PhD Frequently Asked Questions

What concentrations do you offer?

We offer two Ph.D’s.  One is in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance, Management, or Marketing.  The other Ph.D. is in Accountancy.

Do you have a part-time doctoral program?

We have only full-time doctoral programs.  We do not offer evening classes or on-line classes leading to the doctoral degree.  Our experience has demonstrated that students who participate in full-time programs are better prepared to meet the research expectations of an academic position.

How long does it take to complete the program?

MU requires a minimum of 72 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree for the Ph.D.  Most students complete the doctoral degree in four to five years.

Can I apply on-line?

Applicants may apply for admission online (the GraduateSchool’s preferred method) or apply using the traditional Graduate Application for Admission.  All application materials, including the required departmental application and university application, are accessible from the Graduate School's website or in the Graduate School, Room 210 Jesse Hall.

What is the deadline for applications?

Normally, applications are accepted for study beginning in fall semester only.  To ensure full consideration for additional funding from university fellowships, applications should be received by February 1.

How many students do you admit each year?

Depending on program size and funding availability, each academic unit normally admits approximately two students per year, meaning approximately 8 doctoral students are admitted to the college’s doctoral programs annually.

What is your financial aid package? Does it include research and travel support?

Students accepted into the Ph.D. Program are normally awarded a half-time teaching or research assistantship, scholarships, and summer teaching support. For the 2008-2009 academic year, this financial package totals $20,305 per year. Four-year funding is available for students making satisfactory progress toward their degree. Qualifications for summer instruction include completion of at least one semester of course work, satisfactory performance on any prior teaching responsibilities, acceptable progress toward the degree, and completion of English language proficiency skills that the university requires of international students. Alternatively, summer support for research-related fellowships is also available. Additional funding is also available through graduate fellowships provided at the university level. Ph.D. students generally receive a full educational fee waiver.

If a student has not finished after four years but is making good progress on completing a dissertation, the academic unit head may, at his/her discretion and subject to teaching needs, hire the student in his/her fifth year as a part-time adjunct instructor.

The college provides each doctoral candidate with $2,000 in development funds and departments offer support for research projects and travel associated with research presentations at major academic conferences. A medical insurance subsidy is provided for those with teaching or research assistantships. In addition, Ph.D. students receive a discount on purchases made at the University Book Store.

How can I learn about faculty expertise and research interests?

Faculty expertise and research interests are highlighted in our faculty profiles located on our college web site by clicking on the academic unit of interest and then "faculty profiles."

• School of Accountancy
• Finance Department
• Management Department
• Marketing Department

What is the typical enrollment for your doctoral program?

Approximately 30-40 doctoral students are typically enrolled in the MU College of Business.

Do your students get training in both teaching and research?

Two primary objectives of the Ph.D. program are to train candidates to become proficient researchers and to provide candidates with the opportunity to develop classroom instructional skills. Ph.D. students are assigned teaching responsibilities for two years and research responsibilities for two years during the four years in which they are in the formal support package provided by the college.

Through course work and other activities, students develop skills in various areas such as literature review and critique, theoretical modeling, research design, computer assisted empirical analysis, and preparation of proposals and research papers. As part of the assistantship assignment, students are assigned as research assistants to faculty.

All doctoral students are assigned undergraduate teaching responsibilities. Typically, candidates will have the responsibility for planning, conducting, and administering one section of an undergraduate course per semester. Doctoral students are encouraged to visit classes to observe teaching methods; interact with faculty to become familiar with course material and presentation; and attend various teaching seminars and training sessions.

Do your students have an office and access to computers?

Doctoral students are assigned office space and a computer in Cornell Hall.

Do students collaborate with faculty on research?

Faculty and doctoral students collaborate on research projects on a regular basis. The inception of these projects varies, but at their core these collaborative projects come about because of a sincere desire by faculty and students to explore subjects of mutual interest. Faculty and doctoral students have numerous settings in which research is discussed and critiqued. Much of the time, the results of their collaborative projects are shared at conferences and/or published in refereed journals. See the PhD Update newsletter, Fall 2006, for more information regarding collaborative research.

What type of jobs do your doctoral graduates take?

MU’s College of Business Ph.D. program is designed to prepare individuals for careers in academia as a college professor. Some of our recent placements include Washington University, University of Cincinnati, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Marquette University, Florida State University, University of New Mexico, Louisiana State University, University of Calgary, and Washington State University.

How can I learn more about the city of Columbia and about housing?

You can learn about the city of Columbia by visiting the following web sites:

• Columbia Convention and Visitor's Bureau
• City of Columbia, Missouri

Information about on-campus housing can be found at the Department of Residential Life. Information about off-campus housing can be found at the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

If I have additional questions, who should I contact?

For additional questions, please email:

Accountancy

Business Administration (Finance, Management, or Marketing)