Doctor of Philosophy Program
General requirements
Candidates for the PhD degree must complete studies in one of the following major fields: accounting, organizational studies, finance, marketing, operations management and information systems, and strategic management. They must also complete a series of methodological courses relevant to that major field.
Candidates for the PhD degree must fulfil the following minimum requirements:
1.Courses
Students must successfully complete the following course requirements:
(a) A core of courses designed to support necessary methodology training.
(b) A minimum of four courses in the major field.
(c) A minimum of two electives in topics related to the major field, approved by the PhD program coordinator in the candidate’s major field of study.
These courses will normally be chosen from those offered at the 7000-level at the Schulich School of Business. With permission, some may be chosen from those offered at the graduate level by other graduate programs or at other academic institutions.
2.Comprehensive Examinations
Each student must pass a comprehensive examination before proceeding to formal work on her or his dissertation. Comprehensive examinations are designed to demonstrate competence and knowledge in the field. The examination is set and administered by the faculty within the student’s major field.
The Faculty regards the comprehensive examination as a pivotal point for deciding whether students should be allowed to proceed with their studies or be encouraged to withdraw from the program.
3.Dissertation Proposal and Oral Defence
Candidates must prepare a written proposal to conduct original dissertation research carried out under the supervision and a supervisory committee, and must defend this to the satisfaction of the thesis supervisor and members of the supervisory committee.
4.Dissertation and Oral Examination
Candidates must prepare a dissertation based on original research carried out under the supervision of a supervisory committee and submit the results in appropriate dissertation form. After the formal submission of the dissertation, an oral examination is held. It is expected that all or part of the dissertation will be published following professional or scientific review.
Program Entry
The PhD program can be completed on a full-time basis. Entry is fall term.
Program Length
Normal degree completion time for full-time PhD students is 15 terms (5 years). Doctor of Philosophy students must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of six terms of full-time registration. All requirements for a doctoral degree must be fulfilled within 18 terms (6 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time doctoral student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.
Field-specific requirements
1. Courses
Students must successfully complete the following course requirements:
Required DCAD Courses
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7060 3.0: Introduction to Applied Statistics
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7100 3.0: Logics of Social Research
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7250 3.0: Research Design
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7400 3.0: Qualitative Research Methods
Accounting 7010 3.0: Overview of Accounting Research
Accounting Core and Elective Courses
Students are also required to take four of the following doctoral accounting courses:
Accounting 7010 3.0: Overview of Accounting Research
Accounting 7020 3.0: Empirical Methods in Accounting Research
Accounting 7030 3.0: Judgment & Decision in Accounting Research
Accounting 7040 3.0: Advanced Topics in Accounting Research
Accounting 7050 3.0: Advanced Topics in Financial
Accounting Research Accounting 7950 3.0: Special Topics in Accounting Research
Two Elective Courses
These two courses are selected with the assistance of the Accounting PhD program director and will be from disciplines that are foundational to Accounting such as Economics, Finance and Organizational studies.
Additional course requirements for students with limited relevant backgrounds:
Students who have no master’s degree are normally required to take two additional graduate level courses to improve their methodological training; these courses could be, for example, in statistics, econometrics, and psychometrics.
Students who lack relevant background in accounting may be required to take one or more 600-level accounting courses.
2. Comprehensive Examinations
Students undergo a comprehensive examination after successfully completing all coursework. This examination is designed to demonstrate knowledge of the accounting field, the chosen foundation field, and research methodologies. The comprehensive examination is set and administered by Accounting Area faculty members. It is normally administered within 24 months of entry into the PhD program. A second and final attempt at this examination is allowed (within six months of the first examination) if the student is unsuccessful in the first attempt.
The program regards the comprehensive examination as a pivotal point for deciding whether students should be allowed to proceed with their studies or be encouraged to withdraw from the program.
3. Dissertation Proposal and Oral Defence
Candidates must prepare a written proposal to conduct original dissertation research carried out under the supervision of a supervisory committee, and must defend this to the satisfaction of the thesis supervisor and members of the supervisory committee.
4. Dissertation and Oral Examination
Candidates must prepare a dissertation based on original research carried out under the supervision of a supervisory committee and submit the results in appropriate dissertation form. After the formal submission of the dissertation, an oral examination is held. It is expected that all or part of the dissertation will be published following professional or scientific review.
Candidates for the Finance field PhD degree must fulfil the following minimum requirements:
1. Courses
Students must successfully complete the following course requirements:
Required Courses
Finance 7100 3.0: PhD Seminar in Asset Pricing
Finance 7200 3.0: PhD Seminar in Corporate Finance
Finance 7300 3.0: PhD Topics in Finance
Economics 5100 3.0: Microeconomics Theory
Economics 6220 3.0: Advanced Econometric Theory I
Economics 6250 3.0: Advanced Econometric Theory
Economics 5110 3.0: Topics in Macroeconomic Theory
Economics 6100 3.0: Topics in Microeconomic Theory
Two Elective Courses
These two courses are selected with the assistance of the Finance PhD program director from among those offered in other fields in Schulich or from other relevant postgraduate programs at York University.
