The Ivy Doctoral Program

Research. Publish. Teach.

The doctorate program at the Ivy College of Business is a full-time, residential program that focuses on theory and development and will prepare you to transition to academic positions at leading universities in the United States and abroad.

You can choose from the following specializations:

Our program will prepare you to conduct and publish scholarly research. In addition to excellent coursework, your education will be enhanced through participation in research seminars, joint research projects with faculty, and participation in academic conferences. As a PhD student, you are strongly encouraged to publish your work in top journals in preparation for future job placement.

AT A GLANCE

Program Duration: 4-5 years 

Program Start Date: Fall 

Final Application Deadline: January 15 

REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS
Test: GMAT preferred, GRE accepted
 

Master’s Degree Requirement: Preferred, but not required 

WHAT TO DO NEXT

Application Process

The Ivy College of Business uses a two-phase application process. Individual faculty cannot directly admit students. Area Committees make recommendations, and the Department Committee makes the final decisions.

Phase one (Due December 15) Free of charge and requires you to submit the following application materials:

  • Online application
  • Statement of purpose
  • Resume or curriculum vitae
  • College transcripts
  • GMAT/GRE (REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS)
    • GMAT preferred: 600 minimum GMAT, or equivalent if using GRE
    • GMAT (school code TNQ-WX-02) or GRE (school code 6306)
  • English exam for international students
    • TOEFL: 600 paper (PBT)
    • 100 Internet (iBT)
    • IELTS: 7
    • PTE: 68

Unofficial records may be scanned and uploaded to your online application. An unofficial transcript is a copy of the front and back of an official transcript. Should your credentials meet admission guidelines, you’ll be invited to continue to phase two, which requires additional information and payment of the application fee. All information from phase one will be forwarded to phase two. Completing phase two is not a guarantee of admission.

Phase two (Due January 15) Requires online application fee and the following additional materials: (If you miss the phase one deadline, then you can complete phase two by submitting all materials listed above in phase one, in addition to those listed below)

  • Online application fee ($60 domestic/$100 international)
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • A writing sample is strongly encouraged

You will be notified via email of admission decisions by early March.

Should you be offered admission, official transcripts sent directly from your institution(s) will be required. Transcripts can be mailed directly to:

Graduate Admissions
100 Enrollment Services Center
2433 Union Dr.
Ames, IA 50011-2042

Electronic transcripts can be sent to etranscript@iastate.edu.

For questions about the application process, contact us at businessphd@iastate.edu.

Curriculum and Requirements

Our program is highly selective, with up to 12 students admitted annually. Applications are evaluated based on academic merit, compatibility of interests, and research ability. A master’s degree is not required but students without a sufficient business background and basic knowledge of statistics will take extra courses.

The program consists of seminars in content areas, statistics and research methodology in the first two years. After passing comprehensive exams, students will focus on their dissertation.

This 74-credit program requires a minimum of four years to complete. All work, including the dissertation, must be done in residence (on campus).

For more information, contact us at businessphd@iastate.edu.

Funding

All students admitted to the PhD program receive a half-time assistantship that includes an annual stipend of $30,000 and tuition waiver. The assistantship appointment requires you to work as a research assistant or a teaching assistant for 20 hours per week.

Graduate assistantships also include health insurance coverage and prescription drug benefits at no cost to you. Coverage for spouses and children may be purchased. Dental insurance may be purchased for an additional fee.

The college will also provide doctoral students with development funds for travel associated with research presentations at major academic conferences.

Faculty Research

  • Abhay Mishra

The Attraction Effect in Crowdfunding

Abhay Mishra is the Kingland Systems Business Analytics Faculty Fellow and associate professor of information systems and business analytics at the Ivy College of Business.

  • Paul Koch

Indirect Insider Trades

Paul Koch is the Kent Corporation Chair in Business and professor of finance at the Ivy College of Business.