A Ph.D. degree certifies your training as a scholar who is qualified to conduct research and teach at colleges and universities. Individuals who pursue a Ph.D. degree are those whose call is the creation and dissemination of knowledge.

A good resource for information about being a Ph.D. student is offered by www.phds.org

'How is a Ph.D. degree different from an MBA degree and an MS?'

The difference between the masters degree (MBA or MS) and the doctoral degree (Ph.D.) is Focus. Both the MBA and the MS are pre-professional degrees that prepare individuals to perform managerial functions in businesses and organizations. If your ultimate goal is to work as a senior manager or entrepreneur, a masters degree will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary for that function.

The Ph.D. degree, on the other hand, prepares you to do research and investigation in either academic or non-academic research centers.

A Ph.D. is not a "super MBA." In fact, upon completion of a doctoral degree, the individual gains such a narrow specialization on a particular field (versus a broad proficiency in the practice, for example) that his/her ability to perform as a manager need not necessarily be enhanced over that of a person who completed a masters degree.

'What does one do with a Ph.D. degree?'

Our Ph.D. program in is designed to train scholars who as a career will conduct research to advance the frontiers of the discipline, teach at premier universities in the United States and around the world, and who in the future will be responsible for preparing the next generation of doctoral students.

All our concentrations are exciting and offer a wide range of areas in which to conduct research and teach.

'What are the different types of academic institutions that hire Ph.D. students and what are these faculty members expected to do?'

Upon completion of their Ph.D. degree, individuals may be hired by a variety of academic institutions, ranging from 4-year colleges to research universities. Depending on the academic orientation of the institution, faculty at these colleges and universities may be expected to devote different amounts of time to teaching and/or research.

At "teaching universities," faculty members devote most of their time to preparing and teaching classes. They may typically teach four courses or more a year, with little or no time devoted to research. At these institutions, your performance as a professor is evaluated based on your teaching evaluations, your ability to design courses, and diverse services that you may provide to students (i.e., counseling, etc.).

At "research universities," on the other hand, the faculty are primarily devoted to research activities. These professors may teach two courses for one term, and devote a whole semester exclusively to academic research, with the goal of advancing knowledge in the field and divulging their findings through publication in academic journals. At these institutions, your performance as a faculty member is primarily evaluated based on your research productivity, the quality of your research, the caliber of the articles you produce, and the prestige of the outlets that accept your work for publication.

Just as it is important to choose the school that matches your personal profile when you embark on the pursuit of a doctoral degree, so it is imperative that you decide at what type of institution you want to develop your academic career after graduation.

'What should I look for in determining whether a Ph.D. is right for me?'

First, you need to decide whether a Ph.D. really is what you're looking for. You must understand why you want to pursue a doctoral degree: What are your career goals? Are you interested in an academic career? Is your primary interest to do research? To teach? Or are you an individual with more of an entrepreneurial veneer, who enjoys doing business more than studying it? It is important that you understand what you want to do, and what a Ph.D. degree (versus an MBA or MS degree) is about before you go on.

Second, once you know what you want to do (and if in fact a Ph.D. degree is what's best for you) you must find the program that best suits your interests.

For example, you may want to know:

Do you enjoy doing research more than teaching, teaching more than doing research, or do you prefer a balanced mix of both?
Upon graduation, what type of institution would you like to work for?
A major research university?
A four-year college?

Once you have answered these questions, you can start looking for universities with Ph.D. programs that cater to your particular profile of skills and interests. This can be a long process, as there are many Ph.D. programs around the country and the rest of the world. It is vital that you devote sufficient time to gather information that will allow you to make a sound decision.

'What standardized test should I take? Do I have to take the GMAT or GRE?'

The Ph.D. program accepts either the GMAT or the GRE, but you must take one of them. The TOEFL is required for most international students (please see the following question for details). Our code for the GMAT is 389-9C-89. Our institution code for the GRE and TOEFL is 4852. Please refer to www.ets.org/gre or www.ets.org/toefl for additional information.

'Do I have to take the TOEFL if I received a master's degree from a university within the United States? What if I have been working in the U.S.?'

