Doctoral Program in Organization Studies
Designed to prepare students for academic careers, the Ph.D. in Organization Studies program at Boston College is recognized worldwide for its rigorous curriculum, exceptional faculty, and distinguished graduates who are leaders in their fields.
The five-year program emphasizes a strong foundation in organizational behavior, theory, and research methods. Students begin the program with a set of complementary courses in micro- and macroorganizational theory, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and statistics.
Throughout their course of study, students pursue research on their own and in collaboration with faculty. All students are encouraged to deliver papers at national and international professional conferences as well as to submit articles for publication in top-tier research journals. Boston College Ph.D. graduates emerge as creative, independent scholars who can craft and pursue their own research agendas.
Luke N. Hedden, Ph.D. ’23
Assistant Professor, Miami Herbert Business School, University of Miami
“I was first attracted to the Ph.D. in Organization Studies program at Boston College by the expertise of the renowned faculty. Their eagerness to share that expertise with doctoral students is what drew me in.
The skills I learned—particularly in qualitative research methods—have allowed me to study questions that interest me the most, such as how workers who feel ‘invisible’ find meaningfulness in their work despite the lack of recognition from others.
By studying career advisers, hospital employees, and linemen (the men and women who build power lines), I learned how to conduct and publish research on important questions like this. Ultimately, the supportive research community at BC provided me exactly what I needed to launch my academic career.”
Ph.D. in Organization Studies Program Requirements
All students complete a variety of required theory, methods, and application courses as well as graduatelevel electives. Students take a total of 13 full-credit courses in their first two years. Electives may be taken from other departments and universities, subject to approval.
c omprehensive e xamination
A comprehensive examination is given at the end of the second year. To pass the exam, students must demonstrate a substantial knowledge of theory and methods involved in the study of organizational behavior and theory.
d issertation
The culmination of the program is the dissertation: a substantial, significant, and original contribution to the body of knowledge in organizational studies that is prepared under the guidance of a dissertation committee of three faculty members.
financial s upport
All entering students receive full tuition remission plus a stipend for up to five years, provided they maintain their status as students in good standing and meet the residency requirements of the program. Typically, students work as research and teaching assistants throughout the program.
p h. d placement
The Ph.D. in Organization Studies program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to conduct high-quality research and teaching in the field of organization studies. The Management and Organization Department takes an active role in placing students in attractive academic positions. Recent placements have included:
Babson College
Boston University
Creighton University
EDHEC Business School (France)
Harvard University
IESE Business School (Spain)
Kookmin University (South Korea)
Loyola University
New Orleans
New York University
Northeastern University
Roger Williams University
United States Coast Guard Academy
University of Amsterdam
University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign
University of Kentucky
University of Liverpool
University of Maryland
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Boston
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Pennsylvania
University of Southern California
University of Virginia
University of Western Ontario (Canada)
Western Michigan University
Yonsei University (South Korea)
Our students and recent graduates also have been successful in terms of scholarly output. Their papers have appeared in top management and organization outlets, such as the Academy of Management Annals, Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Administrative Science Quarterly, Human Relations, Journal of Applied Psychology, Organization Science, Organizational Psychology Review, and Strategy Science. They also have contributed articles to numerous other publications and chapters to books.
Stephanie J. Creary, Ph.D. ’15
Assistant Professor of Management, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
“After I earned my first master’s degree, I worked for several years as a speech-language pathologist. At the same time, I was also a professional dancer and a yoga instructor. I enjoyed what I was doing, but I became more interested in the dynamics of working in an organization. I entered an MBA program, where I discovered the field of organizational behavior.
I was attracted to Boston College because some of the top scholars were there and because the Ph.D. program is set up like an apprenticeship, where one or two faculty members take you under their wing and teach you how to be a researcher and scholar.
The focus of my research is professional identity cocreation. In my dissertation, I studied two hospitals that merged in 1998 and struggled to integrate for more than 15 years before rebounding from failure.”
Faculty
Jean Bartunek, RSCJ
Robert A. and Evelyn J. Ferris Chair and Professor; Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago
Curtis Chan
Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Harvard University
Judith Clair
Professor and William S. McKiernan ’78 Family Faculty Fellow; Ph.D., University of Southern California
Vanessa Conzon
Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Robert Fichman
Professor; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Judith Gordon
Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning, Professor, and Chairperson of the Department; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Raquel Kessinger
Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Agnieszka Kierner
Visiting Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Vaasa
Jamie Ladge Professor; Ph.D., Boston College
Juan Montes
Associate Professor of the Practice; JD, Universidad de Chile; Ph.D., University of Navarra
Richard Nielsen Professor; Ph.D., Syracuse University
Pilar Opazo
Assistant Professor of the Practice; Ph.D., Columbia University
Jeremiah Potts Lecturer; BA, Brown University
Michael Pratt
O’Connor Family Professor; Ph.D., University of Michigan
Benjamin Rogers Assistant Professor; Ph.D., The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Elizabeth (Bess) Rouse Associate Professor, Hillenbrand Family Faculty Fellow, and Ph.D. Program Coordinator; Ph.D., Boston College
Richard Spinello Professor of the Practice, Assistant Chairperson, and Director of the Carroll School Ethics Program; Ph.D., Fordham University
Njoke Thomas Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University
Tieying Yu Associate Professor; Ph.D., Texas A &M University
Admission
The Boston College Ph.D. in Organization Studies program seeks students with outstanding potential for leadership and academic excellence. While notable for the diversity of their individual achievements, our students all present a consistent record of taking initiative, leading change, and demonstrating a desire to make an impact in the world.
how to apply
Each candidate must complete an application for admission, which includes transcripts of all academic work, essays, and two letters of recommendation. Prior academic and work experience are significant criteria in the admissions process.
All applicants are required to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
Applicants whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Pearson Test of English (PTE), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). All candidates must be graduates of accredited colleges or universities.
Boston College Carroll School of Management publications contain current information regarding the University calendar, admissions, degree requirements, fees, regulations, and course offerings. They are not intended to be and should not be relied upon as a statement of the University’s contractual undertakings.
