DOCTORAL PROGRAM

Program Curriculum

SEMESTER 1

1. Frame 1: Research Foundation Requirements (8 credits)

In Frame 1 all students fulfill research foundation requirements by completing the same four courses designed to provide a comprehensive grounding in doctoral level research methodology. These courses are undertaken in semester one.

Frame 1 aims to instill in students a respect for the rigor necessary to produce advanced, original research that has current applicability, and to provide them with the methodological tools to perform such research.

By the end of Frame 1 students should have developed the broad parameters of their dissertation topic, including defined area of research, preliminary research design, and a general implementation plan.

2. Frame 2: Advanced Core Seminar - Part I: Domain Survey (8 credits)

After completing Frame 1 students move on to advanced core seminar (ACS) in Frame 2.

The ACS provides a comprehensive survey of management subjects and builds on the research techniques mastered in Frame 1. ACS courses use an intensive seminar model or online teaching (domain survey) and directed study (colloquium) to assist students in identifying innovative research sources, and developing clear presentation of ideas.

The ACS is divided into the 8-credit domain survey and the 24-credit colloquium.

The domain survey is completed in semester one and comprises four courses deemed essential to an understanding of the broad range of business fields at the doctoral level. Students are required to demonstrate their mastery of this subject matter by successfully completing one compulsory and three elective courses in this part of Frame 2 before they move on to more specialized research. The three elective courses are completed using a distance learning format.

The Dissertation Proposal By the end of semester one students must present a dissertation proposal that clearly states the dissertation topic, shows how the research will be designed in a detailed way, carefully demonstrates how the research will be implemented, and provides a project plan with specific signposts and dates of completion.

The dissertation proposal will be completed in collaboration with an assigned IUM or IAE-UNSA faculty member who will become the dissertation supervisor, but also act in a coaching capacity to support and guide the student.

Finally, students may also be required to identify a firm, government entity, or other organization that is willing to "sponsor" their research by providing a real world setting for the student's research. This distinctive project-based approach ensures that where necessary research is closely linked to actual business problems, and provides students with invaluable experience in a concrete "consulting" situation.



SEMESTER 2

3. Frame 2: Advanced Core Seminar - Part II: Colloquium (24 credits)

The colloquium requires students to carry out sophisticated, wide-ranging research across a broad spectrum of sources. These can include print materials, working papers, websites and other electronic material, industry analysis and publications, seminars, meetings, and conferences.

The aim of the colloquium is to expose students to a broad array of research in their area of interest - from an extensive range of provenances and in a variety of formats - so that they leave the "comfort zone" of traditional sources.

4. Frame 3: Project-Based Research Tutorial (16 credits)

The Project-Based Research Tutorial (PRT) is completed in Frame 3. It requires students to broaden their grasp of important issues in their area of study and to perform guided superior research with their dissertation supervisor. The PRT is designed to allow students access to the resources of both IUM and IAE-UNSA in order to become thoroughly acquainted with the implementation phase of their research topic, and with the range of interests and areas of research specialty of IUM and IAE-UNSA faculty. It consists of a semester-long seminar where students will hone the knowledge and skills they have mastered thus far in the program. The tutorial is a "dress rehearsal" for the writing of the dissertation; students will be able to use the long essay they complete (usually the first chapter of the dissertation) as a basis for the final document.

Finally, the PRT also acts as a comprehensive examination of students' progress in the doctoral program and its successful completion certifies their mastery of all course subject matter.

The Master Administration des Affaires Recherche en Sciences de Gestion and Doctoral Candidacy After successfully completing Frame 3 students are awarded the Master Administration des Affaires Recherche en Sciences de Gestion by UNSA-IAE indicating that that they (1) have mastered the research methods and techniques - and demonstrated the writing abilities - required for doctoral study, (2) possess the skills necessary to carry out supervised research based on limited data or information, and (3) understand that doctoral level study will require them to conduct original, independent research that advances subject area knowledge. The conferral of the Master takes the place of comprehensive examinations.

Students are then admitted to doctoral candidacy and begin working on their dissertation in close consultation with their dissertation supervisor. Henceforth, they liaise constantly with their supervisor to produce the final deliverable for the doctoral program: the dissertation.

Please note that students must fulfill all requirements of Frames 1, 2, and 3 in order to qualify for doctoral candidacy. In certain cases a student may be awarded the Masters as a terminal degree.

SEMESTERS 3-6

5. Frame 4: Dissertation (24 credits)

In Frame 4 all students complete four 6-credit dissertation courses.

On successful completion of Frame 3 -- and closely supervised by an IUM or IAE-UNSA faculty member - students are expected to produce a sustained piece of original research.

The dissertation will be the result of close consultation with all IUM and IAE-UNSA faculty and other resources, as well as the various departments and personnel of any sponsoring entity. In this way students will engage directly with the worlds of theory and practice to test their hypotheses and findings over the entire frame.

After a successful dissertation defense, and provided they have fulfilled all other academic and administrative requirements, students are awarded the doctorate.