Curriculum
The MIS Ph.D. coursework typically requires 2-3 years to complete, depending on the student's prior education and experience. Coursework is then followed by comprehensive exams and dissertation work. Full-time residency on campus is required while taking coursework. The program consists of a combination of specific MIS research seminars, graduate-level courses in the MIS discipline, research methods and techniques courses, and joint seminars in management.
Degree Requirements
The Ph.D. is a research degree that is granted on the basis of scholarly proficiency, distinctive achievement, and capacity for independent, original investigation. The first two criteria are tested in coursework and comprehensive examinations. The latter criterion is demonstrated by a dissertation project that presents substantial and relevant research results clearly and effectively. A combination of these accomplishments, rather than the mere accumulation of residence and course credits, is the essential consideration in awarding the Ph.D. degree.
Within the MIS Ph.D. program, the coursework, sponsored research projects and dissertation work drives toward improving the development and delivery of information systems solutions.
Cross-Discipline Research Courses
Computer Science Elective Courses
MIS Research Courses
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MIS 642 Distributed Applications
Advanced data communication design and implementation concepts are explored, emphasizing the interaction among networks, data bases and software applications.
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MIS 644 Software Engineering
Theoretical foundations of software engineering: software process modeling, metrics, and cost estimation; formal specifications; testing and verification techniques; exposure to research methods
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MIS 670 MIS Research Issues and Theory Development
The exploration of MIS research issues. Emphasis is placed on exploring the scientific method, theory building research, and methods of inquiry. Provides a framework for undertaking and evaluating MIS research.
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MIS 680 Theory Testing and Empirical Design
A continuation of MIS 670 designed to explore scholarly methods used in IS development and delivery research, with emphasis on empirical evaluations of theory.
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MIS 685 Empirical Research Project
Based on a research question of their choosing students design and conduct a study to test that question as well as analyze the data and prepare a manuscript for journal submission.
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MIS 697 Special Topics in MIS
The seminar focuses on a specific research area. A group of students and faculty collectively investigate the area.
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MIS 698 Dissertation Research
Cross-Discipline Research Courses
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MGT 610
Introduction to Management Thinking
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MGT 620
Organizational Behavior Performance
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MGT 698
Research in Organizational Management
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ST 560
Statistical Methods in Research
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ST 561
Applied Design of Experiments
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ST 552
Applied Regression Analysis
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ST 553
Applied Multivariate Analysis
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OM 500
Management Science I
Available MIS Elective Courses
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MIS 520
Systems Analysis and Design
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MIS 525
Information Systems Project Management
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MIS 527
Emerging IT Seminar
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MIS 530
Systems Development and Implementation
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MIS 535
Information Systems Consulting
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MIS 540
Database Management Systems
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MIS 560 Enterprise Integration Methods
Cross-functional process, data and system integration
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MIS 562
Enterprise Integration Deployment
Available Statistics Elective Courses
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ST 521
Statistical Data Management (SAS) I
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ST 522
Statistical Data Management (SAS) II
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ST 531
Data Mining I
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ST 532
Advanced Data Mining
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ST 535
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Nonparametric Statistics
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ST 565
Sampling Techniques
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ST 570
Time Series Analysis
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ST 575
Statistical Quality Control
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ST 580
Analysis of Categorical-Level Data
Available Computer Science Elective Courses
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CS 600
Foundations of Software Engineering
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CS 630
Advanced Software Engineering Principles
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CS 631
S.E. Practice and Experience
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CS 605
Theory of Artificial Intelligence
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CS 661
Expert Systems
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CS 662
Advanced Neural Computation
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CS 664
Advanced Cognitive Science
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CS 607
Software User Interface Design
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CS 610
Introduction to Cognitive Science
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CS 686
Advanced Computer-Human Interface
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CS 609
Database Management
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CS 651
Object-Oriented and Intelligent Database Systems
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CS 620
Information Storage and Retrieval
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CS 611
Computer Systems Resource Management
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CS 613
Computer Communications and Networks
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CS 626
Distributed Computing Systems
Available Management Elective Courses
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MGT 621
Organizational Group Performance
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MGT 622
The Management of Organizational Change
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MGT 623
Contemporary Issues in Organizational Theory
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MGT 625
Foundations of Strategic Management
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MGT 679
Theory Development and Testing
Detailed Requirements
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Student's Program Committee
For registration for the first semester in residence, each student will be advised by the chair of MIS Ph.D. program. A program committee is established for each student early in the first semester of study leading to the Ph.D. degree. The committee, consisting of four members of the graduate faculty, is made up as follows: two members representing the student's major field (one of whom is the chairperson), one member representing the minor field, and one member from any field of the Manderson Graduate School of Business other than the major field, representing the College as a whole. The program committee guides the student in course selection and counsels the student regarding other aspects of the program. The committee may ask the student to withdraw from the program if the work attempted is not satisfactory. The program committee ceases to exist when the student passes the preliminary oral examination. Potential students are encouraged to review the sample program sequences for each MIS track.
