Experiential PhD
Specializations
Beedie PHD Program
SFU Beedie PhD students craft their own specialization. These are the areas of research our current students focus on.
Select a Specialization to view
Accounting
The PhD in Accounting at SFU Beedie aims to attract people who will shape the next generation of thought leaders. Address accounting problems by applying the insights and tools gained from economics, finance, mathematics and statistics.
The program ensures that you are well trained in the underlying
disciplines necessary to conduct research at the highest level. Rigorous
coursework, combined with a collaborative research environment, will
prepare you for empirical and theoretical research in accounting, and
give you the opportunity to positively impact current accounting,
reporting and management practices.
Accounting Specializations
- Investor Protection
- Market Behavior
- Human Information Processing
- Judgement And Decision Making In Accounting And Auditing
- Information Economics
- Internal Auditing
- Audit Markets And Systems
- Corporate Governance
- Financial Reporting Quality
- Accounting And Corporate Social Responsibility
- Sustainability Reporting
- Performance Measurement And Productivity
- Foreign Markets, Disclosure And Regulation
Top Journals in Accounting
- Journal of Finance
- Journal of Financial Economics
- Review of Financial Studies
- Journal of Accounting Research
- Journal of Accounting and Economics
- Accounting Review
- Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis
Course Requirements
Four Core Courses: Year 1 - 2
Microeconomic Theory
Macroeconomic Theory and Policy
Econometric Theory
BUS 990 - Research Project (Year 1)
Students will be exposed to
the broad world of academia, from presenting and providing constructive
feedback on papers, to conferences, journal publishing and refereeing,
while being exposed to an introduction to a range of research techniques
and data analysis. The cornerstone of the course, and the primary
vehicle for experiential learning, is that each student will write an
original research project. The project that will be graded on a
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. Students who receive Satisfactory
will present it in an open research presentation. Questions and answers
emerging in this context should assist the student to develop their
research and to begin to chart their course in academia.
Four Disciplinary/Specialization Courses: Year 1 - 2
Four Selected Topics courses (including BUS 975 – Selected Topics) across at least two areas of Financial Accounting.
Three Advanced Elective Courses: Year 1 - 3
Examples include Advanced Topics in Empirical Accounting Research, Advanced Topics in Interdisciplinary Accounting, Theoretical and Empirical Work in Asset Pricing, Theoretical and Empirical Research in Corporate Finance, Pricing and Hedging of Derivative Securities.
Three Research Seminar Courses (BUS 976): Year 2 - 4
Students in their second through fourth years of studies are required to complete two units of seminar course work each year. Students will contribute to the seminar series by inviting guest speakers and presenting their own work.
Exam, thesis proposal and thesis requirements
BUS 991 – PhD Comprehensive Exam (Year 2)
Students will choose two areas in which to take their comprehensive exam. The reading list will be a subset of the reading assignments in the SFU Beedie School of Business graduate courses, special topics, and approved graduate courses in other programs or universities. Students prepare two thematically organized bibliography/reading lists. They should reflect the significant works in the areas in which the student is to be examined. They should also provide a foundation for research in these areas. The lists must be submitted to the PhD program administration and the student’s supervisory committee for approval.
BUS 993 – Thesis Proposal (Year 3)
Students will work on their dissertation proposal and defend their dissertation proposal defence.
BUS 992 – PhD Thesis (Year 4)
Students will work on their thesis and defend their thesis defence.
Finance
The PhD in Finance at SFU Beedie aims
to attract people who will shape the next generation of thought leaders.
We offer a Finance PhD program customized to individual interests and
abilities. You will collaboratively develop your own curriculum to meet
the challenges and opportunities of business and finance theory and
practice. Rigorous coursework and a collaborative research environment
prepare you for empirical and theoretical research in finance and equip
you to produce world-class research.
Finance Specializations
- Empirical Finance
- Corporate Finance
- Risk Modelling
- International Finance
- Computational Finance
- Financial Institutions
- Banking
- Mutual Funds
- Hedge Funds
- Pension Funds
- Financial Regulation
- Asset Pricing
- Liquidity Risk
- Limits to Arbitrage
- Predictability of Stock Returns
Top Journals in Finance
- Journal of Finance
- Journal of Financial Economics
- Review of Financial Studies
- Journal of Financial & Quantitative Analysis
- Journal of International Economics
- Journal of Monetary Economics
- Annual Review of Financial Economics
Course requirements
Four Core Courses: Year 1 - 2
Microeconomic Theory
Macroeconomic Theory and Policy
Econometric Theory
BUS 990 - Research Project (Year 1)
Students will be exposed to the broad world of academia, from presenting and providing constructive feedback on papers, to conferences, journal publishing and refereeing, while being exposed to an introduction to a range of research techniques and data analysis. The cornerstone of the course, and the primary vehicle for experiential learning, is that each student will write an original research project. The project that will be graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. Students who receive Satisfactory will present it in an open research presentation. Questions and answers emerging in this context should assist the student to develop their research and to begin to chart their course in academia.