Two Summer Research Papers
In the summer semester of first and second years students write a research paper under the supervision of a faculty member.
2. Comprehensive Examinations
The comprehensive field examination takes place in the summer of both first year and second year. Students must demonstrate clear and coherent writing ability, methodological mastery and a deep comprehension of the literature relevant to the topic. Their academic writing style should mimic what is expected by top journals in the field. Students receive a grade of pass or fail on their comprehensive exams. Those who fail have the opportunity to retake the exams once, within six months of the date of the first comprehensive exam. Those who fail to pass a second time are not allowed to continue in the PhD program.
The program regards the comprehensive examination as a pivotal point for deciding whether students should be allowed to proceed with their studies or be encouraged to withdraw from the program.
3. Dissertation Proposal and Oral Defence
Candidates must prepare a written proposal to conduct original dissertation research carried out under the supervision of a supervisory committee, and must defend this to the satisfaction of the thesis supervisor and members of the supervisory committee.
4. Dissertation and Oral Examination
Candidates must prepare a dissertation based on original research carried out under the supervision of a supervisory committee and submit the results in appropriate dissertation form. After the formal submission of the dissertation, an oral examination is held. It is expected that all or part of the dissertation will be published following professional or scientific review.
Candidates for the Marketing field PhD degree must fulfil the following minimum requirements:
1. Courses
Students must successfully complete the following course requirements:
Required Courses
Marketing 7980 3.0: Consumer Research A
Marketing 7981 3.0: Consumer Research B
Marketing 7982 3.0: Marketing Strategy: Developing Consumer Research Contributions
Marketing 7985 0.0: Research Paper Formation
Marketing 7986 3.0: Crafting High Impact Consumer Research
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7060 3.0: Introduction to Applied Statistics
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7100 3.0: Logics of Social Research
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7250 3.0: Research Design
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7400 3.0: Qualitative Research Methods
Two Elective Courses
These two courses are chosen, in consultation with the Marketing Area PhD Program Representative or from among the doctoral level courses offered within the program.
2. Comprehensive Examinations
Students write a comprehensive examination after successfully completing all coursework. This examination is designed to demonstrate knowledge of the Marketing field, the chosen foundation field, and research methodologies. The comprehensive examination is set and administered by Marketing Area faculty members. It is normally administered within 24 months of entry into the PhD program. A second and final attempt at this examination is allowed (within six months of the original exam) if the student is unsuccessful in the first attempt.
The program regards the comprehensive examination as a pivotal point for deciding whether students should be allowed to proceed with their studies or be encouraged to withdraw from the program.
3. Dissertation Proposal and Oral Defence
Candidates must prepare a written proposal to conduct original dissertation research carried out under the supervision of a supervisory committee, and must defend this to the satisfaction of the thesis supervisor and members of the supervisory committee.
4. Dissertation and Oral Examination
Candidates must prepare a dissertation based on original research carried out under the supervision of a supervisory committee and submit the results in appropriate dissertation form. After the formal submission of the dissertation, an oral examination is held. It is expected that all or part of the dissertation will be published following professional or scientific review.
Candidates for the Operations Management & Information Systems field PhD degree must fulfil the following minimum requirements:
1. Courses
Students must successfully complete the following course requirements:
Required Courses
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7060 3.0: Introduction to Applied Statistics
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7100 3.0: Logics of Social Research
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7250 3.0: Research Design
Operations Management and Information Systems 7101 3.0: OMIS Foundations I
Operations Management and Information Systems 7102 3.0: OMIS Foundations II
Operations Management and Information Systems 7103 3.0: OMIS Emerging Topics
Operations Management and Information Systems 7985 3.0: Research Project in Operations Management and Information Systems
Eight Elective Courses
These courses are selected with the assistance of the Operations Management & Information Systems PhD program coordinator from among those offered in other fields in Schulich or from other relevant postgraduate programs at York. The eight elective courses expose students to theoretical and methodological courses relevant to their dissertation research interest.
2. Comprehensive Examinations
The comprehensive field examination takes place in the summer of the second year. There are two components: a closed-book quantitative exam (approximately four hours in length) and an open-book take home exam (one week). The closed-book exam tests students on skills learned in their core courses. The open-book take home exam is in essay format and tests students on their ability to design a program of research. Students must demonstrate clear and coherent writing ability, methodological mastery and a deep comprehension of the literature relevant to the topic. Their academic writing style should mimic what is expected by top journals in the field (e.g., Management Science, Journal of Operations Management). Students receive a grade of pass or fail on this comprehensive exam. Those who fail will have the opportunity to retake the exams once, within six months of the date of the first comprehensive exam. Those who fail to pass a second time are not allowed to continue in the PhD program.
