Degree Requirements

The PhD requires 60 graduate credit hours of course work beyond the master’s degree including the completion of a comprehensive examination and the preparation and oral defense of a dissertation.
Earning a PhD takes approximately four to five years of full-time study, split between taking courses, doing research and writing the dissertation. You will work closely with a faculty adviser, either tenured or tenure-track, who will guide you through the doctoral requirements.
To obtain the PhD, you must meet the following degree requirements

• A demonstration of a thorough working knowledge of research methodology, statistics, management theory, computational methods and microeconomics. To fulfill this requirement, candidates must successfully complete a basic set of core courses and pass a qualifying exam.
• Successful completion and oral presentation of an essay-length research paper after your second year.
• Successful completion of Ph.D. comprehensive examinations
• Participation in designated doctoral seminars and/or workshops throughout the program.
• A successful oral presentation of a written proposal and defense of a doctoral dissertation. The faculty must approve the topic and methodology in advance.

Program Chronology

	Activities	Objectives Accomplished
Year One, Foundation Activities	Course work: Theory and quantitative courses and courses in area of specialization Attend research colloquia in fields of interest	Learn basic disciplines and research methods, both in general and as applied to fields of study
Year Two, Foundation Activities	Course work: Theory and quantitative courses and courses in area of specialization Research colloquia Essay length research paper OR Research paper submitted to conference or journal?	Complete basic disciplines and develop area of specialization Develop research skills by participating with faculty in research activities Develop understanding of research process
Year Three, Research Activities	Course work: Complete field of specialization Pass a comprehensive examination Prepare dissertation proposal	Develop further depth in an area of specialization Conduct research in developing a dissertation topic Prepare for oral defense of dissertation proposal through rigorous appraisal of research plans by faculty
Year Four, Completion of Dissertation	Oral defense of dissertation proposal; represents 50-70% to completion Oral defense of dissertation Prepare for job search	Continue to conduct research on the dissertation Refine research skills through the continued scrutiny of research by faculty and peers Successfully defend the dissertation after undergoing rigorous appraisal and verification of quality by faculty

The Program’s Foundation

Your first two years in the Howe School PhD program may be your most exciting. Highly motivated students have chosen to pursue doctoral study because they see it as an intellectually stimulating opportunity. The first two years mark the beginning of that new experience and hold the promise of a career in academia or in a research-oriented organization.

In many respects these first two years are also the most challenging. The pace of the course work is brisk, and expectations -- both of students and faculty -- are high. The PhD educational process is very autonomous, requiring personal goal setting, self-motivation, and application to hard work. For many, it is also a year of adapting to changes: new friends, a new university, a new city and, for some, a new culture and climate.

During the first two years of study you will develop a solid foundation in management theory, microeconomics, computational methods and research methods. These core courses provide the theoretical and analytical skills necessary for you to work productively within your particular area of study and research within technology management, information management, or telecommunications management.

At the end of your second year of full-time study you will take a qualifying examination assessing your mastery of the core topics covered in the first two years: microeconomics, organizations, decision theory, and statistics/methodology.

The Howe School’s faculty and staff are committed to helping you as you assimilate into your new environment, complete your course work, and become a vital part of the Stevens community.

The Program’s Specializations

At the Howe School, we take advantage of our small size to deliver two distinctive benefits: personalized attention and a curriculum customized to fit your needs. You can expect to get more time interacting with faculty members than you would get in most other PhD environments.

As you progress in your doctoral study, you will need to set your own goals to maintain momentum. It is now that you develop the work ethic and drive needed to succeed in academia.

During their years of formal study students enroll in seminars, covering specialized areas of research, that familiarize them with the current literatures in these areas, and that provide a basis for identifying potential dissertation topics.  Research seminars are currently offered in the following areas:

In Technology Management:

• Entrepreneurship
• New Product Development
• Advanced Topics in Organization Theory

In Information Management:

• Business Process Management
• Information Management and Organizational Structure and Behavior
• Principles of Information Management I, II
• Strategic Management of Information Technologies

In Telecommunications Management:

• Economics of Networks
• Risk Management