Four Disciplinary/Specialization Courses: Year 1 -2
Four Selected Topics courses (including BUS 975 – Selected Topics) across at least two areas of Finance Specializations.
Three Advanced Elective Courses: Year 1- 3
Examples include Advanced Topics in Theoretical and Empirical Work in Asset Pricing, Theoretical and Empirical Research in Corporate Finance, Pricing and Hedging of Derivative Securities.
Three Research Seminar Courses (BUS 976): Year 2 - 4
Students in their second through fourth years of studies are required to complete two units of seminar course work each year. Students will contribute to the seminar series by inviting guest speakers and presenting their own work.
Exam, thesis proposal and thesis requirements
BUS 991 – PhD Comprehensive Exam (Year 2)
Students will choose two areas in which to take their comprehensive exam. The reading list will be a subset of the reading assignments in the SFU Beedie School of Business graduate courses, special topics, and approved graduate courses in other programs or universities. Students prepare two thematically organized bibliography/reading lists. They should reflect the significant works in the areas in which the student is to be examined. They should also provide a foundation for research in these areas. The lists must be submitted to the PhD program administration and the student’s supervisory committee for approval.
BUS 993 – Thesis Proposal (Year 3)
Students will work on their dissertation proposal and defend their dissertation proposal defence.
BUS 992 – PhD Thesis (Year 4)
Students will work on their thesis and defend their thesis defence.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E)
The PhD in Innovation and
Entrepreneurship at SFU Beedie enables you to engage with evolving
contexts of national and global importance. Faculty mentor students in
applying innovation and entrepreneurship theory to challenges such as
meeting climate emission goals, developing and adopting personalized
medicine solutions, and creating and capturing value from university
inventions.
I&E SPECIALIZATIONS
- Technology Strategy
- Innovation Ecosystems
- Healthcare Innovation
- Cleantech Innovation
- Entrepreneurial Finance
- Entrepreneurial Decision Making
- Entrepreneurial Capabilities
- Sustainability Strategy
- Strategic Networks
- Strategy in Emerging Markets
- Science based business
- Innovation Policy
Course requirements
BUS 980 – Theory Development (Year 1)
The effective use of empiricism, positivism and interpretive explanations in generating, defending and clarifying logically rigorous arguments is explored. Participants from diverse fields (marketing, international business, management studies, accounting, policy analysis, finance, etc.) within the administrative sciences will look at the processes that have guided theory development and theory testing within their field of inquiry. Attention will focus on what criteria are used to assess the adequacy of explanations and useful theories. The seminar seeks to advance participants' interest in putting theory into practice.
BUS 990 - Research Project (Year 1)
Students will be exposed to the broad world of academia, from presenting and providing constructive feedback on papers, to conferences, journal publishing and refereeing, while being exposed to an introduction to a range of research techniques and data analysis. The cornerstone of the course, and the primary vehicle for experiential learning, is that each student will write an original research project. The project that will be graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. Students who receive Satisfactory will present it in an open research presentation. Questions and answers emerging in this context should assist the student to develop their research and to begin to chart their course in academia.
BUS 982 – Dissertation Development (Year 3)
This seminar is intended to support doctoral students in the early stages of the development of their dissertations. Students will explore practical and conceptual issues with respect to the integration of theory, research design and methodology. The seminar will provide a forum for students to share their dissertation work in progress, and learn from each other with respect to theoretical, analytical and methodological problems, successes and trade-offs.
Three Research Methodology Courses: Year 1 - 2
Examples include Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed Methods and Quant Specific Courses at Graduate/PhD Level.
Quantitative Analysis: Quantitative Research Design and Analysis, Fundamentals of Statistical Inference, Experimental Design and Statistical Inference, Experimental Design and Statistical Inference, Survey of Multivariate Methods.
Social Statistics: Ethnographic & Qualitative Research Methods, Qualitative Research Methods, Qualitative Research Design, Advanced Qualitative Research.
Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Methods: Measurement and Evaluation, Applied Psychometrics, Correlation and Regression Methods, Factor Analysis, Structural Equation Modelling, Analysis of Variance, Sampling, Dynamic Modeling/Longitudinal Data Analysis.
Four Disciplinary/Specialization Courses: Year 1 - 2
Four Selected Topics courses (including BUS 975 – Selected Topics) across at least two areas of Innovation & Entrepreneurship Specializations.
One Advanced Elective Course: Year 1 - 3
Three Research Seminar Courses: Year 2 - 4
BUS 976 – Seminar
Students in their second through fourth years of studies are required to complete two units of seminar course work each year. Students will contribute to the seminar series by inviting guest speakers and presenting their own work.
Exam, thesis proposal and thesis requirements
BUS 991 – PhD Comprehensive Exam (Year 2)
Students will choose two areas in which to take their comprehensive exam. The reading list will be a subset of the reading assignments in the SFU Beedie School of Business graduate courses, special topics, and approved graduate courses in other programs or universities. Students prepare two thematically organized bibliography/reading lists. They should reflect the significant works in the areas in which the student is to be examined. They should also provide a foundation for research in these areas. The lists must be submitted to the PhD program administration and the student’s supervisory committee for approval.
BUS 993 – Thesis Proposal (Year 3)
Students will work on their dissertation proposal and defend their dissertation proposal defence.
BUS 992 – PhD Thesis (Year 4)
Students will work on their thesis and defend their thesis defence.
International Business
The PhD in International Business (IB) at SFU Beedie inspires students to explore a deeper understanding of the organizational relationships of the multinational enterprise (MNE) in the sociocultural, sociopolitical, institutional and economic contexts. Some background in psychology, business, sociology, anthropology, economics, and political science, and experience with statistical methods and data analysis, provides optimal preparation for students pursuing the IB specialization.
You will engage with the IB faculty members early in the program,and
the IB group regularly publishes in reputable journals, such as Journal
of International Business Studies, Strategic Management Journal,
International Business Review, Cross Cultural and Strategic Management,
Organization Science, Academy of Management Journal and Journal of World
Business.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SPECIALIZATIONS
- Cross-border Activities (International Joint Venturing, Alliances, Licensing, Foreign Direct Investment, Trade, Off-shoring, and Knowledge Transfer)
- Strategy, Structure, and Decision-Making Process of Multinational Enterprises
- Cross-Cultural Management
- International Human Resource Management
- Foreign Market Entry and Location Choice
- Business in Developing Countries
- Cross-country Comparative Studies of Business
Course requirements
Three Core Courses: Year 1- 3
BUS 980 – Theory Development (Year 1)
The effective use of
empiricism, positivism and interpretive explanations in generating,
defending and clarifying logically rigorous arguments is explored.
Participants from diverse fields (marketing, international business,
management studies, accounting, policy analysis, finance, etc.) within
the administrative sciences will look at the processes that have guided
theory development and theory testing within their field of inquiry.
Attention will focus on what criteria are used to assess the adequacy of
explanations and useful theories. The seminar seeks to advance
participants' interest in putting theory into practice.
BUS 990 - Research Project (Year 1)
Students will be exposed to
the broad world of academia, from presenting and providing constructive
feedback on papers, to conferences, journal publishing and refereeing,
while being exposed to an introduction to a range of research techniques
and data analysis. The cornerstone of the course, and the primary
vehicle for experiential learning, is that each student will write an
original research project. The project that will be graded on a
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. Students who receive Satisfactory
will present it in an open research presentation. Questions and answers
emerging in this context should assist the student to develop their
research and to begin to chart their course in academia.
BUS 982 – Dissertation Development (Year 3)
This seminar is
intended to support doctoral students in the early stages of the
development of their dissertations. Students will explore practical and
conceptual issues with respect to the integration of theory, research
design and methodology. The seminar will provide a forum for students to
share their dissertation work in progress, and learn from each other
with respect to theoretical, analytical and methodological problems,
successes and trade-offs.
Three Research Methodology Courses: Year 1 - 2
Examples include Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed Methods and Quant Specific Courses at Graduate/PhD Level.
Quantitative Analysis: Quantitative Research Design and Analysis, Fundamentals of Statistical Inference, Experimental Design and Statistical Inference, Experimental Design and Statistical Inference, Survey of Multivariate Methods.
Social Statistics: Ethnographic & Qualitative Research Methods, Qualitative Research Methods, Qualitative Research Design, Advanced Qualitative Research.
Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Methods: Measurement and Evaluation, Applied Psychometrics, Correlation and Regression Methods, Factor Analysis, Structural Equation Modelling, Analysis of Variance, Sampling, Dynamic Modeling/Longitudinal Data Analysis.
Four Disciplinary/Specialization Courses: Year 1 - 2
Four Selected Topics courses (including BUS 975 – Selected Topics) across at least two areas of Innovation & Entrepreneurship Specializations.
One Advanced Elective Course: Year 1 - 3
Three Research Seminar Courses: Year 2 - 4
BUS 976 – Seminar
Students in their second through fourth years
of studies are required to complete two units of seminar course work
each year. Students will contribute to the seminar series by inviting
guest speakers and presenting their own work.
Exam, thesis proposal and thesis requirements
BUS 991 – PhD Comprehensive Exam (Year 2)
Students will choose two areas in which to take their comprehensive exam. The reading list will be a subset of the reading assignments in the SFU Beedie School of Business graduate courses, special topics, and approved graduate courses in other programs or universities. Students prepare two thematically organized bibliography/reading lists. They should reflect the significant works in the areas in which the student is to be examined. They should also provide a foundation for research in these areas. The lists must be submitted to the PhD program administration and the student’s supervisory committee for approval.
BUS 993 – Thesis Proposal (Year 3)
Students will work on their dissertation proposal and defend their dissertation proposal defence.
BUS 992 – PhD Thesis (Year 4)
Students will work on their thesis and defend their thesis defence.
Marketing
The PhD in Marketing at SFU Beedie has three tracks:
Behavioural Marketing: The study of how individuals behave in consumer-relevant domains investigating consumer choices and purchase behaviour. This area of marketing draws from social psychology and behavioural decision theory and includes a wide variety of topics such as Decision Making, Attitudes and Persuasion, Social Influence, Motivation, Cognition, Culture, Nonconscious Influences, Consumer Neuroscience, and Emotions. Some background in psychology, business and experience with experimental methods and data analysis provides optimal preparation for students pursuing the behavioural track.
Quantitative Marketing: Examines product, pricing, advertising and promotion strategies of firms and analyzes competition in a wide range of domains. It emphasizes the empirical analysis of applied marketing problems; the use of rigorous quantitative methods to provide solutions to important, managerially relevant questions. It draws primarily on fundamentals in applied microeconomic theory, industrial organization and econometrics and statistics. A background in Economics, Statistics or other quantitatively oriented subjects provides optimal preparation for students pursuing the quantitative track.
Marketing Strategy: The study of how organizations
build a focused strategy to shape the customer journey and the customer
experience. It examines how organizations use different strategies to
reach target audiences. Topics include how organizations use limited
resources to attain objectives in uncertain environments; marketing
communication and social media strategies; customer personas and
journeys; consumer behavior changes resulting from advancement in
communications technology; digital transformation and the impact on
companies; and examining the fundamental qualities that great brands
share. Some background in psychology, business and experience with
statistical methods and data analysis provides optimal preparation for
students pursuing the track.
MARKETING SPECIALIZATIONS
- Behavioral Marketing (Consumer Behavior, Emotions in advertising and consumption, Branding and Consumer Choice, Experienced-based decision making)
- Quantitative Marketing (Service design and Management, Pricing, Retailing, Marketing-Finance interface)
- Marketing Strategy (Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications Effectiveness, Word-of-mouth communications)
Top Journals in Marketing
- Journal of Marketing
- Journal of Marketing Research
- Marketing Science
- Journal of Consumer Research
- Journal of Consumer Psychology
- Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science
Course Requirements
Three Core Courses: Year 1- 3
BUS 980 – Theory Development (Year 1)
The effective use of
empiricism, positivism and interpretive explanations in generating,
defending and clarifying logically rigorous arguments is explored.
Participants from diverse fields (marketing, international business,
management studies, accounting, policy analysis, finance, etc.) within
the administrative sciences will look at the processes that have guided
theory development and theory testing within their field of inquiry.
Attention will focus on what criteria are used to assess the adequacy of
explanations and useful theories. The seminar seeks to advance
participants' interest in putting theory into practice.
BUS 990 - Research Project (Year 1)
Students will be exposed to
the broad world of academia, from presenting and providing constructive
feedback on papers, to conferences, journal publishing and refereeing,
while being exposed to an introduction to a range of research techniques
and data analysis. The cornerstone of the course, and the primary
vehicle for experiential learning, is that each student will write an
original research project. The project that will be graded on a
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. Students who receive Satisfactory
will present it in an open research presentation. Questions and answers
emerging in this context should assist the student to develop their
research and to begin to chart their course in academia.
