Management (STEM-designated), Ph.D.

Solve today's multifaceted challenges faced by business and industry through research and knowledge discovery.

Jyothsna Harithsa defends her dissertation

Program Overview

The doctoral program in management develops scholars highly skilled in teaching and conducting research. Within each business discipline, theoretical underpinnings and applications are explored with analytical modeling, quantitative sciences, and data analytics. The Lally Ph.D. program is STEM-designated.

Ph.D. students learn from faculty members who advance business theory and practice through research in management science, economics, and behavioral science using a wide range of analytical methods, including machine learning. Faculty research covers broad application domains, including corporate finance, fintech, banking, strategic management, joint ventures, investments, capital markets, supply chains, and organizational behavior.

Learn more about our current Ph.D. students and why they chose RPI

About STEM-Designation 

The Lally Ph.D. has STEM-designation due to its strong focus on quantitative and management sciences. This designation is important because the U.S. and global economies increasingly require workers with a high proficiency in STEM-related areas for competitive advantage and growth. STEM-designated degrees offer domestic U.S. students the possibility of academic advancement and employment security. The STEM-designation has been extremely beneficial to international students looking for work in the U.S. Traditionally, with an F-1 visa, graduates were eligible for up to 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT), allowing students to work toward getting practical training once the degree program is completed. With the STEM-designation, students are allowed to apply to extend the OPT period even longer (up to 24 months). While many of our graduates pursue academic careers, a STEM-designated Ph.D. can allow additional flexibility for graduates considering careers in industry.

Curriculum 

The Lally Ph.D. degree is a 72-credit program and it takes on average four to five years to complete depending on the level of preparation of an admitted student.

Typical Program Structure:

  • Year One: Fulfills a variety of requirements and prepares students to complete a qualifying exam.
  • Year Two: Consists of area-oriented coursework and prepares students to conduct research.
  • Year Three: Consists of dissertation research and preparations to form a doctoral committee
  • Year Four: Continue dissertation research, finalize doctoral committee, and complete a candidacy exam.
  • Year Five: Completion of dissertation research and an oral dissertation defense.

A student with a master's in management or MBA from an AACSB-accredited institution within seven years of applying to the doctoral program, and who is able to take courses in the summer, can consider completing the program within three years. Additional courses are required of students who enter without a master’s degree in management.

View Catalog Details

Program Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program will be able to:

  • Demonstrate competency, both theoretically and empirically, in their area of specialization.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in research and research methods.
  • Demonstrate effective presentation and speaking skills in the classroom and in professional academic settings.
  • Write and present academic research papers of conference-level quality.
  • Demonstrate the ability to write high-quality papers for submission to academic journals.

Contact

Lally School of Management
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
110 8th Street, Pittsburgh Building, Troy, NY 12180
(518) 276-2812

Back to top