Ph.D. Student Handbook
Definition of Doctoral-Student Status As defined by the UWM Graduate School, you do not become a doctoral student solely by virtue of admission to a program leading to a doctoral degree. To attain doctoral-student status, you must possess an appropriate master's degree prior to admission or complete the equivalent master's degree coursework at UWM.
Program of Study You must select advisors in your major and minor fields of study and submit a
Program of Study to the PhD Program Committee before the end of your second semester (excluding summer sessions) of enrollment in the PhD Program. See a listing of potential advisors by major field:
PhD Program Faculty and PhD Supporting Faculty.
Background PreparationYou are expected to have a basic level of proficiency at the undergraduate or graduate level equivalent to one semester each of coursework in calculus, statistics, and linear algebra. Applicants lacking in the above course background may be admitted on the condition that they complete equivalent courses to remove these deficiencies. Specific courses from the Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business or from departments outside the School will be suggested to satisfy preparation in these areas. Credits earned in these courses do not count toward the degree. You may choose to demonstrate competence in these background fields by passing an appropriate written equivalency examination in lieu of taking coursework.
If you have completed equivalent coursework with a grade of C or better at other accredited colleges or universities before being admitted into the School's PhD Program, you must provide the name of the University, the course number, course title, number of credits, and grade you received in each course on your Program of Study. Also prepare appropriate supporting materials (course outlines, course descriptions, etc.) to submit to the PhD Program Committee.
Common Core Preparation
This component consists of courses that give students general preparation in a common core of knowledge. You will be required to validate exposure to functional business areas: accounting, finance, information systems, marketing and management. Methods of validation include (a) prior coursework, (b) equivalency exam, or (c) supervised readings. If you have completed equivalent coursework with a grade of C or better at other accredited colleges or universities before being admitted into the School's PhD Program, you must provide the name of the University, the course number, course title, number of credits, and grade you received in each course on your Program of Study. Also prepare appropriate supporting materials (course outlines, course descriptions, etc.) to submit to the PhD Program Committee. If you choose option (a), please indicate the selected readings and the name of the faculty member who will supervise your readings. All students are also required to complete, during their first Fall semester of study, Bus Adm 900 “Doctoral Orientation to Teaching and Research” (1 credit). The purpose of this seven-week course is to help you learn about the process, roles, and expectations of academic teaching and research.
Research Methods ComponentIn this component the student is exposed to the process of scientific inquiry and methodological tools for conducting research. All students are required to complete a minimum of 12 credits of research methods courses from those listed below.
Effective in Fall 2005, students must choose at least two Module I courses to satisfy the Research Methods requirement.
Module I - 3 Credit Courses
- Bus Adm 918 Doctoral Seminar in Behavioral Research Methods
- Bus Adm 995 Advanced Multivariate Techniques in Management Research
- Bus Adm 995 Doctoral Seminar in Decision Sciences
- Econ 806 Mathematical Economics
- Econ 835 Econometric Methods II
- Econ 915 Seminar in Econometric Methods (topic)
- Ed Psych 824 Advanced Experimental Design & Analysis
- Ed Psych 826 Analysis of Cross-Classified Categorical Data
- Ed Psych 829 Methods of Scale Construction & Multidimensional Scaling
- Math Stat 861 Decision Theory (I)
- Math Stat 862 Decision Theory (II)
Module II - 3 Credit Courses
- Bus Adm 714 Multivariate Techniques in Management Research
- Bus Adm 754 Statistical Analysis
- Econ 735 Econometric Methods
- Ed Psych 821 Psychometric Theory & Practice
- Ed Psych 823 Structural Equation Modeling
- Ed Psych 825 Multivariate Methods
- Ind Eng 765 Operations Research Methods
* Other Specialized Methods Courses from schools/departments outside of the Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business (with PhD Program Committee approval)
Students should note that some of these courses have pre-requisites. Courses taken in preparation for courses on this list will not be counted towards completion of the Research Methodology requirement.
Major and Minor Fields of StudyA minimum of 12 graduate credits of work at UWM's Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business is required in the major field. The majors are Finance, Marketing, Management Information Systems, Organizations and Strategic Management, and Production and Operations Management. A minimum of 9 graduate credits at UWM's Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business is required in the minor field. Additional coursework in both the major and minor fields may be necessary depending upon your prior coursework.