BUS 982 – Dissertation Development (Year 3)
This seminar is
intended to support doctoral students in the early stages of the
development of their dissertations. Students will explore practical and
conceptual issues with respect to the integration of theory, research
design and methodology. The seminar will provide a forum for students to
share their dissertation work in progress, and learn from each other
with respect to theoretical, analytical and methodological problems,
successes and trade-offs.
Three Research Methodology Courses: Year 1 - 2
Examples include Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed Methods and Quant Specific Courses at Graduate/PhD Level.
Quantitative Analysis: Quantitative Research Design and Analysis, Fundamentals of Statistical Inference, Experimental Design and Statistical Inference, Experimental Design and Statistical Inference, Survey of Multivariate Methods.
Social Statistics: Ethnographic & Qualitative Research Methods, Qualitative Research Methods, Qualitative Research Design, Advanced Qualitative Research.
Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Methods: Measurement and Evaluation, Applied Psychometrics, Correlation and Regression Methods, Factor Analysis, Structural Equation Modelling, Analysis of Variance, Sampling, Dynamic Modeling/Longitudinal Data Analysis.
Four Disciplinary/Specialization Courses (BUS 975): Year 1 - 2
Behavioral Marketing examples include attitude and persuasion; consumer behavior; social psychology; behavioral decision making; behavioral research in marketing
Quantitative Marketing examples include quantitative research in marketing; empirical analysis of dynamic decision contexts; Bayesian inference applications; behavioral decision making, microeconomic theory
One Advanced Elective Course: Year 1 - 3
Three Research Seminar Courses: Year 2 - 4
BUS 976 – Seminar
Students in their second through fourth years
of studies are required to complete two units of seminar course work
each year. Students will contribute to the seminar series by inviting
guest speakers and presenting their own work.
Exam, thesis proposal and thesis requirements
BUS 991 – PhD Comprehensive Exam (Year 2)
Students will choose two areas in which to take their comprehensive exam. The reading list will be a subset of the reading assignments in the SFU Beedie School of Business graduate courses, special topics, and approved graduate courses in other programs or universities. Students prepare two thematically organized bibliography/reading lists. They should reflect the significant works in the areas in which the student is to be examined. They should also provide a foundation for research in these areas. The lists must be submitted to the PhD program administration and the student’s supervisory committee for approval.
BUS 993 – Thesis Proposal (Year 3)
Students will work on their dissertation proposal and defend their dissertation proposal defence.
BUS 992 – PhD Thesis (Year 4)
Students will work on their thesis and defend their thesis defence.
Management Information Systems (MIS)
Information Systems are transforming business and society in a variety of ways. New information technologies offer the opportunities to reshape firms, industry sectors and society to benefit the society-at-large, but they also pose new threats. Researchers in the MIS discipline broadly study how to enable new models of organizing individuals, collectives, firms and economies using new information technologies.
This field of research is highly interdisciplinary. It draws from other basic disciplines such as economics, computer science, information science, statistics, psychology, sociology, linguistics, and complements most other business disciplines.
MIS SPECIALIZATIONS
Technology Diffusion:
- Enterprise IT adoption and implementation
- User adoption and usage of IT
- Health/Accounting Information Systems
- Privacy and security
Digitalization Strategy:
- Competition among IT sectors
- Digital platform creation and adoption
- Information technology standards
- Business performance impacts of IT
Online Communities:
- Growth of online communities
- Information sharing
- Online reviews and user behavior
- Open source software
- Dark side of IT
Top Journals in MIS
- MIS Quarterly
- Information Systems Research
- Journal of MIS
- European Journal of Information Systems
- IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management
- Information Systems Journal
- Journal of the Association of Information Systems
- Decision Support Systems
Course Requirements
Three Core Courses: Year 1- 3
BUS 980 – Theory Development (Year 1)
The effective use of empiricism, positivism and interpretive
explanations in generating, defending and clarifying logically rigorous
arguments is explored. Participants from diverse fields (marketing,
international business, management studies, accounting,
policy analysis, finance, etc.) within the administrative sciences will
look at the processes that have guided theory development and theory
testing within their field of inquiry. Attention will focus on what
criteria are used to assess the adequacy of explanations
and useful theories. The seminar seeks to advance participants'
interest in putting theory into practice.
