Organizational Behavior Doctoral Program

Ph.D. Curriculum

Tools for Analysis and Research (TAR) Coursework

All Organizational Behavior doctoral students take six Tools for Analysis and Research (TAR) courses. TAR course selection and substitution (where appropriate) is done in conjunction with, and must be approved by, the Primary Area advisor.

Students must take the following three TAR courses:

  • MAN 6979 - Doctoral Seminar in Philosophy of Science
  • MAN 6933r - Research Design
  • MAN 6934 - Data Analysis

Plus three additional courses. Below is a suggested list of possible elective TAR courses.

  • COM 5317 - Content Analysis
  • EDF 5409 - Causal Modeling
  • EDF 5410 - Non-parametric Analysis
  • EDF 5411 - Factor Analysis Applications
  • EDF 5432 - Measurement Theory I
  • EDF 5434 - Measurement Theory II
  • EDF 5435 - Theory of Scaling
  • EDF 5476 - Quasi-Experimental Analysis Applications
  • EDF 6475 - Qualitative Methods
  • STA 5225 - Sample Surveys
  • STA 5507 - Applied Nonparametric Statistics
  • STA 5857 - Applied Time Series Analysis
  • SYA 5407 - Advanced Quantitative Methods

The primary advisor can be helpful in determining the course that best fit the needs of the student.

Primary Area

The Organizational Behavior program includes courses dealing with perception, attitudes, personality, stress, leadership, group dynamics, motivation, organization design, human resource management, and labor relations. The courses are taught in a seminar format in which research design, data analyses and other methodological issues are taught to expand the student's research competencies. In addition to the general prerequisites for doctoral study, a Masters level course in Organizational Behavior is also compulsory for admission to the program.

Doctoral students specializing in this program must complete the following Primary Area seminars that include two special topics (ST):

  • MAN 6235 - Doctoral Seminar in Organizational Theory
  • MAN 6275r - Doctoral Seminar in Organizational Behavior
  • MAN 6933r - Doctoral Seminar in Human Resource Management
  • MAN 6933r - Doctoral Seminar: Special Topic I (Topics Vary)
  • MAN 6933r - Doctoral Seminar: Special Topic II (Topics Vary)

Additional Primary Area courses may be selected in consultation with the student's Primary Area advisor.

Support Area

The Support Area further develops the student's research skills. The student's Primary Area advisor will approve the course schedule in collaboration with appropriate faculty. In the Organizational Behavior area, we require a support area in statistics/ research methods.

All students must take the following three courses for their support area:

  • STA 5206 - Analysis of Variance (or EDF 5402)
  • STA 5207 - Applied Regression Methods (or EDF 5401)
  • STA 5707 - Applied Multivariate Analysis (or EDF 5406 or SYA 5406)

Suggested Course Sequence for Organizational Behavior Doctoral Students

  FALL SPRING SUMMER
1st YEAR MAN 6275 (OB)
MAN 6979
STA or EDF
 MAN 6933 (HR)
MAN 6933 Design
STA or EDF
 MAN 6235
STA or EDF
Supervised Teaching
2nd YEAR MAN 6933 Sp Topics 1
MAN 6934 Analysis
STA or EDF
 MAN 6933 Sp Topics II
STA or EDF
STA or EDF 		Exams
3rd YEAR Dissertation



*Tentative schedule are subject to change at the discretion of the chair person

For more information on the Organizational Behavior Ph.D. Program, please contact Dr. James Combs.