Smith PhD Program Overview

What is Our Mission?

The primary mission of the PhD Program of the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland is to produce individuals who will contribute to the discovery and dissemination of scientific knowledge through continued careers in research, publishing, and teaching at high quality research-oriented universities and research-oriented non-academic institutions throughout the world. In carrying out this mission, it is recognized that we operate in a knowledge-based economy that is being transformed by information technology. As a derivative to the primary mission, the PhD Program is intended to support the research and teaching functions of the school (and university) and promote the school's (and university's) visibility through placement of graduates in quality research-oriented institutions. In 2008, the Smith School launched a $12 million PhD initiative that will significantly enhance the school’s ability to retain and attract the world’s best and brightest students.

What Research Areas Are Offered?

The Smith PhD Program offers the PhD degree in nine areas of concentration:

• Accounting and Information Assurance
• Finance
• Information Systems
• Operations Managements / Management Science
• Marketing
• Organizational Behavior
• Strategic Management
• Human Resource Management
• Logistics and Transportation

The curriculum is designed to ensure student exposure to, and training in, high quality current research, research methods and requisite related knowledge. This is a full-time PhD Program. Students typically take three courses for credit per semester until all course requirements are complete. The PhD degree is earned by competence, as demonstrated in courses, examinations and research.

The Program Plan

Each student develops a detailed program plan in consultation with the director and appropriate faculty. A complete program plan, approved by the student's advisor and the director, is submitted to the PhD Program Office by the end of the first semester. The Program Plan may be subsequently modified upon the approval of the student's advisor and the director. Although formal transfer credit is not granted, course work successfully completed at other institutions may be accepted as fulfilling some part of the Program Plan (with the approval of the area PhD committee and the director).