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Research Apprenticeship
Every student must have submitted a research paper approved by an MIS professor to a journal or conference before taking oral exams. Coauthoring with the MIS faculty is highly encouraged (coauthored papers with peers must have prior permission). For conference submissions the university, college, department, and research centers may provide funding.
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Teaching Apprenticeship
Prior to teaching any course, each student will participate in a 3-day teaching workshop and be assigned a faculty teaching mentor. This one-on-one mentoring will start prior to the student's first classroom experience. The mentoring professor will work with the student to develop teaching skills, including but not limited to: executing course objectives, lecture development, alternative interaction modes, evaluation techniques, assignment design, classroom management, and engaging students.
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Residency Requirements
Although the University's minimum period for earning the Ph.D. degree is 3 full academic years, MIS students typically require 3 years of full-time coursework on campus, plus 1 year to complete the dissertation process.
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Major Field Requirements
Each student must demonstrate advanced knowledge of system development concepts, methods, and techniques (including advanced studies in: systems analysis, systems design, project management, database management systems, software engineering, distributed systems, and application architecture), and have completed a minimum of 3 courses in MIS research methods. Upon completion of this course work, students must pass a written comprehensive examination in systems development and software engineering, research methods, theory, and models.
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Yearly Review of Progress
Each year the academic progress of students will be evaluated by the program committee. The review includes an evaluation of classroom performance and level of engagement as a student, interaction with faculty, peers and the professional community, and professional performance as a GTA/GRA. The review may include an oral and/or written examination. A student not making satisfactory progress will be counseled; the student is subject to dismissal if satisfactory corrective action is not evident. If a student's cumulative grade average falls below "B," or if the student earns a "D" or "F' in a course, the student may be asked to withdraw from the program.
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Written Comprehensive Examinations
Each student is required to pass a written comprehensive examination in the major field. The examinations primarily aim to determine the student's ability to show relationships among the various segments of knowledge within the major and minor fields of study. The written examination in the major field is scheduled for each student by the program director. Examinations in the minor field (if required) are scheduled by the respective programs. A student may attempt each examination not more than two times. A second examination must be passed within 24 months of the time the first examination is taken.
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Preliminary Oral Examination
A preliminary oral examination is given after the student has completed at least two years of graduate study (including work on the master's degree, if any), and after the student has successfully completed the written comprehensive examinations. The program committee or Ph.D. written examination committee administers the preliminary oral examination. In addition, faculty representatives from within and outside the Manderson Graduate School of Business may participate as members of the examining committee. The examination may be passed satisfactorily or provisionally. In the latter case, the examining committee may recommend additional study in order that the student may demonstrate that the deficiencies disclosed by the examination have been overcome. The committee will rule either pass or fail on the second meeting with the student.
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Student's Dissertation Committee
When the student is prepared to present a dissertation proposal, the dissertation committee is appointed by the program's director in the student's major field, in consultation with the faculty and the student. The committee consists of a minimum of five members of the graduate faculty; no fewer than two members must be from outside the student's major field and at least one member must be from outside the student's academic department. Each dissertation committee member must possess a terminal degree. Exceptions must be approved by the dean of the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration and by the dean of the Graduate School. The director of the dissertation is the chairperson of the committee. The dissertation committee is responsible for admission of the student to candidacy, supervision of the dissertation, and administration of the final oral examination.
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Admission to Candidacy
The Dean of the Graduate School certifies candidates for admission to candidacy upon successful:
- Completion of approved program coursework.
- Completion of comprehensive written examinations their competence in.
- the major field and
- each minor field requiring the written examination.
- Completion of the preliminary oral examination.
- Approval of the dissertation proposal from the dissertation committee.
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Dissertation Requirements
A dissertation showing power of independent research and literary skill must be prepared on some topic in the major field. The subject of the dissertation must be approved by the student's dissertation committee. A student who completes the coursework but fails to complete the dissertation within five years after being admitted to candidacy will be required to retake the written examinations and the preliminary oral examination. All candidates are expected to register for dissertation supervision each semester and summer session until the dissertation is completed.
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Dissertation Defense: The Final Oral Examination
When the dissertation has been completed and accepted by the dissertation committee, the candidate will be given a final oral examination by the committee. This examination is primarily concerned with the research work of the candidate as embodied in the dissertation and the field in which the dissertation lies, but it may extend over the whole primary field of study. The final oral examination is governed by the rules of the Graduate School. The candidate will present a copy of the final draft of the dissertation to each committee member at least two weeks in advance of the final oral examination. A copy of the final draft of the dissertation must be on file in the Bruno Business Library at least five days before the final oral examination.