Doctor of Philosophy in the Field of Business Administration, Information Systems and Technology Management Concentration

The PhD program in business administration with a concentration in information systems and technology management (ISTM) focuses on the research areas in information systems and technology management. The program is designed to explore diverse research topics in information systems (IS), including digital transformation, information systems economics, digital strategy, e-commerce, artificial intelligence (AI), and other emerging digital phenomena in today’s pervasively digitized businesses, and exploit them for business values. The ISTM program is designed to prepare students for successful research careers in the IS fields. At the same time, the ISTM field itself is highly interdisciplinary, encompassing various research areas and topics studying IS and IT, including economics, sociology, psychology, organization theory and behavior, strategic management, and computer science. ISTM faculty members are actively engaged in interdisciplinary research in IS economics, digital marketing, digital business strategy, and IS theories in psychology and organizations, and doing professional service as associative editors at top-tier journals such as MIS Quarterly and Information Systems Research.

The program is designed to provide doctoral students with solid theoretical and methodological foundations to pursue the key topics of information and digital systems, virtual environments, digitization, and emerging digital technologies. Throughout the program, students become familiar with research methods and the literature of their major fields through research projects and directed readings. The completion of course work and qualifying examinations requires no more than two years.

Early student participation in research is strongly encouraged. The ISTM program regularly hosts seminars that introduce students to cutting-edge research and provide a forum for faculty–student interaction. Students are encouraged to work with their counterparts at other schools and departments including the School of Business Departments of Marketing, Management, Strategic Management and Public Policy, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Department of Computer Science, and the School of Public Health, among others.

The research phase begins as early as the first year, when students serve as research assistants, and continues throughout the doctoral program. Students should gradually become more involved in the design and execution of research and, by the end of the second year, have typically produced at least one paper suitable for publication, typically coauthored with a faculty member. The later years of the program are dedicated to original research and the creation of the dissertation.

Visit the program website for additional information.

Adminssion Requirements

Article	Requirement
Admission deadline:	Fall – January 15
Standardized test scores:	Either the Graduate Admissions Management Test (GMAT – institution code QK4-4F-40) or the Graduate Records Exam (GRE – institution code 5246) is required.
Recommendations required:	Three (3) recommendations
Prior academic records:	Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities attended, whether or not credit was earned, the program was completed, or the credit appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Please note: Graduates of foreign universities must also submit notarized English translations of all transcripts if they are not in English. Graduates of foreign universities must also submit a course-by-course credential evaluation; this is required to consider your application complete. Evaluation services that are members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) will be accepted.
	International applicants should upload only the English-language version of their transcripts.
Statement of purpose:	Applicants must submit a 750 to 1,200-word Letter of Intent that clearly indicates the specific area of focus; explains the reasons for seeking a Ph.D. in the specified area of focus; describes how present objectives relate to previous life experiences; identifies key long-range professional objectives; and supplies members of the Doctoral Committee with any additional clarifying information the applicant considers important. The Letter of Intent should be typed and double-spaced.
Additional requirements:	A current resumé is required, listing any publications. A master’s degree in a related field is preferred. Applicants are strongly encouraged to meet in person or by telephone with lead professors in the intended area of focus.
International applicants only:	Please follow this link - https://graduate.admissions.gwu.edu/international-student-application-requirements - to review the International Applicant Information carefully for details on required documents, earlier deadlines for applicants requiring an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW, and English language requirements.
	PLEASE NOTE that the minimum English language test scores required by this program are:
	- Academic IETLS: an overall band score of 7.0 with no individual band score below 6.0; or
	- TOEFL: 600 on paper-based or 100 on Internet-based or 250 on computer-based.
	- PTE Academic: 68.
	- Duolingo English Test: Score of 110 or higher.

Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:

The GW School of Business
Attn: Graduate Admissions
2201 G Street, NW, Suite 550
Washington, DC 20052

Contact for questions:

business@gwu.edu
202-994-1212)
Hours: 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday

Visit the School of Business website for additional admissions information.

The PhD in business administration involves two years of formal courses established by each Department and approved by the Doctoral Committee. Students take a minimum of 45 credits during their program, including 27 credits in core courses, a 3-credit summer paper, and 15 credits in elective courses. Students should consult their Faculty Advisory Group about the required courses and electives for which they should register.

Students should complete at least 39 credits within the first two years from matriculation. The remaining 6 credits should be completed during the third year.

Requirements for the information systems and technology management concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
The following 30 credits constitute the core requirements for the information systems and technology management concentration*:
Four courses (12 credits) in research methods and quantitative analysis.
ECON 8301	Microeconomic Theory I
ECON 8375	Econometrics I
ECON 8376	Econometrics II
MGT 8385	Special Topics in Research Methods
Four doctoral seminars (12 credits) covering important studies in the student's area of interest, selected from the following:
ISTM 8391	Contemporary Research Topics in Information Systems
ISTM 8392	Empirical Research in Information Systems, Cross-Disciplinary Overview
ISTM 8393	Behavioral Theories in Information Systems Research
ISTM 8394	Advanced Empirical Methods in Information Systems
ISTM 8395	Research in Digital Business Strategy
One additional doctoral-level seminar (3 credits) from outside the student's area of interest
Completion of a 3-credit summer research paper during the first or first and second summer, as required by the student's area of interest.
Electives
The remaining 15 credits required are taken in elective courses, selected in consultation with the student's faculty advisory group.

*Policies for core courses

In general, all core courses should be doctoral courses, i.e., those at the 8000 level. All courses must be taken for letter grades. Required courses cannot be waived without substitution except in unusual circumstances as determined on a case-by-case basis. Examples of unusual circumstances include students holding a specialized master's or doctoral degree where equivalent core courses were taken in a particular area (such as statistics or mathematics). Students may petition the Associate Dean of Research and Doctoral Programs to substitute up to 12 credits of required courses with alternative courses approved by the faculty advisory group.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Comprehensive examination
After the student completes the coursework and the summer paper requirements, the faculty advisory group and department faculty administer a comprehensive examination. The format of the comprehensive examination is at the discretion of the advisory committee, subject to approval by the doctoral committee when evaluating the study plan. The comprehensive examination establishes the student’s mastery of the current and classic literature. The comprehensive exam can be written, in-class or take-home, and may include an oral component. Failure to pass the comprehensive examination in two attempts leads to termination from the program.
Dissertation
Following successful completion of the comprehensive examination, the student is considered a doctoral candidate, and may form a dissertation committee, and develop a dissertation proposal. During this stage, students prepare, submit, and defend a dissertation.
Other policies
All course work and required comprehensive examination must be completed within five years of matriculation. All program requirements must be completed within seven years of the date of matriculation.
The doctoral program is administered and supervised by the Associate Dean and the committee on doctoral studies. For more detailed information about this program, contact the GWSB Doctoral Program Office.