Computer Information Systems, PhD
Business, Computer, Financial, Information, Management, computers, computing, database
Having your research published in top journals boosts your work's visibility. Develop the skills that will get you to that point, through seminars and coursework focused on how to review, analyze, conduct and publish research.
The Department of Information Systems offers a computer information systems concentration within the Doctor of Philosophy in business administration. The full-time program prepares scholars for careers at leading research-focused educational institutions.
This program allows doctoral students to participate in ongoing research projects in conjunction with faculty members in the department. Research topics include business analytics and big data; health care IT; IT-enabled services and process innovation; information economics and strategy; security and privacy; and social media, e-commerce and mobile platforms.
Business faculty and doctoral students present their research at leading national and international conferences and publish their research in academic journals. In addition to publishing in top information systems journals, doctoral students are often published in leading journals in other disciplines, including accounting, economics, finance, health care management, marketing, managerial decision-making, operations management and strategic management.
- College/school:
W. P. Carey School of Business
- Location: Tempe
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Plan of Study
The doctoral program consists of a minimum of 84 credit hours of graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor's degree. A minimum of 42 credit hours of doctoral coursework and 12 credit hours of dissertation are required to be taken at Arizona State University's Tempe campus. At the department's discretion, students may apply up to 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree toward their doctoral plan of study.
Students work with their program committees to determine an appropriate plan of study. Common areas of specialization for doctoral studies include:
- business analytics and big data
- health care information technology
- information economics and strategy
- IT-enabled services and process innovation
- security and privacy
- social media, e-commerce and mobile platforms
Comprehensive Examinations
Upon completion of all necessary coursework on a student's approved plan of study, the academic unit may initiate the scheduling and administering of a student's comprehensive examination. At minimum, the comprehensive examination consists of a minimum of a written exam, and an oral exam may also be required by the academic unit.
Candidacy
Doctoral students are notified of achieving candidacy status by receipt of a letter from the dean of the Graduate College upon passing the comprehensive examinations and successfully defending the dissertation prospectus.
Dissertation Requirements
Students are required to present a dissertation to satisfy the research requirement for the doctoral degree. The dissertation is defended in an oral examination commonly known as the dissertation defense.
Students must be enrolled for at least one credit hour that appears on the plan of study or one hour of appropriate graduate-level credit, such as 795 Continuing Registration, during the semester, including summer session, in which the student defends the dissertation.
For detailed information regarding the university's doctoral degree requirements, students should refer to the Graduate College policies and procedures.
Maximum Time Limit
Doctoral students must complete all program requirements within 10 consecutive years.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants | International applicants | English proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the W. P. Carey School of Business.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- GMAT score
- proof of English proficiency
- three letters of recommendation
- personal statement
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
International applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores from the TOEFL. For more information on requirements, students should review the program's website. They should also review the admission services website for specific ASU admission requirements.
A master's degree or MBA is recommended (30 credit hours may count toward the minimum total of 84 hours of coursework in the doctoral program). At least two years of full-time related work experience is recommended.
Doctoral students admitted to the W. P. Carey School of Business must have demonstrated competency in mathematics, strong quantitative ability, competency in the use of computer technology for analytical purposes, and an undergraduate degree in a related field from an accredited university.
Applications are reviewed by the department's faculty committee using a portfolio approach. The committee reviews each individual application and examines all parts equally.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 01/15 | Final |
Graduates are prepared for a career at leading research universities.
Career opportunity positions include:
- data scientist
- professor
- research professor
Business Administration
|
BA 301P
wpcareyis@asu.edu
480-965-3252
Admission deadlines
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
