Applicants who hold only an undergraduate degree, or fewer than 30 hours of graduate coursework, may be considered for admission. Such applicants should contact the PhD coordinator in operations and supply chain management prior to applying. Based on the coordinator’s assessment, bachelor’s entry students may be required to take up to 30 additional credit hours of coursework and dissertation-related credits to ensure they possess the competencies needed to successfully complete the program.

Admission to the PhD program is based upon the completion of the general admission requirements of Graduate Admissions. For PhD program admission, a score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and a record of undergraduate and master's (if applicable) master level academic performance are required. Students for whom English is not their native language must achieve a TOEFL score of at least 550. The TOEFL cannot be waived, even for students holding a master's degree from a U.S. The TOEFL cannot be waived, even when a student has a Master's degree from a US university.  International applicants who that score below minimum acceptable levels on the verbal portion of entrance examinations may be admitted under the condition that they pass an English proficiency exam or complete UT Arlington’s Graduate English Skills Program prior to beginning graduate coursework. Applicants are encouraged to submit a résumé with their application that highlights professional and personal accomplishments, linguistic abilities, computer expertise, expertise and leadership experience. A statement of purpose, purpose which describes the applicant's academic and work background, research interests, and reasons for applying to the UTA PhD program, program is required as part of the application.

Multiple criteria are used to make admission decisions. Quantitative measures include an applicant’s GMAT or GRE score and grade point averages on undergraduate and master level courses as calculated by the Graduate Admissions. No formula is used, used nor are weights assigned to these factors. There are no set minimum scores for the GMAT or GRE required for admission, admission and no cutoff scores are applied to on grade point averages.  A standardized test score (GMAT or GRE) is not used as the the sole criterion for an applicant’s admission decision.

PhD admission decisions are made by a committee headed by the major field coordinator for the track that an applicant wishes to specialize in (Management, Finance, etc.).  These committees typically consider multiple factors, including educational objectives, letters of recommendation, and other relevant criteria, in addition give consideration to many factors (educational objectives, letters of recommendation, etc.) in addition to quantitative metrics, to metrics to arrive at a decision. All students who wish to have a strong application for a PhD program are encouraged to gain research experience through activities such as working as a research assistant for a faculty member, writing a master's thesis, and/or presenting papers at academic conferences.  Strong performance in in courses in in research methods and and advanced statistics is are also viewed positively. Students interested in learning who wish to learn more about the admission process for a specific particular area of business administration are encouraged to contact the major field coordinator for that area.   

Categories of Admission Decisions

An applicant is unconditionally admitted when all factors for consideration indicate very strong potential for academic success as a business doctoral student. When multiple factors indicate a lack of potential, admission will be denied. Probationary admission is not available for the doctoral program.

A provisional decision to admit may be granted when the applicant meets the criteria for unconditional admission, admission but an item of applicant information has not been received by the the Graduate Admissions (e.g., official test scores have not arrived).  A deferred decision may be made when an applicant’s file is not sufficiently complete to make an admit or deny decision.

University and College Fellowship/Scholarship Awards

Doctoral students who are newly admitted, have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 as calculated by Graduate Admissions (and 3.0 at the graduate level), and enroll for nine semester credit hours will be eligible for available Dean's Doctoral Assistantship (DDA), fellowship (DDA),fellowship and/or scholarship support. A standardized test score (GMAT or GRE) is not used as the sole criterion for determining fellowship and/or scholarship eligibility.

Annual Progress Evaluations

All doctoral students are expected to show steady progress toward their degree and to demonstrate satisfactory advances in their ability and motivation to conduct independent research throughout their program. During a student’s program, a progress evaluation will be conducted near the end of the first year, but no later than 24 credit hours. After the first year, an annual progress evaluation will take place each subsequent year. The evaluation will be conducted by the major field coordinator/PhD advisor in consultation with a faculty committee. If the student has not yet passed all comprehensive examinations or does not have a formal dissertation committee, the faculty committee will consist of the PhD Committee for the major area. If the student has passed all comprehensive examinations and has a formal dissertation committee, the faculty committee will consist of the Dissertation Committee.

Upon completion of the evaluation, a recommendation of continuation or discontinuation in the program is made to the College of Business PhD program director for a final decision. When a discontinuation decision resulting from the first year diagnostic evaluation is made as a result of the first-year diagnostic evaluation, made, the student will immediately be immediately discontinued from discontinued in the PhD program. For a discontinuation decision in the annual progress review in the second year and beyond, the student will be placed on probation for one regular semester (Fall or Spring) during which he or she must demonstrate satisfactory improvement in his/her performance. At that time, time the major field major field coordinator/PhD advisor, advisor in consultation with the faculty committee, and the faculty committee and the PhD program director, will make a final decision on whether the the improvements are satisfactory. An unsatisfactory decision at that time will result in the immediate discontinuation of the student from in the PhD program.

During the annual progress reviews, reasons for poor performance include: grade point averages below minimum GPA requirements, unsatisfactory progress in completing coursework, unsatisfactory progress in completing the dissertation, and inadequate demonstration of ability and motivation to conduct independent research.

All students must maintain a GPA of 3.25 or higher to remain in good standing in the PhD program.  Students whose GPA falls below 3.25 will be given a one-semester probationary period to raise their GPA to the 3.25 level or above.  If, If after that one semester has passed, passes, the student's GPA remains is still below 3.25, the student will be dismissed from the program.  Any student who earns three grades of C or lower  C in the PhD program will be immediately dismissed from the program. 

Comprehensive Examinations

Students must demonstrate competence in their fields of study by the successful completion of comprehensive examinations. Written comprehensive examinations in each field will be administered given at the start of each fall and spring semester of each year and may also be administered given during the summer term. A student is eligible for a written comprehensive examination when that student has completed:

1. Any Business Foundation courses with a GPA of at least 3.25 and
2. prescribed coursework in the field with a GPA of at least 3.25.

If a student fails a written comprehensive examination and continues in that field, the examination must be retaken by the end of the next long semester. If a student fails a second comprehensive examination, that student will not be permitted to continue in the PhD program.

When a student successfully completes the written comprehensive examination, that student should schedule a comprehensive oral examination, examination which is administered by the student’s Supervisory Committee. A student who fails the comprehensive oral examination is given a second oral examination within 12 months of the date of the first examination. If a student fails the second comprehensive oral examination, that student will not be permitted to continue in the PhD program.

Upon successful completion of written and oral comprehensive examinations, the student is admitted to candidacy.

Dissertation

The Dissertation Committee consists of a minimum of three members, at least two of whom must be from the major field. There is no maximum number of faculty members that can serve on a committee, although committees of more than five are unusual.  The chair of the Dissertation Committee must be from the major field. At least one member of the committee must be from outside the department, either from outside the major field at UTA or a nationally or internationally recognized scholar not affiliated with UTA.  non-UTA scholar.  Any committee member from outside UTA must receive approval from the Graduate Dean. 

The dissertation must be completed within four years of the oral comprehensive examination.