The program regards the comprehensive examination as a pivotal point for deciding whether students should be allowed to proceed with their studies or be encouraged to withdraw from the program.
3. Dissertation Proposal and Oral Defence
Candidates must prepare a written proposal to conduct original dissertation research carried out under the supervision of a supervisory committee, and must defend this to the satisfaction of the thesis supervisor and members of the supervisory committee.
4. Dissertation and Oral Examination
Candidates must prepare a dissertation based on original research carried out under the supervision of a supervisory committee and submit the results in appropriate dissertation form. After the formal submission of the dissertation, an oral examination is held. It is expected that all or part of the dissertation will be published following professional or scientific review.
Candidates for the Organization Studies field PhD degree must fulfil the following minimum requirements:
1. Courses
Students must successfully complete the following course requirements:
Required ORGS Courses
Organization Studies 7010 3.0: Individual Behaviour in Organizations
Organization Studies 7050 3.0: Meso Organizational Behaviour
Required DCAD Courses
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7100 3.0: Logics of Social Research
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7060 3.0: Introduction to Applied Statistics
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7250 3.0: Research Design
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7400 3.0 Qualitative Research Methods
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7600 1.5: Graduate Colloquium in Management
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7610 1.5: Graduate Colloquium in Management
NOTE:
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7600 1.5 and Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7610 1.5: This colloquium is a mandatory course held once a month over both the fall and winter semesters in years 1 (Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7600 1.5) and 2 (Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7610 1.5).
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7100 3.0 and Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7250 3.0: It is highly recommended that these two courses be taken concurrently.
Two Elective Courses
Organization Studies elective course 1*
Organization Studies elective course 2
Minor Course 1
Minor course 2
* It is strongly recommended that Organization Studies PhD students take Organization Studies 7020 3.0: Advanced Topics in Organization Theory as an elective or as a minor course.
Summer Research Project
In the summer semester between first and second year, students develop a research proposal under the supervision of a faculty member. Students then present their proposal to the Organization Studies area in the Fall semester of their second year.
2. Comprehensive Examinations
The comprehensive field examination takes place during or after the summer of the second year. The comprehensive exam is a written exam consisting of two parts. Part I tests students’ knowledge of theory, ability to conceptualize and ability to extend or offer novel insights into current theory. Part II is a research methods exam. Those who fail have the opportunity to retake the exams once, within six months of the date of the first comprehensive exam. Those who fail to pass a second time are not allowed to continue in the PhD program.
The program regards the comprehensive examination as a pivotal point for deciding whether students should be allowed to proceed with their studies or be encouraged to withdraw from the program.
3. Dissertation Proposal and Oral Defence
Candidates must prepare a written proposal to conduct original dissertation research carried out under the supervision of a supervisory committee, and must defend this to the satisfaction of the thesis supervisor and members of the supervisory committee.
4. Dissertation and Oral Examination
Candidates must prepare a dissertation based on original research carried out under the supervision of a supervisory committee and submit the results in appropriate dissertation form. After the formal submission of the dissertation, an oral examination is held. It is expected that all or part of the dissertation will be published following professional or scientific review.
Candidates for the Policy & Strategic Management field PhD degree must fulfil the following minimum requirements:
1. Courses
Students must successfully complete the following course requirements:
Required Courses
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7100 3.00 Logics of Social Research
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7250 3.00 Research Design
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7400 3.00 Qualitative Research Methods
A 3.00 credit graduate level methodological course chosen in consultation with the field’s PhD Program Coordinator
Another 3.00 credit graduate level methodological course chosen in consultation with the field’s PhD Program Coordinator
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7610 1.50 Graduate Colloquium in Management
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7600 1.50 Graduate Colloquium in Management
Strategic Management 7010 3.0 Strategic Management Seminar I
Strategic Management 7020 3.0 Strategic Management Seminar II
Organization Studies 7020 3.00 Advanced Topics in Organization Theory OR
Organization Studies 7010 3.00 Individual Behavior in Organizations
Two Elective Courses
Students will take at least two of the following four electives:
- Accounting 6600 3.0: Auditing Standards & Applications
- Strategic Management 7030 3.0: International Business
- Strategic Management 7040 3.0: Corporate Strategy
- Strategic Management 7050 3.0: Business, Society and Global Governance
- Strategic Management 7090 3.0: Special Topics in Strategic Management
Research Paper
Students must submit one research paper that synthesizes a particular body of literature and furthers our understanding on a specific topic in strategy. The research paper is a prerequisite to the comprehensive exams and should comprise both a theoretical and an empirical component. Students work closely with a faculty advisor on this paper.
