Management PhD FAQs

Management PhD FAQs

Find answers below to common questions about the PhD through the Department of Management and Organizations:

Many successful applicants do not have an undergraduate or master's degree in business. Accepted applicants come with a variety of backgrounds: psychology, sociology, engineering, humanities, just to name a few. Many of the required courses do not have business course prerequisites.

College calculus and introductory probability and descriptive statistics form the necessary foundation for research in our program. Most students use basic to advanced statistical methods to conduct research for their projects.

Usually a 3.0 GPA or higher (average about 3.5) and 85 percent or higher on all subtests of the GRE or GMAT tests.

While we prefer the GMAT test that is geared to business students, the GRE is also acceptable.

Yes, unless you have obtained a undergraduate or graduate degree from an institution in an English speaking country.

We guarantee funding for five years, but currently half of our students are completing their degree within four years. Some students meet requirements within four years but elect for a 5th year to strengthen their research record to improve job opportunities.

Program length is an individual decision based on the student's progress and personal considerations.

The vast majority of our students accept research/teaching positions as university professors. Below are a few of the many institutions our students have been placed at:

  • California State University, Sacramento
  • University of Montana
  • St. Vincent College
  • Columbia University
  • University of Florida
  • University of Maryland
  • U.S. Air Force Academy
  • Singapore Management University

Transfer credits are approved on a case-by-case basis. Generally courses taken in a professional program (such as an MBA program) will not transfer. Courses at a PhD-level related to required courses may transfer (usually, one or two such courses transfer, but the student still takes the full four to five years to complete the degree).

Regardless of transfer credits, a minimum of 30 UA units must be completed.

No. Realistically, this is a minimum 40 hour per week job that will take four to five years to complete.

As with many PhD programs in Research 1 institutions, our students are expected to be apprentices to learn the "research trade," which requires many activities beyond simply taking required courses and completing a doctoral dissertation.

Students are expected to spend time working on research projects in addition to their dissertation. Those with Management and Organizations-funded assistantships are expected to work 20 hours per week in addition to their coursework and other research responsibilities.

Please visit our section on funding for information about financial support for admitted students.

Students funded by the Management and Organizations department are required to spend 20 hours per week during the academic year assisting a Management and Organizations faculty member in research projects. Often, students work on projects with the faculty member that they would have completed in the normal course of their PhD program.

The cost of living in Tucson is close to the national average, which is considerably lower than most major U.S. cities. See the UA Student Union website for additional information for students living off-campus.

In addition, there are many cost of living calculators that will compare your salary at your current location with that required to live in Tucson. 

The University of Arizona is located in Tucson in Southwestern Arizona in the unique environment of the Sonoran Desert. Tucson is surrounded by four mountain ranges and is only an hour drive north of Sonora, Mexico and an hour and a half drive south of Phoenix. Tucson offers a wide range of outdoor activities: golfing, biking, hiking, horseback riding, etc. Since the winters are very mild, Tucson is also a winter resort location.

For more information on Tucson, view the Visit Tucson website.