pricing Theory and the Fama‐French Three‐Factor Model. The course then delves into current issues related to investment analysis focusing on market efficiency and over‐reaction under‐ reaction phenomena. The last part of the course explores derivative pricing theories. FINA 8370: International Finance

Management [3‐0]

This course covers international monetary environments and institutions; determinants of foreign exchange rates and risk management; and foreign investment analysis.

FINA 8375: Corporate Finance [3‐0]

Financial theory applied to capital structure; investment decisions; corporate valuation; and corporate financial policies.

FINA 8380: Financial Markets and

Institutions [3‐0]

This course will provide students with an understanding of the mechanisms of various financial markets. It aims to develop a critical awareness of the theoretical and practical problems associated with regulating financial markets. The course will investigate how the

market structures potentially cause and mitigate financial risk to market participants and end users. Also financial scandals and crises will be reviewed.

INFS 8318: Global Information Systems [3‐0] This research seminar deals with concepts, systems, and technologies affecting the effective management of global information systems. Students will lead discussions on a variety of contemporary issues that impact transnational information technology practices, decisions, strategies, and policies. In particular, students will serve as facilitators to examine and critique emerging trends in the literature dealing with critical aspects of global

information technology management.

INFS 8322: Scholarship Seminar [3‐0]

Doctoral students will have a one to one contact with a faculty member. The purpose of this seminar is to build up the student's paper development and writing skills toward producing a premier journal article.

INFS 8330: Information Technology Concepts

and Research Methods [3‐0]

This seminar introduces doctoral students to fundamental concepts and methods in

information technology research. Students will get exposure to behavioral and technical research that covers a wide range of topics such as the system concepts, the productivity paradox on information technology investment, the technology acceptance model and information systems design methodologies.

INFS 8338: Computer Information Systems

Theories and Pedagogy [3‐0]

Students will develop an understanding of the major theories used in behavioral and

organizational, economic, and technical

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INFS 8348: Data Mining and Business

Intelligence [3‐0]

This course introduces students to data mining techniques and their applications in business intelligence. Students will learn the algorithm and software to conduct data mining using regression, classification tree, neural network and other methods. The business intelligence applications deal with the data collection and organization using database and data

warehousing technologies as well as the result interpretation and utilizations in specific business contexts.

INFS 8358: Information Technology

Administration [3‐0]

This course takes a practical approach to business problem solving through the administration of IT‐related resources. The student will be exposed to topics such as IT project management, organizational

information assurance and business information security.

INFS 8368: Selected Topics in Computer

Information Systems [3‐0]

Topics of historical, current and future relevance in the design, development, installation and management of computer information systems are examined using readings, case studies and lectures.

MARK 8309: Research Methods I [3‐0]

This seminar covers the philosophical, conceptual, methodological, and analytical dimensions of scientific curiosity, data collection, analysis, and reporting. It is an interdisciplinary journey to psychological, social and behavioral approaches to conceptual and empirical science. The seminar equips students with an introductory set of knowledge and skills that enables them to use methods appropriate for their own research projects.

MARK 8310: Marketing Strategy [3‐0]

The seminar will familiarize students with several recurring marketing research issues with major emphasis on the development of

strategic thought in marketing for students to appreciate how research streams have

developed over the years. Central topics include the scope of marketing strategy, the

globalization of specific marketing strategies (starting with the 4P’s) and the interface between marketing and other business functions.

MARK 8311: Consumer Behavior [3‐0]

This seminar brings social science concepts, principles and theories to the study of factors that influence the acquisition, consumption and disposition of products, services and ideas with contributions from social and psychological sciences which inform the discussion of consumer behavior, which is global in nature.

MARK 8312: Marketing Theory [3‐0]

This seminar is about rethinking marketing and the theories and debates that have dominated its discourses. Meaning of theory, criteria for assessing the strengths and weaknesses of theories in marketing, their positive and negative contributions to society and humanity and the potentials and challenges to the futures of marketing will be explored.

MARK 8313: Qualitative Research

Methods [3‐0]

The seminar is designed to help familiarize students with the historical and theoretical foundations of qualitative research methods, to develop the ability to evaluate research

employing qualitative methods and to acquire skills in conducting qualitative research in marketing and management settings. Issues related to the reliability and validity of qualitative research findings and qualitative analyses will be addressed.

MARK 8314: Markets and

Globalization [3‐0]

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around the world and the effects of marketing on globalization streams for an historical understanding of the phenomenon as well as its contemporary nature.

MARK 8315: Services Marketing [3‐0]

This seminar is designed to develop an in‐depth understanding and knowledge of services marketing and relevant theories, to improve skills in reading the academic literature in services for thorough understanding,

interpretation, critical evaluation and relevancy to the discipline and to improve abilities to develop and implement services‐related research.

MARK 8320: Philosophy of Science [3‐0]

This seminar will introduce academic research fundamentals to doctoral students and prepare them for the follow‐up tasks of reviewing published research and writing research papers by exploring the various philosophies of science used in research. In addition, this seminar will help doctoral students prepare for their dissertation tasks and future publications.

MARK 8322: Scholarship Seminar [3‐0]

Doctoral students will have a one to one contact with a faculty member. The purpose of this seminar is to build up the student's paper development and writing skills toward producing a premier journal article.

MARK 8371: Seminar in Marketing Topics [3‐0] Examination of marketing topics focused on current literatures and research interests of faculty and students. Course may be repeated for credit with different topics.

MARK 8372: Marketing Seminar [3‐0] An

advanced examination of marketing topics focused on current literatures and research interests of faculty and students. Course may be repeated for credit with different topics.