BUS 990 - Research Project (Year 1)
Students will be exposed to the broad world of academia, from presenting
and providing constructive feedback on papers, to conferences, journal
publishing and refereeing, while being exposed to an introduction to a
range of research techniques and data analysis.
The cornerstone of the course, and the primary vehicle for experiential
learning, is that each student will write an original research project.
The project that will be graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis.
Students who receive Satisfactory will present
it in an open research presentation. Questions and answers emerging in
this context should assist the student to develop their research and to
begin to chart their course in academia.
BUS 982 – Dissertation Development (Year 3)
This seminar is intended to support doctoral students in the early
stages of the development of their dissertations. Students will explore
practical and conceptual issues with respect to the integration of
theory, research design and methodology. The seminar
will provide a forum for students to share their dissertation work in
progress, and learn from each other with respect to theoretical,
analytical and methodological problems, successes and trade-offs.
Three Research Methodology Courses: Year 1 - 2
Examples include Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed Methods and Quant Specific Courses at Graduate/PhD Level.
Quantitative Analysis: Quantitative Research Design and Analysis, Fundamentals of Statistical Inference, Experimental Design and Statistical Inference, Experimental Design and Statistical Inference, Survey of Multivariate Methods.
Social Statistics: Ethnographic & Qualitative Research Methods, Qualitative Research Methods, Qualitative Research Design, Advanced Qualitative Research.
Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Methods: Measurement and Evaluation, Applied Psychometrics, Correlation and Regression Methods, Factor Analysis, Structural Equation Modelling, Analysis of Variance, Sampling, Dynamic Modeling/Longitudinal Data Analysis.
Four Disciplinary/Specialization Courses: Year 1 - 2
Four Selected Topics courses (including BUS 975 – Selected Topics) across at least two areas of Strategy. Examples include Strategic Processes, Strategic Management, History of Strategic Thoughts, Corporate Strategy Dynamics, Organization Theory, Non-Market Strategy.
One Advanced Elective Course: Year 1 - 3
Three Research Seminar Courses: Year 2 - 4
BUS 976 – Seminar
Students in their second through fourth years of studies are required to
complete two units of seminar course work each year. Students will
contribute to the seminar series by inviting guest speakers and
presenting their own work.
Exam, thesis proposal and thesis requirements
BUS 991 – PhD Comprehensive Exam (Year 2)
Students will choose two areas in which to take their comprehensive exam. The reading list will be a subset of the reading assignments in the SFU Beedie School of Business graduate courses, special topics, and approved graduate courses in other programs or universities. Students prepare two thematically organized bibliography/reading lists. They should reflect the significant works in the areas in which the student is to be examined. They should also provide a foundation for research in these areas. The lists must be submitted to the PhD program administration and the student’s supervisory committee for approval.
BUS 993 – Thesis Proposal (Year 3)
Students will work on their dissertation proposal and defend their dissertation proposal defence.
BUS 992 – PhD Thesis (Year 4)
Students will work on their thesis and defend their thesis defence.
Organizational Behaviour (OB)
The PhD in Organizational Behaviour
(OB) at SFU Beedie trains students for an academic career as researchers
and tenure-track professors. Examine the behaviour of individuals,
groups and organizations, and study the theory and methods from a broad
range of disciplines. The topics include leadership, personnel
selection, high performance work systems, organizational mindfulness,
group learning and team processes. A background in psychology, business,
sociology, anthropology, economics and political science and experience
with statistical methods and data analysis provides optimal preparation
for students pursuing the OB specialization.
OB SPECIALIZATIONS
- Personnel Selection
- Diversity in the Workplace
- Expatriate Management
- Group Learning
- High Performance Work Systems
- Organizational Mindfulness
Course requirements
Three Core Courses: Year 1- 3
BUS 980 – Theory Development (Year 1)
The effective use of
empiricism, positivism and interpretive explanations in generating,
defending and clarifying logically rigorous arguments is explored.
Participants from diverse fields (marketing, international business,
management studies, accounting, policy analysis, finance, etc.) within
the administrative sciences will look at the processes that have guided
theory development and theory testing within their field of inquiry.
Attention will focus on what criteria are used to assess the adequacy of
explanations and useful theories. The seminar seeks to advance
participants' interest in putting theory into practice.
BUS 990 - Research Project (Year 1)
Students will be exposed to
the broad world of academia, from presenting and providing constructive
feedback on papers, to conferences, journal publishing and refereeing,
while being exposed to an introduction to a range of research techniques
and data analysis. The cornerstone of the course, and the primary
vehicle for experiential learning, is that each student will write an
original research project. The project that will be graded on a
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. Students who receive Satisfactory
will present it in an open research presentation. Questions and answers
emerging in this context should assist the student to develop their
research and to begin to chart their course in academia.
