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Management and Organizations

Degree Types: PhD

The PhD program in Management and Organizations (“MORS”) integrates psychological, sociological, economic, and complex systems perspectives on the study of organizations and their members. Faculty and students pursue research on the behavior of individuals, groups, organizations and groups of organizations, with the goal of advancing theoretical understanding of these phenomena. The MORS program maintains an active training program for researchers with interests in individual decision making, management and organizations, complex systems, and management broadly defined.

The hallmarks of the program are a first year curriculum that provides a broad theoretical background in the disciplines of psychology and sociology that underlies the behavior of individuals, groups, organizations and their environments; students' active involvement in scholarly research from day one; and the breadth of faculty expertise that fosters innovative and high-impact research.

Additional resources:

Program Statistics

Visit PhD Program Statistics for statistics such as program admissions, enrollment, student demographics and more.

Degree Requirements

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.

Requirements can also be found in the Program Guidelines for Management & Organizations PhD students issued by the Kellogg School of Management.

Master’s

While the goal of our doctoral program is the awarding of a PhD degree, a Master of Science (MS) degree may be awarded to currently enrolled, qualified doctoral students. Students who are continuing for a PhD degree, or students who withdraw from the PhD program, may be considered for a MS degree if they are in good academic standing with a cumulative 3.0 GPA, across the nine course sequence in year one.

PhD

Total Units Required: 18

Students are required to take 18 courses or a minimum of 3 courses in fall, winter, and spring quarters during years one and two. Required courses for the degree are listed below:

Course Title
MORS 524-1The Individual and the Organization
MORS 524-2Social Processes in Organizations
MORS 525-1Behavior in Organizational Systems
MORS 525-2Organizations in Their Environments
MORS 526-1Micro-Organizational Research Methods
MORS 526-2Macro-Organizational Research Methods

To fulfill the 18-course requirement for the PhD degree, students must supplement the required coursework with approved electives. Independent Study (MORS 499-0) may also qualify. Students must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 to be in good academic standing.

Other PhD Degree Requirements

  • Examinations: PhD preliminary (“field”) exam scheduled in July of the first year is based on the MORS courses in year one.
  • Research/Projects: Successful completion of a research ("candidacy") paper by March 15 of the third year, at which time the performance on the prelim exam, coursework and candidacy paper are reviewed and students are passed into candidacy.
  • PhD Dissertation: Original and significant research. Topic and advisor or advisors should be selected by the beginning of the fourth year; presentation of preliminary results (prospectus) to their committee by the end of spring quarter of year four.  
  • Final Evaluations: Oral final examination on dissertation and submission of an approved dissertation. 

Last Updated: September 6, 2024