Overview of Concentrations

The Ph.D. program in Management Science offers concentrations in the following areas:

Accounting

This program is for individuals seeking training in the most advanced issues, both theoretical and applied, in the field of Accounting. It is designed to prepare them primarily for teaching positions in research-oriented universities. Some students may be placed in senior positions in industry, government or consulting organizations. The program requires a hands-on training in accounting research, supported by work in the disciplines of economics, mathematics, psychology and statistics, culminating in a doctoral dissertation.

Finance

This program is for individuals seeking the most advanced academic degree with an emphasis in Finance. It is designed to prepare them for (1) teaching positions in research-oriented universities, (2) senior staff positions in industry or government, or (3) senior positions in consulting organizations; however, the emphasis is on (1). The program consists of coursework in financial management, investments, and money and capital markets, together with work in the supporting areas of economics, mathematics, and statistics; it culminates in a doctoral dissertation. The program is designed to be completed in three years of full-time study by a student entering with an appropriate master’s degree.

Information Systems

This program is designed for individuals who seek training in advanced theoretical and applied issues in the field of information systems. The training prepares students for conducting leading edge research in topics ranging from the design of optimized systems to the effective use of such systems in organizations. Students undergo rigorous training in research methodologies as well as in the design of information systems. The research conducted is often interdisciplinary in nature, and is characterized by strong analytical modeling of new and emerging issues in information technology creation and management. The program prepares students mainly for academic positions in research universities; some students may be placed in research positions in industry, government, or consulting organizations.

Marketing

The purpose of the marketing concentration is to train researchers capable of dealing with the most advanced issues, both theoretical and applied, in the field of marketing. Universities as well as major companies with marketing orientation aggressively recruit Ph.D.’s with strong theoretical and research training in marketing. Graduates will have rigorous training in disciplinary areas and research methodology. They will have knowledge of the various research streams in marketing, will have developed a research specialization and a clear perspective on management issues.

Operations Management

Operations Management emphasizes the development of models, methods, applications, and algorithms as they apply to problems in manufacturing and services. All students will be exposed to deterministic and stochastic modeling and will have the option of applying and/or developing these and new methods to solve problems in their selected topics. There will also be an option of combining a major in Finance, Information Systems or Marketing with one in Operations Management. The goal of the doctoral program in Operations Management is to educate future practitioners and researchers in the concepts and analytical techniques needed to understand and advance scientific solutions to the problems currently faced by operations managers.