AMES, Iowa -- Following approval by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, Iowa State University's College of Business is moving forward with plans to implement a new Ph.D. program in business and technology. College officials hope to have their first class of students for the new program by Fall 2009.
The program will prepare individuals for academic careers in research, teaching and public service. Students will learn how to align business strategy and technology, use technology to improve strategic management decisions and conduct scholarly research.
They'll be required to complete 74 credits in coursework, including 12 credits for a dissertation, and at least one of the three areas of specialization -- customer relationship management, supply chain management, or management of information technology.
These areas of specialization will make the ISU program distinctly different.
"We are very excited to receive Regents' approval to launch our doctoral program," said College of Business Dean Labh Hira. "It is designed to meet some of the unique demands of the marketplace. And it is a tremendous step forward in the growth and momentum of our college."
The estimated $1.14 million per year additional cost will be covered by new university funds, department and college reallocations, and external sources. The funds will add three faculty positions, graduate tuition support and graduate assistantships; and support research.
"The program will not be implemented for at least two years and there are many reasons for that," said Mike Crum, associate dean of graduate programs in ISU's College of Business. "First and foremost, we need time to recruit students. We also need to finalize resources and hire some faculty -- things that we could not do until the Regents approved the program."
The new ISU program will respond to a demand identified by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the accreditation agency for colleges of business. AACSB projected a shortage of almost 1,800 qualified faculty to teach business courses by the year 2008.
"This is great news for the college and addresses a national need," said Crum. "It's a huge step in our development. But it's a two-year process to get it up and running."
Officials will seek AACSB International accreditation for the program during the College of Business' next accreditation review in 2009-2010.
Prospective students should contact Graduate Programs in the College of Business at
1-877-478-4622, 515-294-8118, or busgrad@iastate.edu.