Decision sciences doctoral students are expected to enter the program with an acceptable background in mathematics. Students who lack this knowledge must take the appropriate course(s) in mathematics and statistics. Depending on their backgrounds, students may also be required to take one of the doctoral statistics sequences within the Kelley School of Business. Students will also be required to take the basic economics sequence: economic modeling, game theory, and econometrics. Students without prior teaching experience in the U.S. will take one short course (X630) on teaching prior to teaching their first course.

Decision sciences doctoral students complete 18 credit hours of coursework within their major area. Because PhD students in this area are part of the Decision Sciences/Operations Management Doctoral Consortium, this coursework consists of both decision sciences and operations management courses. Specifically, students take the basic operations research sequence and the basic operations management sequence in their first two years. In addition to the basic courses, decision sciences majors generally also take topics courses. As with other business majors, students supplement the program with minor courses (9 credit hours), and methodology and analysis courses (9 credit hours).