The first level graduate courses (i.e., Bus Mgmt 705, 706, 707, 708, 711) are generally not counted toward the major and minor course requirements. Also, students are expected to have at least three 900-level courses in the major field and at least two 900-level courses (preferably doctoral seminars) in the minor field.
If at some point a student decides to switch majors within the PhD program, they must do so PRIOR to the first attempt of preliminary exams in the original major. A switch in majors requires a new application, a positive vote from the new major area faculty, and PhD Program Committee approval. There is no guarantee that the switch will be approved by the area faculty or by the PhD Program Committee. The student must also seek a new major professor willing to work with him/her on their research and dissertation.
A Management Science minor within the Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business (e.g., Finance, Marketing, Management Information Systems, Organizations and Strategic Management, Production and Operations Management, Taxation, International Business, or Business Statistics) requires a minimum of 9 credits, including at least two courses at the 900-level (preferably doctoral seminars).A minimum grade point average of 3.33 in the minor coursework is also required.
A minor field of study can also be a related field chosen from outside the Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business. The courses must be planned with your advisor in the minor field who must be a graduate, tenure-track faculty member. If a minor field outside the Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business is chosen, the nature of the comprehensive preliminary examination or other requirements for the minor field will be decided by the concerned department. However, all minor field coursework must be approved by the PhD Program Committee.
Minimum Credit Requirements
Students admitted into the PhD Program with a master's degree must complete a minimum of 34 credits of graduate work at UWM as part of the doctoral Program of Study. Students admitted with a bachelor's degree must complete a minimum of 54 credits of graduate work. These minima may include credits toward the doctoral dissertation with prior approval. Additional coursework in both the major and minor fields may be necessary depending upon your prior coursework.
Submission of Program of Study to PhD Program CommitteeYou must discuss your Program of Study with your major and minor program advisors and have it approved and signed by them. You then give it to Nance Gusavac (BUS N418) for submission to the PhD Program Committee for their approval. Programs of study must be submitted to the PhD Program Committee before the end of your second semester (excluding summer sessions) of enrollment in the PhD Program.
The Committee may request revisions to your program. Any subsequent modifications to an approved Program of Study must also be approved by the PhD Program Committee. Program of Study Modification forms should be used to indicate changes to your original approved Program of Study. These forms can be obtained from, and should be returned to, Nance Gusavac (BUS N418) for submission to the PhD Program Committee. A doctoral student who does not file a Program of Study will not be eligible to take doctoral preliminary examinations.
Research Paper Requirement A research paper requirement has been instituted for all doctoral students effective for those first enrolling in Fall 2005. This requirement, for first year students, is a first step in developing a research focus. Students must submit a paper by the end of their third semester, to be presented at a research seminar, conference, or at an on-campus seminar that includes at least two faculty members from their area.
If a student fails to complete the research paper requirement, he/she will be subject to dismissal from the doctoral program for lack of progress toward degree.
Annual Review PhD students should maintain contact with the faculty. It is in your best interest to meet with your major advisor every semester to review coursework completed and to discuss your Program of Study. An annual review and evaluation of doctoral students will take place in all major fields effective 2005-06. Each student will be evaluated by area faculty and provided with important feed-back regarding their academic progress. Prior to preliminary exams, students will receive their feedback from their faculty advisor. After the successful completion of preliminary exams, students will receive feedback from the chair of their dissertation committee. See the
flowchart summarizing the major steps during the course of the PhD program.
Residency Requirement As a part of the minimum graduate credits which must be earned at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee beyond the master's degree, each PhD student must devote at least one continuous academic year to a graduate program of course work, research, and related activities. You must satisfy the Business School residency requirement before taking the comprehensive examinations.
The residency requirement can be met by completing at least 8 graduate credits in each of two consecutive semesters, exclusive of summer sessions OR six or more graduate credits in each of three consecutive semesters, exclusive of summer sessions. The Graduate School will check to see that you have fulfilled your residency requirement before granting permission to take comprehensive preliminary examinations.
Credits toward residency cannot be earned prior to award of the masters' degree or completion of masters' equivalent coursework. Please note that courses you audit do not count toward the residency requirement.
Doctoral Preliminary Examinations Application for Doctoral Preliminary ExaminationsThe UWM Graduate School requires that you pass your preliminary exams within five years of initial enrollment in your doctoral program.
The Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business
Graduate Assistant Renewal Policies state that “to be eligible for financial support in your fourth year at the doctoral level, you must have passed preliminary examinations by the end of your third spring semester and applied for dissertator status.”
In order to take preliminary examinations you must have completed all coursework in your major field and have completed all but one of your selected Research Methodology courses.
Examinations are given only twice a year. The first part of the exam is given two to three weeks before the beginning of classes in the Fall and Spring semesters; the second part of the exam is to be scheduled within ten working days of the first part. Examination committee members (including the chair) are chosen by the PhD Program Committee in early fall (for the January exam) and in early spring (for the August exam).
A doctoral student who applies to take comprehensive preliminary examinations in either August or January of a given year is required to complete both Part I and Part II of the examination within a given examination period, unless the student withdraws from the examination. Failure to take either part constitutes a failure on that part. Withdrawal must be from both parts of the examinations and must occur Part I is administered.
Students completing their minor requirements in schools other than the Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business may or may not have to take minor-field examinations. Be sure to thoroughly discuss all requirements with your minor-field advisor.
You must formally apply to take your doctoral preliminary examinations.
Applications for the examinations are available from the Graduate School (or via the above link). Fill out Section I of this application, obtain the signature of your major advisor (in Section II), and forward the form to
Nance Gusavac. She will complete Section II, check to make sure you have completed all Business School requirements, and route the application to the Graduate School.
The Graduate School will review your file to determine your eligibility for the preliminary examinations. Coursework requirements as stated above must be completed, your residency requirement must be met, your record must be clear of all incompletes (including those in the minor field), and you must have at least a 3.000 cumulative grade point average.
If you are eligible, the Graduate School will return the application form to the Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business.
During the semester that you are preparing for the doctoral preliminary exams, you may enroll for a minimum of 1 graduate credit and still be considered full time for financial aid or grant purposes. This status is available for one semester only, and does not fulfill residency requirements. Please see Nance Gusavac (Bus N418) to request this option. There are Graduate School justification forms that need to be completed.
Following the examination, the Examining Committee Members will report the results of your examination to the Graduate School.
Evaluation of the Doctoral Preliminary ExaminationsThe PhD major preliminary examination will consist of two parts:
Part I.
Duration: Five Hours
Format: Closed Book
In this part of the exam, students will be asked to answer 5 of 6 questions. There may be one or more compulsory questions. Students must demonstrate their understanding of the subject area. The questions will be selected by the faculty of the area to test the breadth of the student's knowledge.
Part II.
Duration: Nine Hours
Format: Open Resources
This part of the exam will be scheduled within ten working days of Part I. The exam will be completed within a single day from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. In addition to open books and notes, students may use the library and computing resources, but they may not work in groups or consult with other people.
Prior to this exam, students will be asked to select a specialty area of research from a designated list provided by the PhD program faculty of their respective major field of study. Students may be given a set of reseach papers, data, or problems in their specialty area of research at the time of the examination. The exam questions, based on this material, will be designed to evaluate the student's research abilities and potential for individual research.
Both parts will be graded by the designated examination committee. The following scale will be used in assigning a single grade for each part of the exam: unconditional pass, marginal, or fail.
The final outcome of the exam will be determined as follows:
| Individual Final Grades | Final Exam Grades |
Two unconditional pass grades
| Unconditional pass
|
One unconditional pass grade and one marginal grade
| Pass
|
| One unconditional pass grade and one fail grade | Fail (Retake the failed exam)
|
Two marginal grades
| Pass or Fail depending on the required oral exam
|
One marginal grade and one fail grade
| Fail (Retake the failed exam)
|
Two failed grades
| Fail (Retake both parts)
|
The Oral exam is given when the student receives two marginal grades. Pass or Fail are the only two possible grades from an oral exam. The change of grade resulting from the oral exam on one or both of the marginal grades will determine the outcome of the exam according to the above classifications.
A failed exam must be retaken at the next regularly scheduled exam date. Failure to do so may result in dismissal from the program. No student will be allowed to take either of the written exams (part A or part B) more than twice.
The "Reporting System for Doctoral Preliminary Examinations" is used by the Examining Committee Members to report the results of your doctoral preliminary examination to the Graduate School.
Admission to Doctoral Candidacy
After you successfully complete the doctoral preliminary examinations in both major and, when required, minor areas, the Graduate School will send you a PhD-candidacy-confirmation letter.
Doctoral Dissertator StatusYou are also required to apply for dissertator status by completing an “Application for Doctoral Dissertator Status” form. This is done after you have successfully completed all coursework required by your Program of Study, successfully completed your doctoral preliminary examinations, and decided on a dissertation topic. You will be required to submit a brief summary of your dissertation topic to the Graduate School along with this application. Please work with Nance Gusavac (BUS N418) on the preparation and submission of this form.
Dissertation Dissertator RegistrationStudents admitted to doctoral dissertator status must register each semester until their dissertations are submitted to the Graduate School. Students who have achieved dissertator status enroll at a special per-credit dissertator rate.
The continuous dissertator requirement can be met by enrolling in three credits of Bus Adm 997 Dissertation Research. It should be noted that if the Program of Study specifically includes Bus Adm 997 Dissertation Research, then the student should register for this course for the required number of credits prior to graduation.
Bus Adm 997 Dissertation Research is a special course in terms of grading: the faculty member supervising a student registered in Bus Adm 997 must assign a Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U) grade. You must fill out a form outlining your research plans. These plans are to be developed in consultation with your major advisor and he/she will be required to sign the form. A permission number is required to register for Bus Adm 997. You can obtain a permission number and "Reading and Research Form" from Nance Gusavac (N418). Please return the form to her for processing.
Once you become a dissertator, you may only register for 3 credits of Bus Adm 997 each semester. If you advisor recommends another course, then you must appeal to the graduate school to substitute that course in lieu of Bus Adm 997. You may obtain the Request for Exception form from Nance Gusavac.
ProposalA formal oral presentation of your PhD dissertation proposal is required. At least twelve working days prior to your proposal presentation, you should submit to Nance Gusavac (BUS N418) a “Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Hearing Form.”
Return the “Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Hearing Form” with Section I filled out to Nance Gusavac (BUS N418). Please indicate separately the names of the faculty serving as members of your dissertation committee and the date and time of your proposal. An announcement of your proposal presentation must be circulated to faculty and PhD students at least two weeks prior to the actual presentation. This announcement will be distributed via email to all faculty and doctoral students. Five extra copies of your dissertation proposal and an electronic copy of your abstract should also be given to Nance Gusavac (BUS N418) at the time you submit the application. Copies of the proposal will be made available to interested faculty members and students on a check-out basis.
The lower half of this form (to be signed after completion of the proposal presentation) requires the signatures of at least three qualified faculty members who are willing to serve as members of your dissertation committee. The dissertation-committee members should be members or supporting members of the PhD Program Faculty. The committee may include qualified faculty members from other departments within the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, but the chair of the dissertation committee must be a PhD Program Faculty member in the Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business. Members of the doctoral student's committee who are not a member of the UWM graduate faculty require Graduate School approval. Such appointments would be made on the basis of appropriate professional and academic credentials.
You can hold your proposal hearing before or after you achieve dissertator status. The dissertation plan and the committee members must be approved by the PhD Program Committee; any changes in dissertation plans or committee membership also require prior approval by the PhD Program Committee.
Doctoral Dissertator Defense (Final Oral Examination)When your dissertation research is completed to the satisfaction of your major professor, arrangements are made for its review by your entire dissertation committee.
An application for graduation (“Application for the Doctoral Dissertation Defense and Graduation”) should be filed with the Graduate School no later than the end of the second week of the semester or the eight-week summer session in which you plan to receive your degree. A graduation fee will be assessed of all degree candidates. Students cannot be cleared for graduation without payment of this fee. Students who notify the Graduate School in a timely fashion that they will not be graduating as intended may apply the fee toward the subsequent semester.
If you meet all eligibility requirements for graduation (have a 3.000 grade point average, have passed the comprehensive preliminary examinations, and have no outstanding incompletes), the Graduate School will send the application to the Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business. The School will then schedule a final oral examination (dissertation defense). The final oral examination committee will be made up of five or more graduate faculty members, three of whom are on your dissertation committee.
The Graduate School has established a deadline date each semester (including summer sessions) for scheduling your defense and submitting the final unbound dissertation copies to the Graduate School. The dissertation and the signed warrant must be accepted by the published Graduate School dissertation deadline. Please contact Pat Hayes (414-229-6263) early in the semester to be sure that you meet these very important deadlines. If these deadlines are not met, the student must apply and graduate in the next semester.
You must also submit a copy of your dissertation to the Graduate School for review four weeks prior to the final oral examination (dissertation defense). The Graduate School checks to see that the proper format for dissertation preparation has been followed. Call Pat Hayes at 229-6263 for an appointment for a preliminary review. Dissertation format requirements and deadlines are published in Master’s Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Format Requirements .
This guide contains requirements and guidelines to make thesis or dissertation preparation and submission orderly and efficient while maintaining a style that is consistent for all theses and dissertations submitted at UWM.
An announcement of your dissertation defense must be circulated to faculty and PhD students at least two weeks prior to the actual final oral examination. This announcement will be distributed via email to all faculty and doctoral students. Five extra copies of your dissertation and a copy of your abstract on disk should also be given to Nance Gusavac (BUS N418). The abstract can also be submitted electronically. Copies of the dissertation will be made available to interested faculty members and students on a check-out basis.
At the conclusion of the dissertation defense, the committee may vote either pass or fail, or they may decide to defer. No absentee ballots are allowed.
The warrant (indicating a pass or fail) or the deferral form must be returned to the Graduate School within 10 working days of the defense or a deferral is automatically assigned. If the committee determines that you need more than 10 working days to complete revisions to your dissertation, the vote should be to defer. If the vote is to defer, a deferral form will be returned to the Graduate School within ten working days of the defense. Specific reasons for the deferral and the completion date required by your committee must be communicated in writing to you and to the Graduate School. You cannot graduate while in deferral status and you will be required to register for the next semester if the deferral is not changed to a Pass by the Graduate School deadline for submission of the dissertation. If the deferral status is not cleared by the required date of completion (up to a maximum of four months), the deferral lapses to a fail.
Graduation Information Graduation Time LimitYou must complete all requirements for the doctoral degree within ten years from the date of initial enrollment in the program of doctoral study at UWM. This includes all coursework, the dissertation, and examinations required for the degree. Students who do not complete their doctoral degree in the 10 year time limit will be academically dismissed from the PhD Program by the UWM Graduate School.
Registration Registration via Panther Access to Web Services (PAWS)Students register for classes using the online system, Panther Access to Web Services (PAWS). They receive an appointment letter indicating when to begin registration. Students can register anytime after their assigned start time. Information about registration, PAWS, tuition, deadlines, class times, and other administrative regulations can be found in the UWM Schedule/Timetable, published each semester, and also available online.
PAWS Pre-Registration Steps
- Students must be admitted and eligible to enroll.
- The earliest time and date students can enter the PAWS system to register is the assigned time indicated in the appointment letter. After this time students can reenter the system at any time.
- There can be no “holds” on a student’s record in order to register. All holds or service indicators must be cleared before registering on PAWS.
- If you are registering for a Bus Adm 997 or Bus Adm 999 course, you will need a permission number and must fill out a form outlining your research plans. These plans are to be developed in consultation with your major advisor and he/she will be required to sign the form. You can obtain a permission number and a "Reading and Research Form" from Nance Gusavac at 229-4542 or nance@uwm.edu. All 997 and 999 courses must be taken for 3 credits. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Late RegistrationLate registration takes place after the classes for a semester or summer session have begun. A $25 fee is assessed to students who register late. Students are able to register through the first two weeks of classes, however they are responsible for the same academic requirements as those who have been attending since the first day of class. The “add” deadline is published in each semester’s Registration information.
Changes in Registration (Adding/Dropping Classes)Changes can be made to a schedule any time after initial registration, using the PAWS system.
Once classes begin for the semester, students may continue to add and drop courses for two weeks on PAWS. However, if classes are full, PAWS will not allow them to register. Adding to full courses requires a registration or add form with the instructor’s signature and departmental stamp. Courses at the 700-Level or above have waiting lists that are generated by Closed Course Request forms which students complete online. Log into PAWS and go to the main menu. Click on "Academics" and then go to "Closed Section Interest Form". Students on the waiting lists have priority in adding classes. Courses may be added only during the first two weeks of classes by completing an Add/Drop form. A representative of the Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business advising office must review all changes in Business Administration courses before stamping add/drop forms.
Unless a shorter deadline is established by a department and stated in the UWM Schedule of Classes, a student may drop courses with the written approval of the department through the end of the eighth week of classes, (Fall or Spring semester.) Written approval by the instructor is not required during the first eight weeks. A student attempting to drop courses after the eighth week may do so only for reasons of extraordinary circumstances not related to academic performance in the course.
In order to drop a course after the eighth week, a graduate student must submit a Request for Exception form (sample form) along with medical or employer documentation to the PhD Program Committee which forwards a recommendation to the Graduate School. Copies of this form are available from Nance Gusavac (BUS N418). The final decision regarding exceptions is made by the Graduate School.
All courses dropped after the fourth week of classes will remain on the student record and will be reflected on transcripts with a symbol of "W". Drops after the second week of class will carry a financial penalty. For courses that meet for less than the full academic semester (fall/spring terms) and for summer session courses, the above deadlines will be adjusted in proportion to the length of the course.
Course Prerequisites Course prerequisites are established to insure that students have adequate background preparation for specific courses. In unusual circumstances, if the instructor believes that a student is capable of successfully completing a course without meeting specific course prerequisites, the instructor may support the student's appeal of the prerequisite to the PhD Program Committee. If the faculty member teaching the course is a part-time faculty member, support from a tenured or tenure-track faculty member must be included. Students lacking the prerequisites for a particular course can be administratively dropped from that course.
Doctoral Independent Study PhD students often register for doctoral independent study courses (Bus Adm 999). The following guidelines have been adopted for independent study courses:
- Students must meet with the faculty member who will supervise the course to agree upon the following:
—An outline of the specific reading or research to be undertaken, including a reading list
—The methodology or study approach to be used
—The project output (i.e. report, paper, presentation, etc.)
—The grading plan - The supervising faculty member must be a member of the PhD Program or Supporting Faculty.
Applications for doctoral independent study (Reading and Research Forms) containing the above information must be submitted to Nance Gusavac (BUS N418) prior to enrollment in the course. All doctoral independent study courses must be added prior to the add deadline. The Associate Dean will review the Bus Adm 999 (and Bus Adm 997) proposal(s) and, if approved, a copy of the reading and research form will be sent to the student and faculty member supervising the course. These forms are available from Nance Gusavac (BUS N418).
To register for Bus Adm 999, you will need a permission number. You must indicate the name of the supervising faculty member when requesting this number. You can obtain a permission number by contacting Nance Gusavac at: nance@uwm.edu. She will also give you the Reading and Research Form to fill out and return for processing.
Permission numbers are only used PRIOR to the first day of class. After that date, you will be required to add Bus Adm 997 or Bus Adm 999 on an add/drop form, which also must be signed by the supervising faculty member and stamped by the department (BUS N297). It is best to get the permission number before the semester starts.
Semester Course Load for "Full-Time" Status Graduate students must carry 8 or more credits for designation of "full-time student" status. However, some doctoral graduate assistants have slightly different requirements. Please see Nance Gusavac to be sure that you maintain minimum credit requirements if you have an assistantship. Also, doctoral dissertators have different credit requirements for full-time status (see Dissertator Registration above).
Doctoral students may carry a maximum of 12 credits per fall or spring semester. A graduate student wishing approval to enroll for more than 12 credits must make a written request to the UWM Graduate School. This appeal must be accompanied by Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business approval. All requests to take overloads will have to be approved by the PhD Program Committee. Final decisions on overloads are made by the UWM Graduate School Dean.
