phd programs at kent state university

University Catalog 2024-2025

Business administration - ph.d..

About This Program

The Ph.D. degree in Business Administration offers rigorous coursework and research opportunities to prepare graduates for success in academia or industry. With top-notch faculty and cutting-edge resources, our program develops critical thinking skills, innovative problem-solving abilities and advanced research methods to equip graduates with the tools they need to make a significant impact in the world of business. Read more...

Contact Information

• Adam Cooke | [email protected] | 330-672-1280
• Felecia Urbanek | [email protected] | 330-672-2282
• Jen Wiggins, Ph.D. | [email protected] | 330-672-1259
• Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student

Program Delivery

• Kent Campus

Applications to the Human Resource Management concentration are not being accepted at this time.

Examples of Possible Careers

• Assistant Professor of Accounting
• Assistant Professor of Finance
• Assistant Professor of Information Systems
• Assistant Professor of Management
• Assistant Professor of Marketing

Accreditation

AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website . For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website .

Admission Requirements

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 3.000 GPA on a 4.000-point scale 
• Official transcript(s)
• Minimum 600 GMAT or 315 GRE scores
• Goal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• Minimum 600 TOEFL PBT score
• Minimum 100 TOEFL IBT score
• Minimum 85 MELAB score
• Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
• Minimum 68 PTE score
• Minimum 120 Duolingo English score

Application Deadlines

• Application deadline: January 1 (international student) and February 1 (domestic student)

Applications submitted after these deadlines will be considered on a space-available basis.

Program Requirements

Graduation requirements, major requirements.

Department elective need is determined by department.

It is recommended that students complete either the Econometrics Track or the Psychometrics Track in its entirety; however, substitutions may be made with the permission of the concentration coordinator.

Successful completion of the comprehensive examinations and approval of a dissertation topic shall constitute admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. The final phase of the Ph.D. program is the preparation of the Ph.D. dissertation. Upon completion, the dissertation is defended before a committee of the graduate faculty. Each doctoral candidate must register for BUS 80199 for a total of 30 credit hours. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I, and thereafter BUS 80299 , each semester, until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Accounting Concentration Requirements

Finance concentration requirements, human resource management concentration requirements, information systems concentration requirements, marketing concentration requirements.

• No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
• Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of their interest area and display a high degree of mastery in appropriate theories, analytical skills, research design and methodologies.
• Conduct original research by integrating knowledge of specific areas of interest and successfully articulating their research in written form.

Full Description

The Ph.D. degree in Business Administration prepares doctoral students to conduct high-quality, scholarly research and teach effectively in the field of business. The degree's purpose is to develop the intellectual potential of the student through emphasis on specific areas of concentration within the framework of the general field of business administration. Academic objectives are accomplished through close student-faculty working relationships. The program provides the flexibility to allow for a considerable degree of individual design, based upon the career needs and objectives of the student.

The Business Administration major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Accounting concentration prepares highly qualified candidates for faculty positions in colleges and universities. In addition to completing doctoral-level coursework and a dissertation, students conduct scholarly research and become effective teachers.
• The Finance concentration prepares students for finance faculty positions in colleges and universities. Students complete courses in business and finance, learn how to conduct high-quality, scholarly research and become effective teachers.
• The Human Resource Management concentration prepares students for academic positions in the field of human resource management. Students are trained to be researchers and teachers. Applications to the Human Resource Management concentration are not being accepted at this time.
• The Information Systems concentration creates a strong grounding in areas of behavioral, strategic and economic aspects of global information systems decision-making. Students are trained to become scholars and effective teachers.
• The Marketing concentration prepares highly qualified candidates for positions of professional responsibility in university teaching and research. The program offers a solid balance of teaching experience and preparation for conducting scientific research.

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2024-2025 University Catalog

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Psychological Science - Ph.D.

The Ph.D. degree in Psychological Science offers doctoral education and training in psychological science, with specializations in behavioral neuroscience, cognitive and cognitive development, and social health psychology. The curriculum and other aspects of training offered by the Department of Psychological Sciences prepare students for careers in research and teaching. The program is strongly research-oriented.

• Jen Taber | [email protected] | 330-672-8536
• Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student

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Ph.D. Degree in Psychological Science

Elevate your expertise in human behavior with Kent State’s Ph.D. in Psychological Science. Immerse yourself in advanced research and coursework that cover a broad spectrum of topics, from cognitive processes to social behavior. Our program is designed to develop your research skills and theoretical knowledge, preparing you for careers in academia, clinical research, and various applied psychology fields.

Explore Our Specialties

Prospective students who apply to the Psychological Sciences PhD program can choose between the three specializations below. Click a link to find more about each of the specializations.

Behavioral Neuroscience   Cognitive/Cognitive Development   Social Health Psychology

Program Information for Psychological Science - Ph.D.

Full description.

The Ph.D. degree in Psychological Science offers doctoral education and training in psychological science, with specializations in behavioral neuroscience, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology and health psychology. The curriculum and other aspects of training offered by the Department of Psychological Sciences prepare students for careers in research and teaching. The program is strongly research-oriented.

The Psychological Science major includes the following optional concentration:

• The Quantitative Methods of Psychology optional concentration trains individuals in some of the more recent developments of statistical science and, particularly, the application of these developments to real-world psychological data. One unique feature of the concentration is the focus on the application of quantitative methods in psychological research; although department faculty members have expertise in an area of statistics, they also conduct research in a substantive area of psychology. The concentration is intended for those students who intend to pursue academic careers, wherein the use of advanced quantitative methods in one’s own program of research is highly valued, and who also intend to teach undergraduate or graduate courses in statistical methods.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website . For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website .

