Information Systems (PhD)
Department Chair: Jonathan K. Trower
Program Director: John Carlson
Associate Dean for Graduate Programs: Patsy Norman
Program Description
The PhD in Information Systems prepares researchers, scholars, and teachers to analyze and understand the impact of information systems and technologies on individuals, organizations, and society. Drawing on a multidisciplinary theoretical foundation, students investigate how information systems shape decision-making, transform organizations, and raise moral and ethical challenges. The program combines rigorous research training with coursework in pedagogy and a faculty mentoring program, equipping graduates for academic careers at colleges and universities around the world.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must have bachelor's and master's degrees from accredited colleges or universities in business or a related discipline, an acceptable score on the GMAT or GRE, and must meet the general admissions requirements of Baylor's Graduate School. Applicants should also meet the common body of knowledge (CBK) requirements for business degrees; those who do not may need to complete additional business core courses.
Requirements for a PhD in Information Systems
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Information Systems Required Courses | ||
| ECO 5349 | Causal Inference and Research Design | 3 |
| EDL 6302 | Teaching and Learning in Higher Education | 3 |
| ENT 6340 | Seminar in Research Methods | 3 |
| MIS 6305 | Seminar in Business Research | 3 |
| MIS 6310 | Foundations in Information Systems Research | 3 |
| MIS 6320 | Quantitative Methods in Business Research | 3 |
| MIS 6325 | Advanced Quantitative Methods for Business Research | 3 |
| MIS 6330 | Theoretical Perspectives in Information Systems Research I | 3 |
| MIS 6340 | Qualitative Methods in Business Research | 3 |
| MIS 6350 | Theoretical Perspectives in Information Systems Research II | 3 |
| MIS 6V98 | Special Studies in Information Systems (Seminar in Mixed Methods Business Research) | 3 |
| Elective | ||
| Elective in Information Systems or supporting area | 3 | |
| Research Apprenticeships | ||
| MIS 6398 | Research Apprenticeship I | 3 |
| MIS 6399 | Research Apprenticeship II (Qualifying Paper) | 3 |
| Dissertation | ||
| MIS 6V00 | Dissertation Proposal | 3 |
| MIS 6V99 | Dissertation | 12 |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Preliminary Exam and Admission to Candidacy | ||
| Oral defense and final approval of dissertation | ||
| Total Hours | 57 | |
Program Completion Requirement
Students will be recognized as candidates for the doctoral degree only after having:
1. Passed the written qualifying event
2. Completed all residence and departmental requirements except the dissertation
3. Received approval by the Dean of the Graduate School of their formal application for
admission to candidacy for the degree.
Doctoral candidates must pass a formal dissertation proposal defense and successfully complete and defend their dissertation at an oral examination.
Curriculum
The PhD in Information Systems is a full-time, four-year residential program. The first two years require 36 hours of formal coursework. The bulk of the formal coursework consists of doctoral seminars offered by the Information Systems & Business Analytics (ISBA) department. Several of these are open to doctoral students in other business PhD programs as well. The remaining hours are comprised of independent research, teaching, and student development.
Prior to entering the program, students will have access to an online introductory statistics course for no credit. Students should complete this prior to the start of their PhD program to ensure they have the basic statistical knowledge needed to complete the coursework required for the program. Students with extensive statistics backgrounds may skip this review with the approval of the program director.
Students supplement these required courses with one or more doctoral level electives offered by the ISBA department, the Hankamer School of Business, or other departments across the university. PhD students interested in completing 5000-level (master’s) courses in their support area must obtain prior approval from the program director.
During the summers following each year of coursework, students enroll in guided apprenticeship experiences. In Research Apprenticeship I, students undertake a collaborative research project with a faculty sponsor, applying the skills developed during their first year of study. In Research Apprenticeship II, students prepare for and complete the written qualifying event.
After successfully completing 36 hours of coursework, students must complete a written qualifying event, which typically takes the form of a comprehensive exam. Students will complete this requirement during the summer after their second year of coursework. After the completion of the qualifying event, students will write and orally defend a dissertation proposal and dissertation on an important issue related to information systems theory, policy, or practice under the supervision of a faculty advisor and committee.
Students receiving a graduate assistantship, which includes an annual stipend and tuition remission, will be assigned to work as a research assistant or a teaching assistant. Students assigned as research assistants will gain experience in developing and producing academic research. Later in the program, typically after coursework is completed, students will be the instructor of record for courses offered in the ISBA department.
Plan of Study
A formal degree plan will be developed in consultation with the program director or dissertation advisor. A maximum of six hours of graduate-level course work may be transferred from another accredited university.
The recommended course sequence is as follows:
| Year 1 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | ||
| ENT 6340 | Seminar in Research Methods | 3 |
| MIS 6305 | Seminar in Business Research | 3 |
| MIS 6310 | Foundations in Information Systems Research | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECO 5349 | Causal Inference and Research Design | 3 |
| MIS 6320 | Quantitative Methods in Business Research | 3 |
| MIS 6330 | Theoretical Perspectives in Information Systems Research I | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| MIS 6398 | Research Apprenticeship I | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| MIS 6325 | Advanced Quantitative Methods for Business Research | 3 |
| MIS 6340 | Qualitative Methods in Business Research | 3 |
| MIS 6350 | Theoretical Perspectives in Information Systems Research II | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDL 6302 | Teaching and Learning in Higher Education | 3 |
| MIS 6V98 | Special Studies in Information Systems (Seminar in Mixed Methods Business Research) | 3 |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| MIS 6399 | Research Apprenticeship II (Qualifying Paper) | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| MIS 6V00 | Dissertation Proposal | 3 |
| MIS 6V99 | Dissertation | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| MIS 6V99 | Dissertation | 9 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 57 | |