Organization Management

The doctoral program in Organization Management offers preparation for research and teaching careers in five major areas: organizational behavior, organization theory, strategic management, management of technology and innovation, and entrepreneurship. In addition to formal course work, students engage in independent study and research with faculty and other graduate students.  The program has a strong record of publication by students and alumni, often in collaboration with faculty members.  Click here to view the list of some of the publications by students currently in the program and graduates since 1998.

The program is managed by the Department of Management and Global Business.  Students who emphasize the management of technology and innovation work closely with the Technology Management Research Center. Click here for information on the department's strengths in the management of technology and innovation.  Those working in the area of entrepreneurship have the opportunity to work with the Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development.

Seminar Series 

Doctoral students in Organization Management who have not yet defended a dissertation proposal are expected to attend the seminar series of the Department of Management and Global Business, and each semester they receive a grade on their transcript based on their attendance and participation.  Applicants and potential applicants are also welcome at the seminar.  Visitors should check the schedule and telephone numbers on the department’s website or contact the administrative assistant (Dawn Gist at dmgist@business.rutgers.edu) to get added to the seminar distribution announcement list.

Requirements

Course work, the qualifying examination, and the dissertation

The doctoral degree requires a total of 72 credits. At least 24 of these credits must be in dissertation research. An additional 6 credits must be taken to satisfy the program’s early research requirement. This leaves 42 credits, which will consist of courses, independent study, or additional dissertation research.

Full-time students are expected to take at least three courses for degree credit each semester during the first two years.  They must then take the qualifying examination at the end of their second academic year.  During the last two years, they work mainly on their dissertation, but they may wish to take additional methodology courses during their third and fourth years and may be asked to do so by their adviser and doctoral coordinator. 

Within a year after passing the qualifying examination, the student should defend a dissertation proposal.

Foundation/methodology requirement (4 courses)

Students should take these two courses in the first year

26:620:557 Social Science Research Methods
26:960:577 Statistical Linear Models

In addition, they should take at least two other doctoral level methodology or statistics courses.  Students may consider the following and can consider other potential options with the approval of their adviser:

26:620:660 Qualitative Research Methods
26:830:545 Research Design
26:620:685 Survey Research
26:220:507 Econometrics
26:198:622 Machine Learning
26:198:644 Data Mining

Excellent statistics and methodology courses are also available to our students in Statistics, Psychology, Sociology, Economics, SMLR, and SCILS at Rutgers-New Brunswick, in Psychology at Rutgers-Newark, and in Mathematical Sciences and Computer Science at NJIT.

Major (5 courses)

26:620:555 Seminar in Organizational Behavior
26:620:556 Seminar in Organization Theory
26:620:558 Seminar in Strategic Management

And two of the following courses:

26:620:604 Seminar in Leadership and Group Processes
26:620:671 Management of Innovation and Technology
26:620:675 Topics in Business Strategy
26:620:677 Culture and Organizations
26:620:685 Entrepreneurship

Minor (3 courses):  Three courses approved by the adviser, the doctoral coordinator, and the doctoral director.

Teaching Requirement:  Each student must teach at least one course in RBS in the area in which he or she is earning a doctoral degree.  Before doing so, the student is expected to enroll in 26:120:560 Effective College Teaching (taught in the spring semester each year) unless this requirement is waived by the program director and the department chair.  Students who enter with financial support may need to take this course in Spring 2010 in order to be sure of having an employment opportunity from RBS in Summer 2010.

First early research requirement (equivalent to one course):  Full-time students should prepare for the early research requirement by taking Statistical Linear Models and Research Methods in the first year. Then they write a paper (usually a literature review) with a faculty member.

Second early research requirement (equivalent to one course):  Write a paper (ideally a dissertation proposal) with a faculty member.

Writing proficiency requirement:  In late May or early June at the end of the first year, students participate in the program-wide Intensive Writing Seminar.

Other rules and requirements:  For details of rules and requirements that apply to all doctoral students in RBS, see Policies and Procedures.

Qualifying examination:  The qualifying examination, in conformity with University regulations, will be taken at the end of the second year of coursework. It will consist of 4 in-class questions, administered over a two day period. The students will choose a primary and secondary concentration from the following: Organizational Behavior, Organization Theory, and Strategy. The student will be expected to answer two questions from the primary concentration and one question from the secondary concentration, plus a question on methodology. The examination committee, which must have at least four members, will normally be chosen from the faculty members who taught the courses in Organizational Behavior, Organization Theory, Strategy, and Research Methods during the student’s first year. In some circumstances, students may wish to be evaluated on International Business as their secondary area. The level of the examination will be geared toward what students can reasonably be expected to accomplish during two years of course work.

Sample program for main portion of course work