BUS 982 – Dissertation Development (Year 3)
This seminar is
intended to support doctoral students in the early stages of the
development of their dissertations. Students will explore practical and
conceptual issues with respect to the integration of theory, research
design and methodology. The seminar will provide a forum for students to
share their dissertation work in progress, and learn from each other
with respect to theoretical, analytical and methodological problems,
successes and trade-offs.
Three Research Methodology Courses: Year 1 - 2
Examples include Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed Methods and Quant Specific Courses at Graduate/PhD Level.
Quantitative Analysis: Quantitative Research Design and Analysis, Fundamentals of Statistical Inference, Experimental Design and Statistical Inference, Experimental Design and Statistical Inference, Survey of Multivariate Methods.
Social Statistics: Ethnographic & Qualitative Research Methods, Qualitative Research Methods, Qualitative Research Design, Advanced Qualitative Research.
Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Methods: Measurement and Evaluation, Applied Psychometrics, Correlation and Regression Methods, Factor Analysis, Structural Equation Modelling, Analysis of Variance, Sampling, Dynamic Modeling/Longitudinal Data Analysis.
Four Disciplinary/Specialization Courses: Year 1 - 2
Four Selected Topics courses (including BUS 975 – Selected Topics) across at least two areas of Organizational Behaviour Specializations.
One Advanced Elective Course: Year 1 - 3
Three Research Seminar Courses: Year 2 - 4
BUS 976 – Seminar
Students in their second through fourth years
of studies are required to complete two units of seminar course work
each year. Students will contribute to the seminar series by inviting
guest speakers and presenting their own work.
Exam, thesis proposal and thesis requirements
BUS 991 – PhD Comprehensive Exam (Year 2)
Students will choose two areas in which to take their comprehensive exam. The reading list will be a subset of the reading assignments in the SFU Beedie School of Business graduate courses, special topics, and approved graduate courses in other programs or universities. Students prepare two thematically organized bibliography/reading lists. They should reflect the significant works in the areas in which the student is to be examined. They should also provide a foundation for research in these areas. The lists must be submitted to the PhD program administration and the student’s supervisory committee for approval.
BUS 993 – Thesis Proposal (Year 3)
Students will work on their dissertation proposal and defend their dissertation proposal defence.
BUS 992 – PhD Thesis (Year 4)
Students will work on their thesis and defend their thesis defence.
Strategy
Strategy is a determinant of organizational success. Strategic organizations are able to perform better and survive longer—shaping how industries change over time. The field of Strategic Management is about understanding the sources of the organization’s success and failure in an effort to create and defend a competitive advantage in changing environments.
The field draws from multiple intellectual disciplines, such as economics, psychology and sociology and complements other business disciplines such as marketing, human resources, information technology and finance.
STRATEGY SPECIALIZATIONS
- Institutions and Industry Evolution
- Corporate Strategic Dynamics
- Innovation and Leadership
- Learning and capabilities
- Organizational design and Strategy Implementation
- Competitive advantage at the business and corporate levels
Top Journals in Strategic Management
- Academy of Management Journal (AMJ)
- Academy of Management Review (AMR)
- Organization Science (OS)
- Administrative Science Quarterly (ASQ)
- Journal of International Business Studies (JIBS)
Course requirements
Three Core Courses: Year 1- 3
BUS 980 – Theory Development (Year 1)
The effective use of
empiricism, positivism and interpretive explanations in generating,
defending and clarifying logically rigorous arguments is explored.
Participants from diverse fields (marketing, international business,
management studies, accounting, policy analysis, finance, etc.) within
the administrative sciences will look at the processes that have guided
theory development and theory testing within their field of inquiry.
Attention will focus on what criteria are used to assess the adequacy of
explanations and useful theories. The seminar seeks to advance
participants' interest in putting theory into practice.
BUS 990 - Research Project (Year 1)
Students will be exposed to
the broad world of academia, from presenting and providing constructive
feedback on papers, to conferences, journal publishing and refereeing,
while being exposed to an introduction to a range of research techniques
and data analysis. The cornerstone of the course, and the primary
vehicle for experiential learning, is that each student will write an
original research project. The project that will be graded on a
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. Students who receive Satisfactory
will present it in an open research presentation. Questions and answers
emerging in this context should assist the student to develop their
research and to begin to chart their course in academia.