If you are an international student and your bachelor's degree was earned at an institution in a country in which English is not the native language, you will need to take the TOEFL. The test is not required if you are an international applicant who completed the equivalent of a 4-year bachelor's degree program at a university within the United States or in another country in which English is the native language. TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the intended date of enrollment, so, for instance, applicants for the fall of 2008 must have taken the TOEFL no earlier than August of 2006.

Our Ph.D. program is designed to prepare students to one day teach and publish in English. It is critical that our students have the ability to read, write, and speak English fluently. We have found that a strong TOEFL score is excellent indicator of a solid understanding and knowledge of English.

'Do I need an MBA or other Master's degree to get admitted?'
No. The MBA or any other master's degree is not required for enrollment to the Ph.D. program. The courses of study and the degree objectives are quite different.

'I already have an MBA. Will that shorten the program?'
The Ph.D. Program is a five-year program. However, different number of units are required depending on whether you enter with a Master's or a Bachelor's degree. For students whose highest degree is a Bachelor's degree, a minimum of 60 units of course work, including 4-8 units of GSBA-794 Doctoral Dissertation, beyond the baccalaureate, is required. For students who already possess a Master's degree, a minimum of 36 semester units of course work beyond that degree is required exclusive of GSBA-794 Doctoral Dissertation. Generally, we recommend that, regardless of the number of required units, students take those courses that will best prepare them for an academic career.

'I'm currently an undergraduate student. Am I eligible for admission?'

Yes. Anyone who has earned a bachelor's degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. undergraduate degree from an accredited institution may be considered.

'What do faculty members look for in applicants?'

Marshall's faculty selects qualified students based on evidence of outstanding intellectual ability and a strong commitment to a career in research. Standardized test scores, the strength of the recommendation letters, the academic record at the applicant's undergraduate/graduate institution, and his/her research agenda, including its fit within the general research interests of the faculty, will be evaluated. However, there are other considerations not easily measured quantitatively, such as creativity and independence, that are significant as well.

'Can you tell me about my chances for admission?'

We do not prejudge, pre-admit, or prescreen studentsr do we make subjective probability assessments or give private assurances to prospective applicants. The candidate selection process is done by a faculty committee and approved by the school, after the application deadline. We follow university rules and guidelines, and we do not have racial, ethnic or sex-based quotas, nor do we discriminate based on such external characteristics.

'Can I send in some of my prior research?'

Yes, you are welcome to, but please do not send hard copies. We prefer that you e-mail any relevant research to us or upload it while completing the online application.

'What is the deadline for applications?'

The Ph.D. program admits students only in the fall semester. The application must be completed online before December 15th. If December 15th happens to fall on a weekend, the following Monday will serve as the deadline. All supplemental materials must be received before then as well. We stongly urge applicants to take the GMAT, GRE and/or TOEFL as early as possible so that the scores can reach us by the application deadline.

'What is my USC ID # and what is it used for?'

The University assigns each applicant a personal USC ID # upon receipt of any part of the application or its supporting materials. That ID number will be automatically sent to the applicant and can then be used when sending in additional information or checking on application status.

'Are campus interviews required?'

After reviewing the applications, the individual departments usually contact the most qualified candidates for interviews. Campus interviews will be scheduled for applicants who live close enough to campus. In cases where in-person interviews cannot be arranged, telephone interviews may be substituted. Even though in-person interviews are not required, we encourage applicants to visit the campus if possible.

'If I am denied admission, can I reapply?'

Yes, but you must submit all new application materials, including responses to the essay questions, as well as the application fee. If you applied for the previous year, transcripts may not need to be resent. Contact the Marshall Ph.D. Program office to request a file search.

'How many years does it take to get a Ph.D. degree?'

Our Ph.D. program is designed to be completed in 4 years for those students entering the program with a masters degree. Typically, students complete their course requirements by their second year, and devote the third and fourth years of the program to complete their dissertations and fulfill their teaching requirements.

The importance of finishing the program with a high quality, completed dissertation makes it necessary for some students to remain in the program for a fifth year. However, the Marshall School of Business provides financial support only for four years of studies. After that, other, external sources of funding may become necessary to students who wish to remain in the program for a fifth year.

