PhD Programs

We are now accepting applications for our PhD Program in Business for the cohort starting the program in Fall 2024. The deadline for applications is January 15, 2024. Check out important details and information below in the FAQs about the stipend and other benefits of becoming a Katz PhD Student. We welcome the opportunity to discuss our PhD Program in Business and help you plan for your future application submission. 

A rigorous, customized program for curious students eager to be recognized as experts in their fields. Mentorship is key to lasting success and confident leadership. The Katz faculty is dedicated to a signature apprenticeship model, designed to support and challenge each student. Work alongside world-renowned faculty, publish original research, and lead your own courses.

Research

The Katz faculty is internationally recognized as experts in their fields and have published in prestigious academic journals such as Accounting Review and the Review of Financial Economics.

Current Students and Alumni Placements

Our mission is to produce internationally renowned experts in business disciplines and place our graduates at leading research universities worldwide.

Katz’s PhD Program ranks among the top 10 most prestigious nationally in a study of all PhD degree-granting institutions in the US by Nature. This “Prestige” status is based on Katz’s ability to place our PhD graduates at other prestigious universities.

Faculty Mentors

Katz PhD students work alongside our faculty. They are not just mentors, they are also colleagues. As a student, you will co-publish papers, present at conferences, and develop new professional connections – all a result of the one-to-one relationships you will develop with your faculty mentors.

DocNet

DocNet is an organization of more than 130 universities granting doctoral degrees in business administration and economics. Its purpose is to promote doctoral education in business throughout the world. The organization educates potential students about careers in academia and engages in a variety of recruiting strategies aimed at increasing the pool of qualified applicants for doctoral-granting institutions. DocNet members share information about best practices, curriculum and admissions issues, student support, and placement. DocNet is an affiliate of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools in Business.

See us at the DocNet Recruiting Fairs in October 2023.

The PhD Project

The PhD Project was founded in 1994 with the goal of diversifying corporate America by diversifying the role models in the front of classrooms. Learn more about the PhD Project on their website: https://phdproject.org/

Business Research Center

The Business Research Center (BRC) is a shared asset for all Katz faculty and students, providing a variety of services that support data collection for behavioral research on business-related topics. The primary goal of the BRC is to enhance the research productivity of Katz faculty and students.

FAQs

Do any of the Katz PhD Program Areas of Study qualify as STEM Degrees?

No, regardless of your specific area of study, our doctoral program is classified as a PhD in Business Administration and so it is not considered to be a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) program.

What are the major areas of study offered through the Katz PhD Program?

The PhD program includes seven areas of study: Accounting, Business Analytics and Operations, Finance, Information Systems and Technology Management, Marketing, Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management, and Strategic Management.

 

How long will it take to complete the PhD program?

Most students complete the program in five years. It typically takes two years to complete course work and comprehensive examinations followed by dissertation research, overview, and defense.

 

What is the financial aid package offered by the Katz PhD Program?
The Katz PhD Program provides a five academic year financial aid package to admitted doctoral students. The financial package is $40,000 which includes a stipend of $30,000 and a Dean’s Fellowship of $10,000 annually. We also pay all tuition during the funding period and provide free comprehensive University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health Insurance for our funded students. There is additional financial support for research projects and for travel to major conferences.
I will be taking the GMAT/TOEFL Test in January. Should I submit the application to the University of Pittsburgh PhD Program without these scores?

Yes, please submit as much of the application as possible before the deadline. It is best to submit your application with all official documentation. However, you may indicate that the GMAT/TOEFL score will be forwarded to the University of Pittsburgh (DPZ-M5-90 for GMAT and 2998-02 for GRE and TOEFL) and indicate the date you are taking the exam. We can begin to process the application if necessary without all of the information. However, please note that no official action can be taken on an incomplete application. If you have a copy of a score that you want to submit while waiting for an official score to arrive, please feel free to do so. Again, remember that no final action can be taken on your application until official documents are received.

 

What are the GMAT, GRE, and TOEFL Institution Reporting Codes for the University of Pittsburgh PhD Program in Business?

Our GMAT reporting code is DPZ-M5-90 and the GRE and TOEFL reporting code is 2998-02. Please be sure to use the University of Pittsburgh PhD code and not the Master’s program codes you might find elsewhere.

 

I have not received all letters of recommendation back from recommenders. Should I send my application without a complete set?

Yes, it is important to get your application into the University of Pittsburgh Doctoral Program by the deadline. If you are waiting for another letter of recommendation, please submit your application with a note informing us of the approximate date we will receive it.

It is a financial hardship for me to pay the application fee. Can the University of Pittsburgh waive the fee?

We know the importance of applying to a doctoral program for our applicants and wish that we could help with this burden. Unfortunately, it is a University policy that an application fee must be charged. We have made every effort to keep the fee as low as possible and will continue to be sensitive to this need in the future.

 

When will I know the result of the application process?

Typically, the Katz Doctoral Committee will review applications during January and make initial offers in February and March. Depending on where a student may be as a backup, it is possible for a student to hear of a positive admission decision as late as the third week of April. The Doctoral Office will attempt to telephone and email accepted applicants as soon as a decision is made.

