LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY
College of Business
Doctoral Program in Marketing
The doctoral program in marketing is designed to be a four year program. The first two years consist of research methods and marketing knowledge coursework. At the beginning of the third year, students take comprehensive exams. Also during the third year, students finish minor classes and work on their dissertation. The fourth year is dedicated to the completion of the dissertation and, ultimately, placement at a university.
Field and Related Requirements
1. The marketing major requires seven courses (21 semester hours) in the marketing area.
MKTG 600: Survey of Marketing and Strategy
MKTG 601: Research Methods I
MKTG 610: Seminar in Marketing Management
MKTG 620: Advanced Topics in Marketing Management
MKTG 615: Seminar in Marketing
MKTG 637: Seminar in Buyer Behavior
MKTG 640: Marketing Theory
Psychology Accounting Management Economics Finance Computer Information Systems Quantitative Analysis
Minors outside the College of Business are allowed on a case-by-case basis. For example, many doctoral students in marketing have minored in psychology with classes approved by the marketing doctoral coordinator. The normal number of courses required in each minor subject field is three courses (9 semester hours) of graduate work.
3. Twenty-four hours of business core course work to acquaint the student with the functional areas of business. These courses can be waived if the student has satisfactorily completed equivalent graduate level course work (normally an MBA) at an AACSB accredited school of business.
4. Dissertation (minimum 15 hours of BUSN 651).
Research Support Courses
Courses in mathematics, statistics, or quantitative analysis will be chosen according to the major field of the student. Normally, this group will consist of three courses (9 semester hours).
Hours Required and General Examinations
The program of study requirements listed above are independent of each other; courses taken to satisfy one requirement may not be used to satisfy any other requirement. Previous graduate work taken prior to admission to the Louisiana Tech D.B.A. program may be used to satisfy these requirements if it is deemed appropriate by the student's program committee and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. In compliance with University regulations, the Doctor of Business Administration degree requires the completion of 60 semester hours of graduate work beyond the baccalaureate degree. Within the credit-hour requirement is the residency requirement. To satisfy the residency requirement, a student must complete at least three consecutive quarters and a minimum of 24 semester credit hours, exclusive of research and dissertation credit, beyond the master's degree or its equivalent, on the Louisiana Tech campus. The student's advisory committee typically specifies additional coursework well beyond the 24 hour minimum residency requirement.
After the first year of course work, a statistical tools qualifier will be administered. A second year research paper and presentation is also required. Written comprehensive examinations covering the major area and the supporting area(s) are administered after the candidate has completed the relevant course work in his/her official plan of study. After the student has successfully passed all examinations and met all course and research requirements, the student will be admitted to candidacy. A student is required to show a minimum of 15 hours credit for dissertation research by enrolling in BUSN 651, Research and Dissertation.
Dissertation
The student must exhibit original research and writing by preparing a dissertation. A final oral examination in defense of the dissertation is administered after the dissertation is completed. The student must complete his/her dissertation within a maximum of three calendar years after being admitted to candidacy.