Ph. D. Program Advisor
Dr. Audhesh Paswan
- Room: BA 259E
- Phone: (940) 565-3121
- Email: paswana@unt.edu
Marketing Department Admission Requirements
Your application will be processed at the university and college level. Acceptance into the University at large does not guarantee acceptance into a specific graduate degree program. College-level Ph.D. admission requirements are outlined below.
Many factors are considered in the decision to admit an applicant to the Ph.D. program in Marketing. These are: the applicant's (i) prior academic record at all colleges and universities attended; (ii) scores on standardized admissions tests; (iii) stated purpose for pursuing a PhD in Marketing; (iv) work experience; (v) letters of recommendation; (vi) the match with the faculty's research interests; and, (vii) the availability of sufficient faculty resources.
Although an admission decision reflects all of the above criteria, applicants are only considered for admission to the PhD Program in Marketing if they meet the following requirements. Achievement of these minimums does not guarantee admission.
The Department of Marketing requires a minimum GPA of 3.5 in a prior Master's degree and a minimum GMAT score of 600. The verbal and quantitative scores on the GMAT should exceed the 75th percentile. Students must have completed a Masters degree prior to entering the Ph.D. program in Marketing.
International applicants must achieve a minimum score of 600 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). This requirement does not apply to citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, nor to applicants holding a Bachelor's or Master's degree from an accredited College or University in the USA. All candidates must provide evidence of written and oral communications skills in the English language prior to final acceptance into the program. Writing skills are assessed by requiring applicants to submit past written materials for review by the Marketing Doctoral Programs Committee (MDPC). Oral communications skills are assessed by asking applicants, when feasible, to schedule an on-campus interview with the Ph.D. Coordinator, Departmental Chairman, and available marketing faculty.
Foundation Courses (9 hours)
To provide necessary background, your program begins with courses in basic courses in research methods, philosophy of science, and teaching methodology. These courses typically are taken in your first semester in the Ph.D. program.
- BUSI 6100 University Teaching for Business Administration The study of University Teaching in Business Administration. This seminar is intended to be a rigorous course that exposes doctoral students in business to an array of topics in teaching methodologies. The course will focus on those topics that provide doctoral students with practical teaching tips to help them become more effective teachers. Different learning styles are addressed and frameworks, theories, and teaching models are presented that help doctoral students continually improve their teaching throughout their career.
- BUSI 6450 Business Research Methods designed to introduce PhD students to the methods and instruments of business research, including scientific method, research design, and measurement. Prerequisite(s): MSCI 5180 or equivalent
- BUSI 6460 Foundations of Scientific Inquiry This is a seminar in scientific inquiry for doctoral students in Business Administration. The course focus will be on those topics that provide doctoral students with a better understanding of theoretical frameworks used in business research. Form and structure of explanations, laws, and theories used in business research are examined and discussed. The seminar is intended to be a rigorous course that exposes doctoral students to an array of topics for understanding basic business research.
Advanced Research Skills
Once the basics are out of the way, you move into advanced research methods and statistics courses:
- BUSI 6220 Applied Multivariate Statistics I (3 hours) BUSI 6220. Applied Multivariate Statistics I. 3 hours. Applications of multivariable regression analysis and analysis of variance procedures to issues in business research. Topics include building, evaluating, and validating multiple regression models, matrix approach to regression, nonlinear regression, logistic regression, hierarchical analysis, and causal models. Prerequisite(s): MSCI 5180 or equivalent and BUSI 6450 (may be taken concurrently with BUSI 6220).
- BUSI 6240 Applied Multivariate Statistics II (3 hours) Applications of multivariate statistical procedures involving data reduction techniques and analyzing multidimensional relationships in business research. Topics include multivariate analysis of variance, discriminant analysis, logistic regression, exploratory factor analysis, cluster analysis, multidimensional scaling, and conjoint analysis. Prerequisite(s): BUSI 6220.
- BUSI 6280 Applications in Causal & Covariance Structure Modeling (3 hours) Application of CSM techniques to the analysis of behavioral data in business research. "Hands-on" practice using LISREL to examining measurement and structural models containing directly observed and latent variables. Course will provide students with a solid working knowledge of how to conceptualize measurement and structural models, the standard LISREL and SIMPLIS syntax for estimating these models, and proper interpretation of LISREL output. LISREL assumptions, limitations, tricks, and traps will be explored. Specific topics include reviews of causality and path analysis, covariance algebra, creating path diagrams and structural equations, LISREL notation and syntax, considerations in model identification, estimation, evaluation, and interpretation. Specific application areas include confirmatory factor analysis and its extensions, causal models with directly observed and latent variables. Course also takes a critical look at the analysis of experimental data, modeling quadratic and interaction terms, analysis of ordinal and other non-normal variables. Prerequisites: BUSI 6450, BUSI 6220, and BUSI 6240 (May be taken concurrently). Students must have a thorough knowledge of multiple regression, factor analysis, ANOVA and ANCOVA. Students are also expected to have a solid grasp of the fundamentals of research design, including how to assess the internal and external validity of research designs, as well as how to assess the validity and reliability of multi-item behavioral measures. Exposure to matrix algebra is encouraged.
- BUSI 6480 Advanced Issues in Research Design (3 hours) Experimental and quasi-experimental approaches to solving problems using the scientific method. Observation, generalization, explanation, and prediction using experimentation and statistical inference. Statistical principles in experimental design including ANOVA and MANOVA techniques. After completing the course, students are prepared for conducting experiments. Prerequisite(s): BUSI 6450 or equivalent
These courses expose you to state-of-the-art applied and theoretical research in the behavior sciences as they apply to the marketing discipline. These courses normally are taken during your first and second year of course-work.
Marketing Theory & Practice
Courses in your major field of marketing consist of 12 to 15 hours drawn from Ph.D. seminars and Master's-level courses. At least nine hours must be taken from available Ph.D. seminars:
- MKTG 6600 - Theory I: The Science of Marketing
- MKTG 6600 - Theory II: Marketing Theory
- MKTG 6600 - Strategic Marketing
- MKTG 6600 - Consumer Buying Behavior
Supporting Field
A nine to twelve hour supporting field is chosen to strengthen your research skills and provide a second teaching and/or research field that will complement your marketing specialization. Supporting fields for students majoring in Marketing typically are in Management or Management Science.
Comprehensive Examinations
Comprehensive examinations occur in four stages to ensure that your progress in the program is satisfactory:
- First year qualifying examination over basic research methods, philosophy of science, and basic marketing.
- Supporting Field comprehensive upon completion of supporting field courses.
- Marketing and Research Methods comprehensive upon completion of advanced research and Marketing theory course-work.
- Oral exam upon completion of all prior written examinations.
Doctoral Dissertation
Once you have completed your course-work and comprehensive examinations, you are admitted to candidacy and can formally begin work on your doctoral dissertation. Dissertation work proceeds in two stages:
- Dissertation Proposal. In conjunction with advisory faculty, you will write and defend a research proposal that outlines your dissertation, its contribution to the discipline of marketing, and how it will be conducted.
- Dissertation and Defense. Once your proposal is defended, you move on to conduct the proposed research, write the completed dissertation, and defend it before the Marketing Faculty.