MGMT 8322: Scholarship Seminar [3‐0]

Doctoral students will have a one to one contact with a faculty member. The purpose of

this seminar is to build up the student's paper development and writing skills toward producing a premier journal article.

MGMT 8331: Research Methods I [3‐0]

This seminar covers the philosophical, conceptual, methodological, and analytical dimensions of scientific curiosity, data collection, analysis, and reporting. It is an interdisciplinary journey to psychological, social and behavioral approaches to conceptual and empirical science. The seminar equips students with an introductory set of knowledge and skills that enables them to use methods appropriate for their own research projects.

MGMT 8332: Research Methods II [3‐0]

This course is designed to train Ph.D. students to conduct high quality research and to write a strong research paper publishable in a Type A/Premium scholarly journal. To achieve these objectives, we will study in‐depth the research process and methodologies. In addition, students are required to analyze and critique published studies in their field to gain expanded appreciation of how high quality research is conducted and disseminated. Students are also required to write and present a high quality research paper. This class is a Ph.D. seminar and, therefore, is an intensive learning experience. A necessary but not sufficient condition for success in this course is a commitment to excellence on the student’s part.

MGMT 8333: Seminar in Organization

Theory [3‐0]

The main purpose of this course is to familiarize doctoral students with the overall

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MGMT 8334: Seminar in Operations

Management [3‐0]

The main goal of this course is to introduce Ph.D. students to the field of operations management. Operations management is concerned with making strategic operations decisions, designing the operating systems and developing the operations planning and control processes for managing the resources in accordance with the overall business strategy. During the last three decades the strategic value of operations management to businesses has been widely recognized. Although each student can relate topics of the course to his or her discipline, the primary focus of the course is on operations management. The topics that will be covered include but are not limited to the in‐depth study and analysis of operations strategy, research methods used in the field of operations management, capacity strategy, process/product management, service

operations, lean systems, quality management, supply chain management, and sustainability. Course also focuses on producing a research paper for a selected research question(s) in the field of operations management.

MGMT 8335: Seminar in Strategic

Management [3‐0]

This seminar introduces doctoral students to classic and contemporary thinking in the field of strategic management by examining both the theoretical and empirical developments in the last couple of decades as well as critiques and emerging research opportunities. More specifically, the course focuses on examining various concepts related to the

conceptualization of corporate and business level strategies relating to sustainable competitive advantage of firms. MGMT 8336: Seminar in

Entrepreneurship [3‐0]

This course is designed as a broad survey of major topics in the field of

entrepreneurship. Its objective is to familiarize doctoral students with the primary theoretical underpinnings of the field as well as some of

the common and/or promising methodological approaches to the study of entrepreneurial phenomena. Topics covered in the course include: a theoretical traditions in

entrepreneurship, the nature of

entrepreneurship research, foundations of the discipline, opportunity recognition, creativity and innovation, resource acquisition and

management, venture performance, and special topics of entrepreneurs, such as international, corporate, and social entrepreneurs, among others.

MGMT 8337: Seminar in Organizational

Behavior [3‐0]

This doctoral seminar will provide an overview of classic and contemporary theory and research in the field of Organizational Behavior.

Organizational Behavior examines the impact of individuals, groups, and structure on behavior within organizations. Some of the topic areas that we will cover include: job satisfaction and job attitudes, motivation, leadership, emotions and affect in organizations, organizational citizenship behavior, and work teams. In this course, critical review of current research in organizational behavior will be emphasized, as well as classic issues and theories within the field. Throughout the semester, we will also examine applications of this knowledge to real‐ world organizational contexts.

MGMT 8338: Seminar in International

Management [3‐0]

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student‐based discussion. Students are expected to write an academic research paper of publishable quality in the field of

international management during the course. MGMT 8339: Special Topics in

Management [3‐0]

Seminar topics will vary with the interests of the instructor or students. Readings and discussions will carry a research orientation with the goal to produce manuscripts suitable for submission to academic conferences or journals. Course may be repeated for credit with different topics. QUMT 8310: Applied Multivariate

Data Analysis I [3‐0]

Multivariate statistical topics: heuristic review of univariate and bivariate statistical analysis, data examination to include missing data, outliers and assumptions of multivariate analysis, multiple regression analysis, discriminate analysis, logistic regression, and multivariate analysis of variance. Computer applications using appropriate statistical software packages will be presented, discussed and analyzed. Critical analysis of published research using these techniques will be performed. Prerequisite: QUMT 6303 or the equivalent.

Data Analysis II [3‐0]

Multivariate statistical topics: Cluster analysis, multidimensional scaling, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling and emerging techniques in multivariate analysis. Computer applications using appropriate statistical software packages will be presented, discussed and analyzed. Critical analysis of published research using these techniques will be performed.

QUMT 8312: Experimental Design and

Analysis [3‐0]

Introduces design and analysis aspects of planned experimentation. Topics include theory and model development, sampling and

sampling distributions, completely randomized designs, block designs, factorial designs, design resolution, and fractional factorial designs. Computer applications using appropriate statistical software packages will be presented, discussed, and analyzed. Critical analysis of published research using these techniques will be performed. Prerequisite: QUMT 8310. QUMT 8313: Nonparametric Data Analysis [3‐0] This course focuses on nonparametric statistical techniques commonly used in business

research, such as one‐sample, two‐sample, three‐or more samples, matched pairs, lack of Independence, nonparametric regression, goodness‐of‐fit, etc. Also, their parametric counterparts will be compared in different scenarios. Prerequisite: QUMT 8310, 6303 or the equivalent.

QUMT 8314: Selected Topics in Quantitative

Methods [3‐0]

This course is designed to focus on a specific topic in quantitative methods. Such topics may include generalized linear modeling,