'What do you do in different years of the Ph.D. program at the Marshall School of Business?'

The curriculum for the first two years in the Ph.D. program includes courses required by the Marshall School of Business, and courses required by the individual departments.

The Marshall School of Business requires that you:

Fulfill all the seminar coursework specified by the different Departments
Complete at least one course in a base discipline (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics). This course must be outside the specific department of you doctoral degree, but can include courses in other departments of the Marshall School of Business.
Complete at least one course in research methodology.
Complete at least one course in statistics.

Your third and fourth years are primarily devoted to working on your dissertation, conducting research, and fulfilling your teaching requirement: our program requires that all doctoral fellows teach one course and serve as a teaching assistant for two other courses.

'Will I have much interaction with faculty?'

Intensive interaction with faculty is one of the most important parts of your training as a Ph.D. student.

The Ph.D. program at USC is designed so that students start working closely with faculty from the first day.

Upon starting the program, each student is appointed an academic advisor, and works as a Research Assistant with a faculty member that is selected so as to achieve a mutually beneficial match of research interests between student and professor.

Typically, students are appointed as Research Assistants to a different professor every semester. However, it is often the case that the student and the professor will continue to work together in research projects throughout the stay of the student in the program, and even for years to come after the student's graduation.

Indeed, Research Assistantships lead to faculty/student mentorships that result in the development of productive research careers.

'Will I gain teaching experience?'

As part of the requirements of the program, each student must teach one course, and serve as a Teaching Assistant for two other courses.

These requirements are designed to give you exposure to teaching activities both with undergraduate and graduate students.

As Teaching Assistants, our Ph.D. students work closely with experienced faculty in the instruction of two MBA-level courses.

Once completed that requirement, students are assigned to teach a undergraduate course on their own. The student gains experience in the development of the syllabus, design of class activities, examinations, and grading.

'How do the faculty help with student placement?'

Our faculty works closely with Ph.D. students, mentoring and guiding them through all the stages of the program, including placement. The decision of what type of institution one wants to work for upon graduation is one of the most important calls a Ph.D. student must make. The faculty provide support and advice at this critical stage, helping the student identify universities or institutions that match his/her profile and interests for a rewarding career in.

In fact, student placement starts on day one: the program is designed to groom scholars who will be attractive to the top academic employers. The faculty work together with the students as advisors, research co-authors, coaches and mentors, and enable the students to form networks with scholars from universities across the country and abroad

'Can I take this program part-time or online?'

No. This program is a full-time program that must be completed in residency at USC.

'Can I keep my outside job while pursuing this degree?'

No. As is true of many top schools of business, you are supported by a Graduate Assistantship. The Assistantship provides a generous and competitive stipend, coverage of tuition, health and dental insurance, and student fees. The stipend is designed to provide you with sufficient funds to focus on your program of studies without having the need to secure outside employment. Students have opportunities to earn additional money during the summer of their 3^rd - 5^th years, generally through additional research assistantship opportunities.

'What will this program cost me, if admitted?'

Every admitted applicant is offered a full tuition grant as well as an assistantship that pays approximately $24,800 USD per year in exchange for 15-20 hours of weekly work with a faculty member. While receiving the assistantship, students serve as a research assistant for eight semesters, as a teaching assistant for one semester, and as an assistant lecturer for one semester. Additionally, every admitted applicant will be offered student health benefits (insurance and use of the USC Student Health Center). Funding is guaranteed for four years. Fifth-year support is available for students who are making satisfactory progress on their dissertation.

Ph.D. students who require additional assistance may be eligible to receive loans through the USC Financial Aid Office. Please visit the USC Financial Aid website for more information.

'Do Ph.D. students go on to work in the commercial sector?'

Our program is geared toward students who wish to pursue an academic career. Students who are interested in industry positions might find other programs more applicable to their career goals.

'How many students are in your Ph.D. program?'

On average, there are approximately 60-70 students in the program.

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'Is any prior coursework required?'

Depending on your particular field of interest, one year of college calculus or its equivalent may be required. Experience with matrix algebra, introductory mathematical statistics, and intermediate economic theory is also desirable.