Sample Programs and Examinations

Sample Program

The following is an example of a full-time program for completing the PhD program in three years for a candidate with no prerequisites or deficiencies to satisfy. Please note that the PhD coordinator may require additional course work as part of the degree program.

First Year FALL SEMESTER: PSCH 443 MGMT 581 MGMT 596: Research Seminar (1 hr.) Elective	SPRING SEMESTER: PSCH 543 MGMT 576 Elective MGMT 596: Research Seminar (1 hr.)
Second Year FALL SEMESTER: PhD Common Study Core Course MGMT 587: HRM Specialization Course MGMT 591: Qualifying Paper	SPRING SEMESTER: Specialization or Research Methodology Course MGMT 573 MGMT 575 MGMT 591: Qualifying Paper
Third Year FALL SEMESTER: MGMT 599: PhD Thesis Research	SPRING SEMESTER: MGMT 599: PhD Thesis Research

Thesis research may continue if the dissertation cannot be completed. During the additional terms publishing and teaching could also continue under the supervision of the PhD coordinator.

HRM Qualifying Examination

Upon successful completion of the three major core field seminars (MGMT 569, 573, and 576), students must meet the research paper requirement. The research paper may be a conceptual/theoretical paper or an empirical paper and must be of publishable quality in a refereed academic journal. The underlying goals of the paper requirement include critically analyzing relevant theory and empirical research, developing insights and original perspectives on human resource management and related issues, and translating ideas into well-articulated writing.

The paper must be original, must make a contribution to knowledge in the field and not have been published elsewhere. A full explanation of this requirement is contained in the program information/application packet received upon request from the program office.

A student who fails to successfully complete the qualifying paper within one year after successful completion of the major core field seminars will not be permitted to continue in the program. Successful completion of the qualifying paper is required before the preliminary exam may be taken.

HRM Preliminary Examination

The preliminary exam is taken upon completion of the qualifying exam and required course work. The exam consists of comprehensive written questions and answers, with an optional oral exam to clarify the written answers if deemed necessary and appropriate by the prelim committee. The prelim committee is appointed by the department head of managerial studies and consists of at least four qualified members of the faculty. The exam is offered in September and January of each year. The prelim committee will be responsible for writing the four questions and grading the answers.

Dissertation Proposal Defense

There is a separate oral defense of the research proposed by the dissertation prospectus. This oral defense comes sometime after the preliminary exam is passed, so the student has time to prepare a dissertation proposal after completing the preliminary exam. After passing all portions of the preliminary exam, students are responsible for arranging a formal defense of their dissertation proposals. Dissertation proposals should contain a detailed theoretical framework for the proposed research as well as methods to be used in conducting the research. The full details of the proposal defense are contained in the program information/application packet.

Dissertation Research

Students are encouraged to keep committee members well informed of progress on the dissertation. As all students are required to be enrolled full-time for at least one year during their tenure in the program, the dissertation stage may be an opportune time to fulfill this requirement.

Dissertation Defense

Students are advised to obtain a copy of the Graduate College's guidelines on dissertations and format. When the dissertation chair feels the student is ready to defend the dissertation, a defense will be scheduled.

For more information on the area of inquiry in human resource management please contact the LGSB Programs Office at (312) 996-4573 or email PhDbus@uic.edu.