MIS PhD Plan of Study
Program Requirements
While formally designated as a PhD in Management with a concentration in Management Information Systems (MIS), the program is commonly referred to as the MIS PhD program or simply an MIS PhD.
The program begins with a rigorous foundation in research methodology and progresses to offer an interdisciplinary synthesis of cutting-edge technologies and theoretical frameworks. It draws from diverse fields such as Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Economics, Operations Management, Psychology, and Sociology.
Students engage in a balanced mix of theoretical study and practical application. They gain the skills to design, implement, and evaluate business information systems that address complex problems relevant to both academic research and industry practice.
The MIS PhD degree requires a major concentration in MIS, complemented by a minor in a related discipline from another academic department.
View MIS Doctoral Student Handbook
Major Requirements
The major course work consists of a set of foundation courses (18 units), quantitative methods (9 units), specialization (9 units) and participation in the MIS research seminar (6 units). The table below lists the major requirements including the required courses.
| Requirements | Courses |
|---|---|
| Foundation (18 units required) | MIS 531: Enterprise Database Management MIS 611A: Design Science Research Methodologies MIS 611B: Behavioral Research Methodologies MIS 611C: Economics of Information Systems MIS 611D: Topics in Data and Web Mining MIS 615: Network Science: Theory and Applications |
| Quantitative Methods (9 units required) | The student should consult his/her major advisor to select two additional quantitative methods courses. |
| Specialization (9 units required) | The student should consult his/her major advisor to select two courses that contain the basic knowledge in a chosen area of specialization such as Information Technology, Information Economics, Management and Organization, Quantitative Methods and Operations Management. |
| Research Workshop (6 units required) | MIS 699: Research Workshop |
Minor Requirements
Students are required to take courses in one or more minor areas. The minor requirements are determined by the department that offers the minor. Students should consult the major advisor and the minor department for guidance. Some possibilities include cognitive science, communications, computer science, decision science, economics, industrial engineering, linguistics, management and organization, marketing, psychology, sociology and statistics.
Students must have at least one supporting minor of nine or more units for the PhD. If a doctoral student chooses two supporting minor subjects, each minor must have at least six units of coursework.
Registration Requirements and Procedures
PhD students should let the Program Coordinator know which MIS courses you want to register for each semester. The program coordinator can register you for those courses. Other courses on campus might require special approval. It is up to you to investigate the requirements to register for graduate level courses in other departments.
Flexibility to Meet Your Needs
The MIS Doctoral program offers a high level of flexibility in terms of course work, which is determined by the student's chosen specialization in major and minor. As such, each individual student can work with his/her advisor to design a unique plan of study. The following table gives a sample plan of study to illustrate the basic timeline.
Sample Plan of Study
| Year/Semester | Plan of Study |
|---|---|
| Year One-Fall | MIS 531, MIS 611A, MIS 699 |
| Year One-Spring | MIS 611B, MIS 611D, Quant II (multivariate or other quant class) MIS 699 |
| Year One-Spring (May) | Core Exam (Written) |
| Year Two-Fall | MIS 611C, Quant III, Minor 1, Specialization I, MIS 699 |
| Year Two-Spring | MIS 615, Minor Course 2, Minor Course 3, Specialization II, MIS 699 |
| Year Two-July | Submit proposal for prelim |
| Year Three-Fall | Other courses as needed to fulfill specialization, quantitative methods and/or minor requirements, MIS 699 |
| Year Three-Fall (Mid October) | Written Preliminary Exam (Research paper and presentation) |
| Year Three-Spring | Other courses as needed to fulfill specialization, quantitative methods and/or minor requirements, MIS 699 |
| Anytime before the Oral Comprehensive Exam | Minor Exam (if needed; consult the minor department) |
| Year Four-Fall | Begin dissertation credits |
| Year Four-Spring | Oral Comprehensive Exam (oral exam with preliminary dissertation proposal), Continue dissertation credits |
| Year Five-Early June * | Dissertation Defense (Completed dissertation and oral exam) |
This is a sample plan of study. Specific sequence of courses can vary depending on the schedule of courses being offered.
* This exam time is flexible, and students should consult the major advisor for guidance.
Doctoral Program Checklist
| Year | When |
|---|---|
| First Year Teaching Assistants Training Online (TATO) Submit Annual Report Pass Core Examination Part 1 | August February May |
| Second Year Submit PhD Plan of Study (in GradPath) Submit Annual Report Pass Core Examination Part 2 | December February May |
| Third Year Written Prelim Proposal Written Prelim Submit Annual Report Teach One Class for the MIS Department | July October February Summer or academic year |
| Fourth Year Oral Comprehensive Exam Submit Approved Dissertation Proposal Submit the Doctoral Dissertation Committee Appointment Form Teach One Class for the MIS Department Submit Annual Report | Spring semester After oral (ideally 6 months prior to defense) Summer or academic year February |
| Fifth Year Prepare Job Placement Packet Present Practice Job Talk Submit Announcement of Final Oral Examination to Grad. Degree Certification Final Oral Defense of the Completed Dissertation | August of the job market year Fall of the job market year Seven working days prior to the exam When ready |
* Note: The Program Coordinator retains copies of all official departmental documentation. University paperwork is held in GradPath. Departmental paperwork (associated with the written prelim) should be submitted to the Program Coordinator.