The Ph.D. in Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Organizations (SEO) prepares scholars for research-oriented academic careers in strategic management, entrepreneurship and organizational behavior and theory.
The strategy, entrepreneurship and organizations Ph.D. program is a five-year program that features coursework in strategic management, entrepreneurship and organizational behavior and theory. Each doctoral student also completes a set of research methods courses. Strategy, entrepreneurship and organizations Ph.D. students collaborate closely with faculty on research projects, and 70 percent of faculty publications are with current or former doctoral students.
SEO Ph.D. Program faculty include Russell Crook (Department Head), Brian Bergman, Melissa Cardon, David Gras, Joseph Harrison, Christina Hymer, Jessica Jones, Tom Lumpkin, Tim Munyon, Tim Pollock, Codou Samba, Anne Smith, Ruixiang Song, Sherry Thatcher, and Dave Williams (SEO Ph.D. Program Director). You can find more information on their research interests at the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship website and on each faculty member’s Google Scholar page. AIM faculty member Robert Fuller is also affiliated with the SEO program. Please click here to find out more about our current students and to see our recent placements.
SEO Ph.D. Program Application Deadline: December 15
The strategy, entrepreneurship and organizations Ph.D. program typically accepts two to three students for each cohort. All students must apply online through the university graduate admissions office. You will not need to send any information to our department.
We consider candidates holistically. Resilience, work ethic and desire to be placed in a major research university upon graduation are the most important criteria. The information below profiles some of our most recent cohorts.
Non-native English-speaking applicants should consult the Graduate School’s requirements concerning English proficiency.
Priority Deadline
December 15 (applications received after December 15 may not get full evaluation)
Students without an MBA may be required to take some background courses (accounting, finance, marketing, economics, management), depending on their previous coursework and experiences.
Clearly articulated interests within the field and a demonstrated desire to be placed at top research-oriented universities in the U.S. and globally are key considerations of the application. Strong recommendations and relevant work experience also play a significant role.
Admitted students receive full financial support including a tuition waiver and assistantship to help cover living expenses for five years. The department assistantship includes 20 hours of work per week, mainly research assistance with some opportunities to demonstrate teaching skills.
The base stipend plus scholarship is typically $35,000 per student per year, and we offer tuition and fee waivers. Additional scholarships may be available. Also, some faculty members are involved in individual grant research projects that require research assistants. There also may be some additional money available in the form of fellowships or department special projects.
See the UT Graduate School’s admissions site for information on fellowships available to students who show outstanding academic performance and potential for career contributions.
Graduate students are eligible for some financial aid programs offered by the U.S. Department of Education.
Students complete the core curriculum in two years, prior to comprehensive exams. The remaining coursework is spread out over the remaining three years of the program. Which courses a student takes in these years is flexible, giving them an opportunity to tailor the program to their specific interests and take courses most relevant to their dissertation research.
Strategy, Entrepreneurship, & Organizations Ph.D. Seminars
MGT 610 – Effective Academic Writing
MGT 611 – Theory Building: What is Theory, Why Does It Matter , and How Do You Create It?
MGT 617 – Seminar in Macro Organizational Behavior
MGT 618 – Overview of Entrepreneurship Research
MGT 619- Micro Foundations of Entrepreneurship
MGT 620 – Seminar in Organization Theory
MGT 623 – Overview of Strategic Management
MKT 611 – Research Foundations
STAT 537 – Statistics for Research I
STAT 538 – Statistics for Research II
MGT 614 – Qualitative Methods
BUAD 583 – Ph.D. Teaching Preparation Seminar
Students take a comprehensive exam in June of the second year. In the remainder of the program, students conduct independent dissertation research with an advisor and dissertation committee.
In their first year, students are assigned to faculty members for an assistantship based on their research interests. In the following years, students rotate to work with different faculty members so they get exposure to other research topics and approaches.
In the first year, most students take a course in teaching pedagogy. Students typically teach one class each of three semesters (or summers) during their third, fourth, and fifth years.
For more information on the program, please see the SEO Program Handbook.
Diane Walker & Raffi Markarian Entrepreneurship Professor, William B. Stokely Distinguished Scholar
Student Engagement & Career Coordinator