Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Business Administration - Strategy

The PhD Program in Business Administration at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business prepares candidates for research and teaching careers at leading educational institutions and for careers where advanced research and analytical capabilities are required. The PhD program places major emphasis on independent inquiry, on the development of competence in research methodology, and on the communication of research results. Students are introduced at the outset of the program not only to rigorous coursework, but also to the research activities of the faculty and of other students. A ratio of doctoral students-in-residence to faculty of less than one-to-one facilitates this opportunity to work closely with faculty. The PhD program usually requires four to six years of work, with an average of roughly five years. The student and the faculty in his/her area determine the specific program of study in accordance with each student's goals and interests. Each student is required to gain expertise in an area of special interest via coursework or independent study and to take a comprehensive exam in this area, usually during the second or third year of residence. The final requirement is the presentation of a dissertation. The PhD program offers programs of research and training in the areas of accounting, decision sciences, finance, marketing, management, operations management, and strategy. Disciplined strategy scholarship from a multi-disciplinary base: The Fuqua PhD program in strategy seeks to educate the next generation of leading strategy scholars. The program builds on a social science foundation to develop rigorous analytical capabilities in the study of firm strategy in competitive environments. Our group is multidisciplinary, pulling from across the social sciences including economics, sociology, management science, political science, and other disciplines. Our faculty are diverse with interests in business dynamics, technology strategy, international business, innovation, entrepreneurship, organizations, and business and public policy among others. We embrace a variety of research methodologies. Cutting edge strategy research & teaching skills: Our goal is to educate cutting edge scholars who will join the faculties of leading business schools throughout the world. Obtaining such a position requires strong research skills, evidence of teaching aptitude, and endorsement by faculty who are respected in the community of scholars. Our program takes four to five years to complete. In that time, students cultivate research and teaching collaborations with Duke Strategy faculty members and across our broader network. Students also have opportunities to teach or assist in teaching courses, consistent with and complementing their research progress. Finally, students attend seminars, help with recruiting efforts, and engage in other parts of institutional life. A Duke Strategy PhD student should aim to complete the program with positive references from Duke faculty, preparation to teach one or more strategy courses, and published or publishable papers.