Manning School of Business - University of Massachusetts Lowell

PROGRAM CURRICULUM AND FLOW
Students must complete 64 credits: 46 course credits and 18 dissertation credits.
Progress through the program can be broken down into four distinct stages:
• Completion of core courses and core exam.
• Completion of specialization/elective courses and comprehensive exam.
• Completion of dissertation proposal.
• Completion of dissertation defense.
Again, pace is determined by whether the student is a
full- or part-time student.
Core Courses and Core Exam
Upon admittance into the program, students will focus on core
courses. The objective of these courses is to provide Ph.D.
students with the requisite tools to conduct rigorous research.
Certain core courses are required of specific specializations; these
are indicated in the table at right. Nineteen credits are completed
across the core—six core courses (each 3 credits), as well as the
Managerial Research Seminar (1 credit).
After completing the majority of the core courses, typically at the
end of the first year for full-time students, students will undertake a
core exam. This exam is designed to ensure that the student can
apply the concepts from the first year of coursework. Exams are
graded by a team of faculty; adequate performance is required for
advancement in the program.
Specialization/Elective Courses and Comprehensive Exam
After completing the majority of core courses, students will
then transition into specialization and elective courses. Each
specialization requires five three-credit courses. These courses are
selected with the guidance of a faculty adviser. Ph.D. students will
also complete four elective courses. These elective courses may
draw from other specializations across the program or across the
broader university.
After all courses are completed, Ph.D. students take
comprehensive exams. Comprehensive exams are critical
to the student’s progression. Comprehensive exams are
compiled by a faculty team. The exams are meant to
test the student’s knowledge of the larger business
scholarship, as well as the student’s chosen
specialization area. The format of the exam is
determined by the faculty within the specialization
area, as well as the associate dean. Exams are
graded by a team of faculty; adequate performance
is required for advancement in the program.
COURSE TITLE
Research Design Methods I*
Research Design Methods 2*
Statistics*
Econometrics I*
Econometrics II**
Qualitative Research Methods**
Organizational Theory***
Microeconomic Theory**
Managerial Research Seminar*
* A core course to be taken by all specializations
** A core course to be taken by students within finance specializations
*** A core course to be taken by students within technology management,
leadership, international business, and MIS specializations