Business Administration
The Beedie School of Business doctor of philosophy program is a hybrid program that combines a rigorous program of doctoral seminars and other graduate course work, along with a tailored mentorship with a faculty member who acts as the student's senior supervisor. We offer students a PhD program customized to individual interests and abilities. Students collaboratively develop their own curriculum to meet the challenges and opportunities of business and management theory and practice. The goal is to develop highly capable scholars for careers in academia.
All students specialize in a traditional business discipline (i.e. marketing, organization studies, accounting, finance, MIS, strategy, technology operations management, international business) as well as broadening their academic background in one of the interdisciplinary areas that are the Beedie School of Business' key strengths (i.e. innovation, globalization/emerging markets, sustainability).
間眅埶AV Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the University admission requirements as stated in in the 間眅埶AV Calendar. Students are admitted in the fall term only. A minimum GMAT score of 600 and five on analytical writing is required. Interviews and a statement of interest are used to determine a fit between students and faculty. See the Beedie School of Business website for details, .
Program Requirements
Non Finance Specialization
This specialization consists of required courses, breadth courses, research method courses, specialization courses, a research project, a comprehensive exam, a thesis proposal, and a thesis for a minimum of 62 units. The course requirements consist of three required courses and graduate courses that are selected by the senior supervisor and the doctoral candidate's committee to create a curriculum which will be flexible within certain limits. Those who lack a business degree may, at the discretion of the PhD director, be asked to complete additional courses beyond the program requirements in order to improve their background knowledge.
Students must complete a minimum of 11 approved graduate courses, including all of
The effective use of empiricism, positivism, and interpretive explanations in generating, defending and clarifying logically rigorous arguments is explored. Participants from diverse fields (marketing, international business, management studies, accounting, policy analysis, finance, etc.) within the administrative sciences will look at the processes which have guided theory development and theory testing within their field of inquiry. Attention will focus on what criteria are used to assess the adequacy of explanations and useful theories. The seminar seeks to advance the participants' interest in putting theory into practice. Prerequisite: Enrollment in PhD program.
Provides an overview of the major quantitative and qualitative analytical methods associated with empirical research in Business Administration. This seminar is aimed at providing an overview of the research process, an introduction to a range of research techniques and data analysis appropriate to those techniques. It should develop participants' skills for designing research as well as an ability to critically assess research reported in the literature. To do this, the course will focus on various approaches to research design, discuss the kinds of analyses appropriate to those designs, and introduce computer packages for data analysis, such as Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Prerequisite: Enrollment in PhD program.
This seminar is intended to support doctoral students in the early stages of the development of their dissertations. Practical and conceptual issues with respect to the integration of theory, research design, and methodology will be explored. The seminar will provide a forum for students to share their dissertation work in progress, and learn from each other with respect to theoretical, analytical, and methodological problems, successes and trade-offs. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PhD program or consent of the instructor.
and a minimum of two breadth courses
Selected Topics in Innovation.
Selected Topics in Globalization/Emerging Markets.
Selected Topics in Capital/Risk Management.
Selected Topics in Sustainability.
and a minimum of three research methods courses*
and a minimum of three specialization courses**
and a research project
PhD students will generate a research project in their third term that will be graded by the senior supervisor on a pass/fail basis. The student can rewrite the project once. If the grade is still deficient, they will be asked to withdraw from the program. Those who pass the research project will present it in an open research presentation. Questions and answers emerging in this context should assist the student to develop their research. Prerequisite: Enrollment in PhD program.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD |
and a comprehensive exam
Students will be required to pass a comprehensive exam in the sixth term of the program. This will include written examinations in each student's major and methodology minor followed by an oral exam. Graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: Enrollment in PhD program.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD |
and a thesis
and a thesis proposal
The candidate must fulfil the university requirements regarding a thesis and its public defence.
Finance Specialization
This specialization consists of required courses, research method courses, specialization courses, a research project, a comprehensive examination, a thesis proposal, and a thesis for a minimum of 54 units. The course requirements consist of three required courses and graduate courses selected by the senior supervisor and the doctoral candidate's committee to create a curriculum which will be flexible within certain limits.
Students must complete a minimum of nine approved graduate courses, including all of
An introduction to the theory and practice of finance including topics from asset pricing, portfolio theory, and corporate finance. Offered once a year. Prerequisite: ECON 331.
Develops a foundation for econometric theory and applied econometrics. Topics may include an introduction to measure and probability theory, integration and mathematical expectations, stochastic limit theory, asymptotic theory, mathematical statistics, multiple linear regression, and an introduction to GMM and maximum likelihood estimation. Prerequisite: ECON 835 or equivalent.
and a minimum of three research methods courses*
and a minimum of three specialization courses**
and a research project
PhD students will generate a research project in their third term that will be graded by the senior supervisor on a pass/fail basis. The student can rewrite the project once. If the grade is still deficient, they will be asked to withdraw from the program. Those who pass the research project will present it in an open research presentation. Questions and answers emerging in this context should assist the student to develop their research. Prerequisite: Enrollment in PhD program.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD |
and a comprehensive exam
Students will be required to pass a comprehensive exam in the sixth term of the program. This will include written examinations in each student's major and methodology minor followed by an oral exam. Graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: Enrollment in PhD program.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD |
and a thesis
and a thesis proposal
The candidate must fulfill the university requirements regarding a thesis and its public defence.
* Research Method Courses for both Specializations
Some examples are: Quantitative and/or Qualitative Research Methods, Multivariate Methods, Experimental Design. The three research methods courses will be completed in the first five terms. The student's supervisor can add to, or substitute, methods courses in consultation with the director of the PhD program.
** Specialization Courses for both Specializations
These courses are set and administered by the senior supervisor in consultation with the student's supervisory committee and the PhD program director. These courses can include Beedie School of Business graduate courses, directed studies courses, special topics, as well as approved graduate courses in other programs or universities. It is highly recommended that at least one of the specialization courses be given by the student's senior supervisor. In special cases, the senior supervisor can recommend, in consultation with the PhD director, that the student complete fewer, or more, specialization courses than the minimum required. At least two courses should be completed at 間眅埶AV.
Program Length
Students are expected to complete the program requirements within four to five years.
Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations
All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations, as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled.