Degrees Offered

The faculty of the Graduate School, under the authorization of the Board of Trustees, grants the following degrees offered by the Graduate School of Business. The graduate faculty, as represented by the Dean of the Graduate School and through the Graduate Council, has primary responsibility for the development, operating policies, administration, and quality of these programs. Operating through the Graduate Dean, the faculty appoints committees that directly supervise the student’s program of study and committees, which, in turn, monitor research activities and approve theses and dissertations.

Overview – Master’s Degrees in the Sam M. Walton College of Business

Each master’s degree in the Sam M. Walton College of Business is designed to prepare a student for a career in the professional world of business. The programs provide a broad-based education where critical thinking, creative problem solving and professional resolve are encouraged. Much of the curriculum is team-based, simulating experience in the corporate environment. Successful students have demonstrated potential for growth, maturity, motivation and leadership.

Overview – Ph.D. Programs in the Sam M. Walton College of Business

The Ph.D. programs in Business Administration and Economics are designed primarily to prepare individuals for  research, service, teaching, and collegial roles in academic and research institutions. The degree programs provide: a) an exposure to the functional areas of business, b) intensive study of the relevant body of knowledge in a focused area, and c) skills and tools to conduct research in that area.

An M.B.A. or other appropriate master’s degree is generally required for admission. Individuals admitted to the program may be required to take additional courses in accounting, business law, computer information systems, statistics, finance, economics, management, or marketing. The additional courses will be determined by the adviser in the student’s concentration with the approval of the Sam M. Walton College of Business Associate Dean for Programs and Research.

Requirements for the Ph.D. Programs in the Sam M. Walton College of Business:

  1. Course work and seminars: The requirements for the Ph.D. in Business Administration and Ph.D. in Economics will consist of a program of research, appropriate course work, seminars, and independent study as specified by the student’s program.
  2. Comprehensive Examination: Satisfactory completion of a comprehensive examination in the area of study is required.
  3. Dissertation: A dissertation will be written and successfully defended in the area of study.