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 Program Requirements
The Schulich doctorate is an individualized program of study which is composed of the four tightly linked phases of study. Students first take a series of core courses to acquire in-depth knowledge of the field they choose to major in. These core courses also help develop the skills and competencies necessary to conduct research. Candidates complete a comprehensive examination to test mastery of their major field.
From the outset of their PhD program, students are invited to start thinking about the direction of their research. They are encouraged to explore ideas that might lead to a research proposal which demonstrates that there is scope for significant independent research in their major field. The third phase of the PhD program consists of the preparation of the formal research proposal. Following this, students go on to conduct the research which will be reported in their dissertation, the culmination of the PhD degree.
To view a panel presentation facilitated by DocNet and hosted at the Schulich School of Business on a "PhD in Business" in June 2005, please click here. The panel presentation facilitates a greater understanding of an academic vocation in Business. (Please note that the presentation will work in Internet Explorer or Firefox but not Mozilla or Netscape.)
PROGRAM LENGTH
Candidates must complete the PhD program within six years of their date of entry. Students holding an MBA on entry to the PhD typically graduate after four to five years. As with all Ontario doctoral programs, the Schulich PhD requires full-time residency for a minimum period of two years. In fact, most students maintain full-time residency for at least the first four years of their studies; they find this arrangement allows them to make reasonable progress with their studies.
Under rare and unforeseen circumstances, students may be given an extension of time. However, such extensions are only given when students have a reasonable chance of completing the PhD degree within the extended period of time.
Successful completion of the Schulich PhD in Administration requires the following:
COURSEWORK
Coursework is intended to prepare students to carry out leading-edge research in their major field. A student’s coursework plan is developed in consultation with the faculty member from the student’s field who has been assigned as an advisor.
It is preferable for students to have completed an MBA prior to entering the Schulich PhD. Exceptions are made, however, in cases where a student appears to have the potential to benefit from the doctoral program. Students entering without an MBA are required to do a number of Schulich MBA 1 Required Foundations of Management Core Courses. They must also complete two courses in each of two minor fields.
There are four types of courses in the PhD program: DCAD Core Courses, Major Field Core Courses, Major Field Elective Courses and Minor Field(s) Elective Courses.
DCAD Core Courses
The DCAD core courses are designed to ensure that all students acquire a basic competence in research methods, including logics of social research, research design, quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
Major Field Core Courses
These courses are intended to ensure that all students acquire a knowledge of the fundamental issues and research methods in their field. For a detailed outline of course requirements for each field, please go to the section of this Web site that describes the individual Fields.
Major Field Elective Courses
Within a student’s major field, PhD electives are usually offered as individual reading courses. These enable the student to acquire in- depth knowledge in a particular topic in preparation for conducting research on that topic. Prior to actually beginning a PhD elective, students often take an MBA elective in their field. Such courses help to broaden their knowledge, understanding and awareness of significant issues to be covered in the PhD elective.
Minor Field(s) Elective Courses
It is important for students to develop an awareness of the significant research challenges in other fields of business outside their own major. Candidates holding an MBA degree are required to take at least two courses in a field of study outside their major (the minor field).
Occasionally students with the appropriate undergraduate training also find it valuable for their research preparation to take courses in the fundamental disciplines that support research and Minor Field(s) in management such as mathematics, economics, psychology, and sociology. The strength of York’s graduate programs in these disciplines means that there is a wide range of such courses available.
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
Students must pass a comprehensive examination which allows them to demonstrate competence in and knowledge of their major field. This is necessary if they are to add to the field through their research. The comprehensive is set and administered by faculty members from the major field. The comprehensive is normally scheduled to take place 24 months after entry to the PhD program.
The nature of the comprehensive varies from field to field. In some, it consists of “closed-book” examinations held over two days. In others, it consists of “open-book” examinations held over a week. Students should consult their area's "Comprehensive examination: policy and procedure".
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Students are required to submit a formal proposal outlining their research topic and their plan for completing the research. The proposal has to be presented to (or defended), and approved by an individual's dissertation committee. Typically, students are expected to defend their proposal within 36 months of entering the program.
The research proposal is a major milestone in the PhD program. It usually consists of a well researched statement of intent, together with some preliminary results. Proposals take on different forms, depending on the field and the nature of the research methodology employed. Variations include case studies, questionnaires, data analysis, or development of mathematical models.
The research proposal is presented to the student’s dissertation advisory committee and interested faculty members. The committee then assesses whether the research proposed is likely to produce results of sufficient significance to merit the degree. They also decide whether the plan for carrying out the research is realistic in terms of the likely time to complete the research, the proposed arrangements for access to data and sites for field work, and the availability of computing and other resources. Once the student has successfully defended the proposal it is forwarded to the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies as a record of the student's proposed research topic.
Note that York University requires that all research involving human subjects be approved by an ethics panel.
DISSERTATION
The dissertation is the written document that embodies the results of a student’s original research. The dissertation is the core of the PhD program and it is judged by its originality and its contribution to the student’s major field. The dissertation is examined by a dissertation committee set up for each student in accordance with the rules of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
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