 

 

Where do you place your graduates?

The purpose of the Katz Doctoral Program is to develop professional scholars who will excel in research and teaching for placement at leading business schools. The Katz School has an outstanding placement record with graduates.

Katz’s PhD Program ranks among the top 10 most prestigious nationally in a study of all PhD degree-granting institutions in the US by Nature. This “Prestige” status is based on Katz’s ability to place our PhD graduates at other prestigious universities.

What is the minimum GMAT/TOEFL score accepted by the University of Pittsburgh Katz PhD Program?

The University of Pittsburgh Katz Doctoral Program does not publish a minimum score. However, it may be helpful for you to know that the average GMAT score of admitted students each year is between 690 and 710. Few admitted applicants report TOEFL scores below 100.

 

 

Can I ask for a waiver of the TOEFL test?

Language tests of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL, IELTS, or DuoLingo) are required if the applicant’s native language is not English.

Exemption for language testing may be considered when an applicant has attended a college or university in the United States for a minimum of four years as a full-time student and has earned at least a Bachelor’s degree, or has earned a master’s degree from a college in the United States.

Exemptions may also be considered when an applicant has attended a college or university in the in a country that considers its native language to be English (the USA, UK, Australia, and Canada are examples) for a minimum of four years as a full-time student and has earned at least a Bachelor’s degree or has earned a master’s degree in a country that considers it native language to be English.

Even if English is the medium of instruction, the school needs to be in a country with English as its native language. More information is available online, including a list of all countries that meet the exemption.

How do I arrange to take the GMAT/GRE/TOEFL tests?

The GMAT test is administered by the Graduate Admission Council. The GRE and TOEFL tests are administered by the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey, 08541, USA. Further information may also be obtained from the nearest United States Embassy, Consulate, or Information Service.

 

 

How do I arrange a visit to the Katz Graduate School?

We are happy to arrange visits for prospective students to meet the Katz faculty, staff, and students. If your schedule permits arranging a visit during the fall term (October through December), please contact the Katz Doctoral Office.

 

 

What is the size of the Katz PhD Program?

There are currently 44 doctoral students, from 13 different countries, across 7 different majors. This number includes students at the coursework, comprehensive exam, and dissertation stages of the program.

 

 

What is the application deadline?

The deadline for applying for September is January 15. However, it is advantageous to have your completed application submitted earlier to facilitate the review process.

 

 

Contact Us

University of Pittsburgh Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business
Doctoral Program
282 Mervis Hall
Roberto Clemente Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Phone: +1-412-648-1522
Fax: +1-412-624-3633
katzphd@katz.pitt.edu

PhD DEGREE PROGRAMS

Student reviewing notes in the Finance Lab

Accounting

The Katz PhD Program in Accounting provides students with the foundation to excel as faculty members at leading universities. Our faculty uses both archival and experimental methods to conduct research across a broad range of accounting areas including managerial accounting, financial accounting, and auditing.

A large classroom full of students working on computers

Business Analytics and Operations

The Katz PhD Program in Business Analytics and Operations focuses on research in areas such as supply chain management, business analytics, operations, and project management. Research foci include methodology development, empirical analysis, and analytical modeling.

Two graduate students discussing a business course assignment

Finance

The Katz PhD Program in Finance focuses on research in financial economics, and most recently has studied phenomena such as corporate governance, restructurings, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, corporate valuations, corporate diversification, corporate disclosures, equity-based compensation, and issues related to international corporate finance.

Pitt Business student smiling while reading a book

Information Systems and Technology Management

The Information Systems and Technology Management (ISTM) program investigates the behavioral, design, and economic issues related to the use and impact of information technology. 

Student leading discussion during a student organization meeting

Marketing

The Katz PhD Program in Marketing follows a mentorship-based model, where students work intensively with a subset of the faculty to explore their areas of interest. Our students build their skills by taking a wide variety of classes tailored to their domain of study, playing both leading and supporting roles on original research projects, presenting at major conferences, and publishing in top-tier journals. 

A student smiling in a room that is under construction

Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Management

The Katz PhD Program in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources provides a unique opportunity for students to work closely with leading researchers examining critical issues related to work and the workplace. Through rigorous coursework, our students develop a multi-disciplinary understanding of the core theoretical foundations of the OBHR fields, as well as the methodological grounding to undertake rigorous empirical research.

A large classroom full of students listening to a lecture

Strategic Management

We have an excellent history of doctoral student/faculty collaboration, which often results in articles published in top journals. Our faculty members develop relationships with our students that result in research collaboration that often lasts well beyond the doctoral program experience. Visit our list of collaborative student/faculty published articles.

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

My experience at Katz was excellent. I had a great cohort of colleagues to work with. I had faculty that were easy to access. They were willing to have their doors open and welcome students to work on projects.

Varun Grover (PhD '90)

Billingsley Endowed Chair and Distinguished Professor, University of Arkansas

The Katz PhD program prepared me well for my career as a professor, at the assistant level and the associate level, and then also in various capacities both within Research 1 (R1) institutions and Liberal Arts colleges.

Laquita Blockson (PhD '02)

Dean, Moravian School of Business