Curriculum
The components of the Ph.D. program equip each student with:
- A foundation in concepts, methods, and techniques in basic business courses and;
- A thorough introduction to and development of proficiency in the tools needed for academic research and;
- Intensive concentration by the individual student in international business for emphasis on developing breadth and depth of understanding of the field and can evaluate and contribute to pioneering advances in theory, concepts, methods, and;
- Additional breadth from course work and/or research in a second field of study (the minor field), which complements the major field. The minor may be selected from any of the following available in the College of Business:
- Finance
- Insurance
- Logistics
- Human Resources
Summary of Program
The Advisory Committee
Sometime during the first two quarters of the program, IB doctoral students should choose an advisor whose research interests are close to their own from among the active faculty. The Advisor will act as a mentor for the student and in many cases includes the student in ongoing research projects.
The Advisory Committee consists of two faculty members, in addition to the Advisor. The Advisory Committee provides students with broad guidance as they formulate a research direction. In addition, the Advisory Committee has a formal role to play in the First Year Review, evaluating the Research Paper, and writing and evaluating the Candidacy Exam. The Advisory Committee also has a formal role to play in evaluating and approving the Dissertation Proposal and evaluating the final Dissertation.
Courses
Upon being admitted to the program, students are evaluated by the office of the Director of Ph.D. programs with regard to meeting Ph.D. program prerequisites. These prerequisites are designed to assure that Ph.D. students graduating from the Fisher College of Business have a broad functional background in business. Students may be required to enroll in a variety of prerequisite classes as they begin their Ph.D. education
In addition to these prerequisite classes, Ph.D. students in International Business must take courses in three areas: Research Methods and Statistics, the International Business Core, and a Minor Area. Students are required to take a minimum of two (2) courses in research methods and a minimum of six (6) courses in statistics. The International Business Core is made up of at least six (6) Ph.D. seminars in International Business and related areas.
Students must have a program of study that lists all the courses they will take while in residence at Ohio State approved by their Advisor and the Graduate Programs Office no later than the end of their second quarter in residence.
First Year Review
At the end of the first year in residence, IB doctoral students undergo a formal First Year Review. This review has two purposes: to give the student feedback about her/his progress in the program and to provide the student an opportunity to share feedback about the program with the faculty. The student will schedule a time to meet with the review committee to discuss their status in the program, their research agenda and so forth. After this discussion, the faculty committee will make a formal recommendation to the Department Head about the status of a student.
Qualifying Exam
After completing the formal course requirements at the end of the second academic year, students will take the qualifying exam for specialization in international business at a predesignated time before the beginning of the their third year. The exam tests the student's detailed knowledge of the international business literature, including the important theories, models and empirical approaches used in this research. Students will need to demonstrate their understanding of the research questions dominating the literature as well as be able to provide new insights. In this regard, the exam is designed to test the ability of the student to integrate and make creative contributions to the literature, not just memorize it. Passing the qualifying exam reflects the student's readiness to undertake dissertation research. Thus, students will be able to defend their dissertation proposal only after they have passed the qualifying exam.
The qualifying exam consists of two parts--written and oral. The written part of the exam is taken over four days in four four-hour blocks. The exam is written by the student's Advisor, in cooperation with other members of the Student's Advisory Committee. Students are allowed to take one sheet of paper with notes into the exam to assist their memory. In all other respects, the exam is closed book to ensure that students internalize the material. Students are allowed to select a subset of questions to answer. Approximately two weeks after the written part of the qualifying exam, the student will take the oral exam. The purpose of the oral exam is to allow the student to provide additional insight or clarification on his/her responses in the written exam as well as on questions not attempted.
The student has two chances to take the qualifying exam. If the student does not pass the second time as well, he or she will be not be able to continue in the program.
Dissertation Proposal Defense: The Candidacy (General) Exam
In the Dissertation Proposal Defense, the Ph.D. student gives and oral presentation describing the content of the Dissertation Proposal, and responds to questions from the Advisory Committee and the audience. The committee will accept the proposal or ask the student to make some modifications before accepting it.
The Dissertation Defense
In the Dissertation Defense, a student summarizes the research questions and objectives of the dissertation research and shares important findings generated by the research. The student also responds to questions from the Advisory Committee and from members of the audience. Upon final approval of the dissertation, a student's Advisor and Advisory Committee recommend that a student receive the Ph.D. degree.
