Why Seek a PhD?

A market orientation is vital for organizational success in today’s turbulent economy. Companies that are market driven are characterized by a superior ability to sense emerging opportunities, to attract and retain customers, and to develop and coordinate organizational processes. These capabilities lead to high levels of financial performance in the long run. At The University of Oklahoma, the substantive emphasis of the doctoral program in M/SCM focuses on market-driven strategy, and the role of channels in creating access to domestic and international markets. 

The University of Oklahoma doctoral program will  help you develop an in-depth knowledge of marketing and management topics. Since research in marketing takes place at the intersection of three underlying “foundation” disciplines, you will also study psychology, statistics, and economics.  Our doctoral program provides you with the necessary skills for a successful career of teaching and research in the academia.

The program’s objectives are:

• to provide a strong foundation in marketing concepts for research and teaching
• to prepare students for academic and related careers

PhD Program Description

The Oklahoma doctoral program in Marketing and Supply Chain Management focuses on competence in marketing management, marketing theory, behavioral concepts in marketing, logistics and supply chain management. Students receive rigorous training in marketing research methodologies. Most doctoral candidates are appointed to a research assistantship early in their program to encourage interaction with faculty members.  In addition, many summer research and research related-travel opportunities are provided for students. As evidenced by their research and teaching related awards, Oklahoma M/SCM doctoral students are intimately involved in activities that prepare them for their careers as academics.

Typical Candidate

Admission to the Ph.D. program is selective.

Offers for admission will be made to students who demonstrate aptitude for and interest in, advanced research in business. Generally, students enter the program with a solid business background, working as warehouse managers, sales managers, software analysts, international trade, and logistics/finance managers in Fortune 500 and international companies. Yet, previous study in business is not required. Admission decisions are based on a number of factors: Undergraduate/graduate grade-point-average, GMAT score, employment history, letters of recommendation and the applicant's personal statement of goals. As a guideline to applicants, a total GMAT score of 640 and a GPA of 3.65 (on a 4.0 scale) on undergraduate/graduate work would be representative of students currently enrolled in the program.

International applicants for whom English is not the primary language must have an official TOEFL score of 600 or higher and verbal sub-score from the GMAT at or above the 50th percentile. In addition, international applicants are also asked to submit official TSE scores.

The ‘typical’ student will take doctoral seminars the first year that will begin to develop a foundation in Marketing and Supply Chain related theories as well as research methodology. This will prepare the student for the first year paper which will be grounded in concepts learned from the research seminar. The first summer will be involved with writing the paper as well as the first opportunity to teach a course.

This will set the stage for the second and third years, in which the student will be much more immersed with faculty to increase research skills through research development, design and data gathering, paper writing, conference attendance and presentations, and classroom instruction. These activities will prepare the doctoral student for comprehensive exams (typically at the end of the second year) and passage on to doctoral candidate, wherein the dissertation becomes the focus during the third and fourth years.

Thank you for your interest in our program. If you need more information or wish to request an application packet, email graduate programs.

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