FAQs - Ph.D. Programs

Admitted students receive a research and teaching assistantship, which includes a full tuition waiver and a stipend. This financial package is renewable contingent upon satisfactory progress in the program. Students are required to pay for health insurance and mandatory fees as well as living expenses.

The Ph.D. program requires full-time attendance in person. Students attend courses for the PhD program in-person and on a full-time basis. The coursework phase of the program is 2-3 years. Courses may be scheduled Monday-Friday in the mornings, afternoons, and early evenings. In addition to coursework, students are actively engaged in research throughout the program.

The majority of our graduates become tenure-track, research-oriented professors at universities. Recent placements at research institutions (R1) include:

Auburn University
Baylor University 
Florida International University
Texas Tech University
University of Arkansas - Fayetteville
University of New Mexico - Albuquerque
University of Oklahoma
University of Texas - El Paso

Application fee waivers are not available.

The faculty committee for the PhD program concentrations require the submission of a test score. Accountancy and Strategy will only accept the GMAT, and other concentrations will accept the GMAT or GRE taken within the last five years. The faculty will accept the online or home-based versions of the test. The test score is only one factor taken into consideration. The faculty use a holistic review process and all documents submitted in support of the application are reviewed. GMAT or GRE test score waivers are not granted.

The average GMAT score for accepted students for fall 2023 was 675 and the average GRE score was 326. On average, verbal percentiles are at least 70% and quantitative percentiles are at least 90%. The average four-year undergraduate GPA was 3.20 and the average graduate GPA was 3.83. Other factors such as letters of recommendation and the applicant's statement of purpose are taken into consideration.

For English Proficiency, graduate admissions will accept the TOEFL, IELTS, an approved ESL program, or a degree from an accredited U.S. institution. There is also an exemption given for those whose county of birth is on the approved exemption list. Visit this webpage for details https://graduate.gsu.edu/how-to-apply/#international. Also, applicants who receive a 50% or higher on the verbal section of the GMAT or GRE can have their English Proficiency requirement waived by the PhD program.

GRE: 5251
GMAT: Georgia State University - J. Mack Robinson College of Business
TOEFL: Select Institution Code 5251
IELTS: Select E-Delivery Account Name Georgia State University Graduate Admissions

Departments accept an average of one to four students per year. Some areas of study do not accept students each year. Please check with the Ph.D. program office for a list of programs that currently are accepting students.

Our Ph.D. program prepares students to conduct research and teach at the university level.

accountancy
data science and analytics
digital innovation
finance
information systems
international business
management (organizational behavior and strategy)
marketing
real estate
risk management and insurance

Students take seminars in research methodology and statistics as well as their area of study during their first two years. Some departments have a third year of coursework. Students are required to pass a comprehensive exam. Once it is passed, students devote their time to the development of their dissertation. Both the dissertation proposal and the final dissertation product must be defended orally before a group of faculty and students. Additional requirements vary by department.

On average, students take five years to complete the program.