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• Minimum junior-senior 3.000 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• 18 credit hours in psychology, including a course in statistics
• Broad background in psychology
• Official transcript(s)
• Goal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
• Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
• Minimum 65 PTE score
• Minimum 120 DET score

Admission to the Ph.D. degree is limited to students whose records clearly indicate both scholarly and research potential to do doctoral-level work.

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Admitted students to the Ph.D. who would like to declare the Quantitative Methods of Psychology concentration must meet the following admission requirements:

• Good academic standing
• Written approval of the student’s primary advisor
• Completion of PSYC 61651  and PSYC 61654 with an A grade or an approved waiver of this criterion based on equivalent prior coursework
• Identification and written acceptance of a quantitative mentor from the list of department quantitative faculty

Application Deadlines

• Application deadline: December 1

Applications submitted after this deadline will be considered on a space-available basis.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate mastery of the current theories and significant empirical findings in a major area of psychological science. Mastery includes acquiring both an understanding of these materials as well as the ability to think critically about them.
• Teach courses in psychological science.
• Supervise and mentor undergraduate students in both research settings and in the classroom.
• Design, execute, analyze and report empirical studies that make a significant contribution in a major area of psychological science.

Program Requirements

Graduation requirements, major requirements.

PSYC 71894 is required for students who teach starting their third year.

All doctoral students (regardless of area of specialization) select additional courses and seminars with the aid of a faculty advisor. A limited number of graduate courses outside the department may be credited toward graduation. No 50000-level psychology courses may be applied to the degree program. PSYC 81498 can be used to partially satisfy additional program electives.

Doctoral candidates, upon admission to candidacy, must register for PSYC 81199 for a total of 30 hours. It is expected that doctoral candidates will continuously register for PSYC 81199 , and thereafter PSYC 81299 , each semester, until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration

Quantitative methods of psychology concentration requirements.

Psychologists with strong quantitative skills often are expected to disseminate statistical knowledge to their colleagues; thus, students who pursue the concentration must have at least one practicum experience. This teaching experience can be as an instructor of an undergraduate course ( PSYC 21621 , PSYC 31684 ) or becoming the teaching assistant for the first-year graduate sequence.

Students must demonstrate mastery of quantitative methodology through the inclusion of an advanced technique as part of a milestone or independent project that has been approved by the student’s quantitative mentor. Students should either (a) complete a thesis/dissertation that has a strong quantitative component or (b) publish a first-authored quantitative-focused paper or a first-authored content paper with sophisticated analyses, as determined by the student’s quantitative mentor. Specifically, students should demonstrate that they are able to appropriately conduct and interpret sophisticated statistical analyses. Note, however, that this requirement does not necessarily suggest that students need to develop a new statistical technique or methodology.

Candidacy Requirements

• Students who have been admitted into the doctoral program will be considered for Ph.D. candidacy after they have met all requirements for the M.A. degree and have passed a qualifying examination in a major area of specialization in psychology.
• The Department of Psychological Sciences reserves the right to separate from the program a student who, in the opinion of a duly constituted departmental committee, is not likely to succeed professionally despite earning acceptable grades.
• Proficiency in a foreign language is not a requirement for the Ph.D. degree.
• The program requires full-time continuous enrollment.
• Post-baccalaureate students are required to complete a minimum of four years of full-time attendance.
• Doctoral program aspirants who do not hold a master's degree upon starting the program must complete all the requirements for the master’s degree.
• Students must complete a first-year project and present it to faculty and graduate students during the fall of their second year.
• Kent Campus

More About The Application Process

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Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Psychological Science - Ph.D.

Graduates of Kent State University's Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology can pursue advanced careers as licensed clinical psychologists, researchers, and professors. They are equipped to work in mental health clinics, hospitals, private practice, and academic institutions, where they can provide therapy, conduct psychological assessments, and contribute to research on mental health and human behavior.

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Free Grad App Week October 21-28, 2024

Take the next step in your career without the added cost of application fees! Kent State Online is excited to offer Free Graduate Application Week, giving the opportunity to apply to any of our 100% online graduate programs at no cost.

From October 21 to October 28, 2024 , submit your application for free and move one step closer to achieving your educational and career goals.

Why Choose Kent State Online?

• Flexible Learning: Our online graduate programs are designed for working professionals, allowing you to balance your education with your career and personal commitments.
• Expert Faculty: Learn from Kent State’s renowned faculty, who bring real-world experience and expertise to their teaching.
• Wide Range of Programs: With graduate degrees and certificates across various disciplines, including business, education, healthcare, and more, you can find the program that best fits your career aspirations.
• High-Quality Education: Kent State Online delivers the same academic rigor and standards as our on-campus programs, ensuring you receive a top-tier education from wherever you are.

How to Take Advantage of Free Application Week

• Explore Programs: Browse our extensive list of graduate degrees and certificates to find the program that’s right for you.
• Submit Your Application: Between October 21 and October 28, 2024, complete your application online, and the application fee is automatically waived!
• Start Your Journey: Once accepted, you’ll be on your way to earning an advanced degree that can help you reach your personal and professional goals.

Don’t miss this opportunity to apply for free and advance your career with a graduate degree from Kent State Online. Whether you’re looking to move up in your current field or explore new career opportunities, our flexible online programs are designed to help you succeed.