The initial submission of the research paper is due before the end of December of the second year. Students are required to present this paper in the research seminar series, normally during the spring. Students are expected to submit the final version of the paper by May 15 of the second year. The paper is evaluated and must be approved by the research paper’s faculty advisor, the area PhD Coordinator and an additional faculty member.
2. Comprehensive Examinations
The comprehensive field examination takes place after the summer of the second year. The comprehensive exams are designed to test a student’s breadth of knowledge in the field of strategic management as well as depth of knowledge in select areas. In preparation for their exams, students are given a list of classic readings at the beginning of their program; the list consists of books and journal articles that have defined the field. Students are expected to have a thorough comprehension and understanding of the historical development and the fundamental questions that have guided the discourse in the field. Students are also expected to be thoroughly versed in the current literature and research questions that occupy select areas of the field of strategy. It is assumed that these areas will subsequently define the scope of a student’s dissertation.
Those who fail have the opportunity to retake the exams once, within six months of the date of the first comprehensive exam. Those who fail to pass a second time are not allowed to continue in the PhD program.
The program regards the comprehensive examination as a pivotal point for deciding whether students should be allowed to proceed with their studies or be encouraged to withdraw from the program.
3. Dissertation Proposal and Oral Defence
Candidates must prepare a written proposal to conduct original dissertation research carried out under the supervision of a supervisory committee, and must defend this to the satisfaction of the thesis supervisor and members of the supervisory committee.
4. Dissertation and Oral Examination
Candidates must prepare a dissertation based on original research carried out under the supervision of a supervisory committee and submit the results in appropriate dissertation form. After the formal submission of the dissertation, an oral examination is held. It is expected that all or part of the dissertation will be published following professional or scientific review.
Candidates for the Sustainability field PhD degree must fulfil the following minimum requirements:
1. Courses
Students must successfully complete the following course requirements:
Required Courses
Sustainability 7010 3.0: Advanced Topics in Responsible Business
Organization Studies/Sustainability 7020 3.0: Advanced Topics in Organizational Theory
Sustainability 7050 3.0: Business, Society, and Global Governance
Required DCAD Courses
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7100 3.0: Logics of Social Research
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7060 3.0: Introduction to Applied Statistics**
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7250 3.0: Research Design**
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7400 3.0 Qualitative Research Methods
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7600 1.5: Graduate Colloquium in Management*
Doctoral Course in Administrative Studies 7610 1.5: Graduate Colloquium in Management*
*This colloquium is a mandatory course held once a month over both the fall and winter semesters in years 1.
**It is highly recommended that these two courses be taken concurrently.
Elective Courses
4 elective courses (12 credits) chosen from Sustainability courses, and other Schulich and York courses.
Comprehensive Examinations
Students are expected to write their comprehensive exam at some point during the fifth term of the program. This examination is designed for students to demonstrate their knowledge of the sustainability field, bodies of theory that are relevant to your specific research interests, and research methodologies. Students must have successfully completed all coursework to write their comprehensive exam. Students should schedule their exam with the Sustainability PhD Coordinator at least six weeks in advance, and should also specify their research area of interest at that time. Students are expected to coordinate their schedule with other students at the same stage in the program.
The comprehensive exam is a written exam consisting of two parts. Part I tests students’ knowledge of theory, ability to conceptualize and ability to extend or offer novel insights into current theory. Part II is a research methods exam. Those who fail have the opportunity to retake the exams once, within six months of the date of the first comprehensive exam. Those who fail to pass a second time are not allowed to continue in the PhD program.
The program regards the comprehensive examination as a pivotal point for deciding whether students should be allowed to proceed with their studies or be encouraged to withdraw from the program. More information can be found on the Schulich website.
Dissertation Proposal
After completion of their comprehensive exams, students are expected to focus on developing their dissertation proposal. Students are required to appoint a Supervisory Committee consisting of three faculty members, of whom one is identified as the supervisor, and who is a member of the Sustainability area within the School. Before initiating dissertation research, students are required to submit a formal written proposal that outlines their topic and research plan. Each proposal will then be defended in the form of a formal presentation before the Supervisory Committee. Normally, students are expected to defend their dissertation proposal within one year after the completion of their comprehensive exams. There may be available a monetary bonus for completion of the proposal by September 15thof the 4thyear.
Dissertation
The dissertation is produced under the guidance of the Dissertation Supervisory Committee, and examined by the Dissertation Examining Committee, under guidelines established by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. For details on the composition of the Dissertation Examining Committee and the procedure to be followed for the examination of a dissertation students are referred to the "Guidelines for the Preparation and Examinations of Theses and Dissertations" published and updated periodically by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, York University.
