At Kelley Doctoral Programs, flexibility is at the heart of our curriculum.
We encourage students to be guided by their own needs and interests as they shape their PhD program. We offer 10 areas of study from which to choose a major, each with its own specific rules and protocols.
Minors are available in each of these fields, as well as in International Business. Students can also minor in fields outside the Kelley School of Business and experience the outstanding resources available in the larger Indiana University community. Popular outside minors include mathematics, psychology, sociology, political science, or one of the excellent cultural and language programs.
Generally, though, all Kelley doctoral students do follow the same basic academic path, which is designed to give them the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes described in the Doctoral Program Learning Goals.
Stages of the Program
Most students complete the doctorate in four to five years, depending on the strength of their backgrounds and, especially, depending on how quickly they are able to complete the dissertation.
Phase I Courses
Requirements vary by major, but they may be satisfied by graduate courses taken elsewhere (for example, MBA completed earlier).
Phase II Courses
The major: 18 credit hours
The minor: 9-12 credit hours
Methods and Analysis: 9 credit hours
Teaching Development Component: 1.5 credit hours
Advancement to Candidacy
Requirements vary by major, but typically include a written and/or oral examination or original research paper.
Dissertation Proposal
Written and oral defense of the dissertation proposal, presented before the dissertation committee and two non-committee members from various departments in the Kelley School of Business.
Final Dissertation Defense
Written and oral defense of the completed dissertation, presented before the dissertation committee.
For specific information about your major’s qualifying exams, dissertation defense, and more, please visit your area of study.