We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Education

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How do I get a PhD in Business?

Tricia Christensen
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 3,069
Share

When people choose to get a PhD in business, they’ll need to first determine what type of PhD they want. There are many doctoral programs that are related to the business field but have very specialized areas of interest. Alternately, what is normally referred to as a PhD in business may also be called a PhD in management, and this degree has a greater focus on the academic study of business that could be utilized to become a professor. Some of the other doctoral degrees that are business related include those in accounting, marketing, statistics, finance, ethics and economics, and there additional doctorates that might be earned that focus on other business areas.

Anyone who wants to earn a PhD in business in any area of study must possess at least a bachelor’s degree, or will have to have earned one when the doctoral program begins. Some programs may also require students to also possess a master's degree, before entrance. There can be variance in what type of undergraduate degree is required for entrance to a PhD program, though generally if a master's degree is required, it usually must be in a business field.

Sometimes a business school accepts students with degrees that are very unrelated to business, provided those students have met some basic prerequisites. At other times, some sort of business-related major has to have been pursued at the undergraduate level. Prospective students should determine the specific requirements of each school to decide which ones are likely to consider the student a good candidate for admission.

Requirements for admission to programs offering a PhD in business do not only focus on undergraduate major. Students usually must have strong grades, glowing letters of recommendation from professors or from employers — since some students have worked in business after earning a bachelor’s degree — and they may need to take standardized tests like the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). A student should also be able to compose a well-written application essay. Due to the fact that most schools admit students in the fall, applications may be due in early winter of the previous year. Students should plan to get organized well in advance of the year they plan to begin doctoral studies.

Once accepted to a program, studies can take a long time, often at least four or five years. Students spend the first couple of years completing course requirements and taking electives. They may then have required examinations before they begin work on a dissertation. The dissertation for the PhD is book-length material with original research that must adopt an innovative approach to a topic, and students will be required to defend their dissertation when it is complete, in a public venue. After a successful defense and after meeting all other requirements specified by a program, a student has earned a PhD in business or a related field.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/how-do-i-get-a-phd-in-business.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.