Fields of Study

Management & Organization

Strategic Management

Program Requirements
Major Specification
Recommended coursework for the Strategic Management major includes:

BMGT 808a Seminar in Theories of Competition (fall, even year)
BMGT 808b Seminar in the Scope of the Enterprise (fall, odd year)
BMGT 808c Seminar on Cognition in Strategic Management (spring, even year)
BMGT 808d Seminar in Organizational Theory (spring, even year)
BMGT 808e Special topics (fall, odd year)

For the final major course, students can select Industrial Organizational Economics (BMGT 808) offered by Professor Curt Grimm, or propose some other existing doctoral special topics seminar.

Minor Specification
Although a variety of minors are possible both within and outside the Smith School, students are highly encouraged to select the Management Research minor offered by the M&O Department. The purpose of the management research minor is to further develop and strengthen a student’s conceptual and research skills in the broad areas of management and organization. This is achieved by exposing and involving students to the research agenda of all areas within the M&O Department and its research faculty.

The Management Research minor is composed of four courses depending on the student’s major. For example, if the student were majoring in strategy, the management research minor would require two organizational behavior doctoral courses and two human resource management doctoral courses. If the student majored in organizational behavior, then the management research minor would require two strategy doctoral courses and two human resource management doctoral courses. Finally, if the student were majoring in human resource management, then the management minor would require two strategy doctoral courses and two organizational behavior doctoral courses. See the Management and Organization Ph.D. Handbook for details.

Students can elect, with the support of their advisor, to take a different minor, such as Information Technology (IT), Entrepreneurship, I/O Psychology, Economics, etc. However, this minor must fit the following conditions. First, the courses that make up the minor must be Ph.D. level research courses, rather than MBA or master’s level. Second, the courses should enhance the student’s ability to conduct research in their major area of concentration and publish with the faculty teaching in the minor areas. Finally, the course should help to build a multi-disciplinary approach to research. This option is intended to be atypical, and will be approved only when a student has a well-founded vision and plan for his/her program, and only after wider consultation than the area’s doctoral advisor.

MBA Core Requirement
Two courses required from the MBA core, with waiver of requirement for students with an MBA degree, or a Bachelor’s degree in Business, or a minor in the core.

Economics Requirement
One graduate level economics course is required.

Research Methodology Requirement
Student must take the Research Methodology course (BMGT 880).

Research Working Paper Requirement
Students must submit a satisfactory research working paper, usually completed by the end of the third year.

Contact
For academic issues, contact:

Dr. David A. Kirsch
Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship
Tel: 301-405-0559
Email: dkirsch@rhsmith.umd.edu

For admission issues, application status, or other questions, please email bphd@rhsmith.umd.edu or call 301-405-2214.

►Management & Organization Department Web Site