Search overlay

Search form

Students enjoying a class Degrees & Programs
Podium and microphone Faculty & Staff
Student completing a career development course activity Career Development
Industry and recruiter swag Recruiters & Industry

People

    Programs

      Events

        PhD in Business, Management

        Frequently Asked Questions

        Application Process & Selection

        • When are applications due?
          Normal evaluation of applications begins on February 1 and will continue until the student cohort has been filled.

          If you would like to be considered for a Presidential Graduate Research Fellowship, you must submit all application materials to the Graduate School by January 10. Each year, the department nominates exceptional applicants for a Presidential Graduate Research Fellowship. The Graduate School at Auburn University selects fellowship recipients from nominations made by all PhD programs on campus. Those chosen receive an additional $15,000 annually for three years in addition to their regular 9-month stipend.
        • How many applicants do you admit each year?
          Our goal is to admit three new PhD students each year.
        • What criteria do you consider when making selection choices?
          We consider multiple criteria in our selection process, including test scores, grades, alma maters, reference letters, previous experience, and personal statements.
        • Do you have a minimum GMAT/GRE score?
          We do not seriously consider candidates with GMAT scores below 600 (or below 1200 on the old GRE or 308 on the new GRE) except in extremely rare circumstances. In addition to preferring GMAT scores higher than 600, we also want to see subscale scores at or above the 50th percentile.
        • Do all international students have to take the TOEFEL?

          Only international students who have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree in the United States are exempt from the TOEFEL. The Graduate School minimum TOEFEL requirements are as follows: 

          • iBT TOEFEL > 79
          • Computer TOEFEL > 213
          • Paper TOEFEL > 550.
        • Do you require a master’s degree for admission?
          While we do not require that applicants have a master’s degree, the competitive nature of the program and the nature of our teaching-oriented graduate funding leads us to strongly favor candidates with a master’s degree of some kind.
        • Do you require a U.S. degree for admission?
          No, but the competitiveness of the program and the nature of our teaching-oriented graduate funding leads us to strongly favor candidates with a U.S. degree or a non-U.S. degree from a school based on English language instruction.
        • Do you require applicants to have a business degree?
          No. We encourage applicants with a diversity of academic backgrounds to apply.
        • I am interested in applying.  Can I come for a visit before I apply?
          Certainly. If you feel your application meets our minimum criteria with regards to test scores, please contact the Program Coordinator to arrange a visit.
        • Are visits required?
          We ask our short list of favored applicants to visit us or participate in a video conference before we make final selection decisions.
        • How do I apply?

          You must complete the Graduate School application online, make arrangements for your test scores and transcripts to be sent to the Graduate School, and pay your application fee.

          See more details on our Admissions page.

        PhD Student Funding

        • Do you offer graduate student funding?
          Yes. Incoming students are offered a four-year Graduate Assistantship (GA) position that includes a tuition waiver and monthly stipend. Students are responsible for paying some minimal University fees.

          In addition, if you would like to be considered for a Presidential Graduate Research Fellowship, you must submit all application materials to the Graduate School by January 10. Each year, the department nominates exceptional applicants for a Presidential Graduate Research Fellowship. The Graduate School at Auburn University selects fellowship recipients from nominations made by all PhD programs on campus. Those chosen receive an additional $15,000 annually for three years in addition to their regular 9-month stipend.
        • Are any health benefits available to incoming PhD students?

          New students are automatically enrolled in the Graduate Student Health Insurance Plan.  Graduate student assistants currently receive a $500 supplement toward the total annual cost of approximately $2,028 (2020–2021).

          If you already have health insurance, you may opt out of the Graduate Student Health Insurance plan. To do so, you must complete the Waiver Request and provide proof of current insurance. Check the Waiver Request page for deadlines.
        • Do PhD students get assigned an office or have access to other resources?
          All PhD students are assigned an office in the Lowder Business Building.  Typically, 2-3 students share an office with each having a personal desk and computer. Printing and copying is available in a central location.
        • Do PhD students get support for travel to conferences and academic meetings?
          Yes, support for such travel is available if the student is presenting a paper. Other funding is periodically available to those not submitting papers.

        Questions About the Program

        • What kind of academic focus does the program provide? Is the program micro or macro in orientation?
          Our coursework is designed to expose students to micro (e.g., organizational behavior) and macro (e.g., strategy) topics. Generally students choose to emphasize one or the other in their research efforts.
        • I want to be a consultant. Is this a good program for me?
          Our program is primarily devoted to training future academics. While some of our past graduates have chosen to pursue consulting, their educational experience was focused on learning to contribute to management theory and knowledge through high quality research. Choose Auburn if you are interested in and motivated to do research in the area.
        • Can I do the program part-time or in the evenings?
          No. The program is a traditional residency based program.
        • How important is statistics?
          Very. We have four courses devoted to the key statistical methods used in management research.
        • What kind of academic position can I get after completing my PhD?
          Your ultimate field of specialization largely depends on the nature of your research and dissertation focus. Most of our graduates position themselves for Assistant Professor positions in Management, Business Administration, Organizational Behavior, Strategy, or Entrepreneurship.
        • Where do your graduates find jobs?
          Our placements range from small regional schools to large state Universities. Placement is largely dependent on the amount and quality of graduates’ published research. We currently have alumni in faculty positions at large universities, including LSU, Auburn, Idaho State, Mississippi State University, Texas Christian University, California State University Fullerton, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
        • What makes Auburn special?

          Many things: 

          • Our people and collegial atmosphere. Just check out our publication record. You will find our faculty and students work together in teams to do great work.
          • Our research productivity. We have a high ranking for our output in high-quality journals.
          • We have a strong, dedicated faculty, many of whom are leading experts in their fields.
          • We have strong interests in areas including organizational change, ethics, board governance and entrepreneurship that augment the traditional focus on organizational behavior, theory, and strategy.
          • Auburn is a great, small college town with easy access to Atlanta and the beaches of the gulf.

        Still Have Questions?

        Contact Us

        Jack Walker

        Jack Walker

        Program Officer