Business Administration-Executive Leadership, PhD

Program Description

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The Executive Leadership PhD program at Clemson is different from most traditional executive doctoral programs in that it is intentional about ensuring students gain exposure to and demonstrate competency in conducting high quality research. This program targets senior level executives with at least 10 years of work experience in a leadership role who wish to transition from industry to academics as clinical professors meeting the demand for qualified business school instruction. Through qualifying exams, working one on one with faculty in advanced research practicums to produce publishable work, and completing a comprehensive dissertation, students gain the necessary skills to lead rigorous research projects both within and outside of academia.

Executive Leadership PhD students may enter the program in the fall semester only (starting mid-August). Students complete the program as a cohort, and take the same classes during the first two years of the program, focusing on three fundamental areas: (1) research methods, (2) quantitative and qualitative analysis, and (3) interdisciplinary academic knowledge base (e.g., leadership, ethics, innovation). At the end of the second year, students are required to pass qualifying exams to demonstrate mastery of the program’s three fundamental areas, which is necessary to progress in the program.

The final year of the program focuses on the candidate’s dissertation requirement. The dissertation proposal and final dissertation are examined and approved by the student’s dissertation committee, which is comprised of two College of Business faculty members who meet the AACSB Scholarly Academic criteria and one outside member from another unit at Clemson or another institution.

The Executive Leadership PhD program is full-time but offered in a hybrid format with virtual class meetings weekly and three-day residencies three times per semester (nine per year). It is designed to be completed in three years over a total of nine semesters with students attending fall, spring, summer terms.

• Core curriculum covers organizational behavior, strategic management, entrepreneurship and a comprehensive spectrum of research methods courses that are taught by senior researchers in these fields.
• Leadership Curriculum covers individual, team, cross-cultural and strategic leadership theory and content.
• Students complete a year-long research practicum with the intent to publish research at the practicum’s conclusion.
• Doctoral dissertations are conducted one-on-one with a faculty research advisor.

Summary of Degree Requirements

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This degree requires a minimum of 48 credit hours of coursework, and at least 18 credit hours of doctoral dissertation research. The final basis for granting this degree is the student’s demonstrated mastery of the subject matter of the field and competence in planning and conducting research that adds to the body of knowledge in the field of study. Ultimately, only the student’s advisory committee can certify that the student has earned this degree.

Coursework

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YEAR 1

Fall:

• MGT 9330 - Seminar in Strategic Management: Research Foundations 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8100 - Research Design and Quantitative Methods I 3 Credits  
• Elective 3 Credits¹

Spring:

• MGT 9160 - Directed Readings in Management 1-3 Credits  
• PSYC 8110 - Research Design and Quantitative Methods II 3 Credits  
• Elective 3 Credits¹

Summer:

• MGT 9160 - Directed Readings in Management 1-3 Credits  
• PSYC 8680 - Leadership in Organizations 3 Credits  
• Elective 3 Credits¹

YEAR 2

Fall:

• MGT 9340 - Seminar in Strategic Management: Contemporary Topics 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8130 - Research Design and Quantitative Methods III 3 Credits  
• Elective 3 Credits¹

Spring:

• MGT (DSA) 8590 - Advanced Data Analytics 3 Credits  
• MGT 9320 - Seminar in Organizational Behavior: Contemporary Topics 3 Credits  
• MGT 9360 - Seminar in Entrepreneurship: Contemporary Topics 3 Credits  

Summer:

• MGT 9030 - Seminar in Manufacturing Planning and Control Systems 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8660 - Cross Cultural Considerations in Industrial/Organizational Psychology 3 Credits  
• Elective 3 Credits¹

YEAR 3 THEREAFTER TO DEGREE COMPLETION:

• MGT 9910 - Doctoral Dissertation Research 1-12 Credits  (minimum 18 credit hours, but continuing full time enrollment of nine credit hours per semester and six credit hours per summer through dissertation proposal defense, and until final oral dissertation defense)
• Final Dissertation Defense

 

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¹Electives:

Methods courses: PSYC 8140 , PSYC 8400 , PSYC 8730 , PSYC 8990 , or other course(s) approved by the student’s advisor. These courses also may include courses taken in other departments.

Management Courses: MGT 8590 , MGT 9030 , MGT 9160 , MGT 9320 , MGT 9360 , PSYC 8600 , PSYC 8640 , PSYC 8650 , PSYC 8670 , PSYC 8690 , and other PSYC 8990  seminar(s) as approved by graduate program director or advisor (e.g., Current Topics in IO Psychology; Job Analysis; Meta-analysis; or Item Response Theory).

Organizational Content Courses: PSYC 8600 , PSYC 8630 , PSYC 8660 , PSYC 8680 , PSYC 8720 , PSYC 8820 , PSYC 8850 , and other PSYC 8990  seminar(s) as approved by graduate program director or advisor (e.g., Advanced Organizational Psychology or Current Topics in IO Psychology).