BUS 982 – Dissertation Development (Year 3)
This seminar is
intended to support doctoral students in the early stages of the
development of their dissertations. Students will explore practical and
conceptual issues with respect to the integration of theory, research
design and methodology. The seminar will provide a forum for students to
share their dissertation work in progress, and learn from each other
with respect to theoretical, analytical and methodological problems,
successes and trade-offs.
Three Research Methodology Courses: Year 1 - 2
Examples include Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed Methods and Quant Specific Courses at Graduate/PhD Level.
Quantitative Analysis: Quantitative Research Design and Analysis, Fundamentals of Statistical Inference, Experimental Design and Statistical Inference, Experimental Design and Statistical Inference, Survey of Multivariate Methods.
Social Statistics: Ethnographic & Qualitative Research Methods, Qualitative Research Methods, Qualitative Research Design, Advanced Qualitative Research.
Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Methods: Measurement and Evaluation, Applied Psychometrics, Correlation and Regression Methods, Factor Analysis, Structural Equation Modelling, Analysis of Variance, Sampling, Dynamic Modeling/Longitudinal Data Analysis.
Four Disciplinary/Specialization Courses: Year 1 - 2
Four Selected Topics courses (including BUS 975 – Selected Topics) across at least two areas of Strategy. Examples include Strategic Processes, Strategic Management, History of Strategic Thoughts, Corporate Strategy Dynamics, Organization Theory, Non-Market Strategy.
One Advanced Elective Course: Year 1 - 3
Three Research Seminar Courses: Year 2 - 4
BUS 976 – Seminar
Students in their second through fourth years
of studies are required to complete two units of seminar course work
each year. Students will contribute to the seminar series by inviting
guest speakers and presenting their own work.
Exam, thesis proposal and thesis requirements
BUS 991 – PhD Comprehensive Exam (Year 2)
Students will choose two areas in which to take their comprehensive exam. The reading list will be a subset of the reading assignments in the SFU Beedie School of Business graduate courses, special topics, and approved graduate courses in other programs or universities. Students prepare two thematically organized bibliography/reading lists. They should reflect the significant works in the areas in which the student is to be examined. They should also provide a foundation for research in these areas. The lists must be submitted to the PhD program administration and the student’s supervisory committee for approval.
BUS 993 – Thesis Proposal (Year 3)
Students will work on their dissertation proposal and defend their dissertation proposal defence.
BUS 992 – PhD Thesis (Year 4)
Students will work on their thesis and defend their thesis defence.
Sustainability
The PhD in Sustainability at SFU Beedie prepares students for careers both inside and outside academia. Engage in issues that are relevant to both public and private interests and gain the research skills required to create both positive organizational outcomes and broader social and environmental impact.
SUSTAINABILITY SPECIALIZATIONS
- Environmental governance and public policy
- Social Innovation (social capital; social entrepreneurship; innovation and development)
- Sustainable businesses and organizations (corporate sustainability; strategy and alliances)
Course requirements
Three Core Courses: Year 1- 3
BUS 980 – Theory Development (Year 1)
The effective use of
empiricism, positivism and interpretive explanations in generating,
defending and clarifying logically rigorous arguments is explored.
Participants from diverse fields (marketing, international business,
management studies, accounting, policy analysis, finance, etc.) within
the administrative sciences will look at the processes that have guided
theory development and theory testing within their field of inquiry.
Attention will focus on what criteria are used to assess the adequacy of
explanations and useful theories. The seminar seeks to advance
participants' interest in putting theory into practice.
BUS 990 - Research Project (Year 1)
Students will be exposed to
the broad world of academia, from presenting and providing constructive
feedback on papers, to conferences, journal publishing and refereeing,
while being exposed to an introduction to a range of research techniques
and data analysis. The cornerstone of the course, and the primary
vehicle for experiential learning, is that each student will write an
original research project. The project that will be graded on a
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. Students who receive Satisfactory
will present it in an open research presentation. Questions and answers
emerging in this context should assist the student to develop their
research and to begin to chart their course in academia.
BUS 982 – Dissertation Development (Year 3)
This seminar is
intended to support doctoral students in the early stages of the
development of their dissertations. Students will explore practical and
conceptual issues with respect to the integration of theory, research
design and methodology. The seminar will provide a forum for students to
share their dissertation work in progress, and learn from each other
with respect to theoretical, analytical and methodological problems,
successes and trade-offs.
Three Research Methodology Courses: Year 1 - 2
Examples include Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed Methods and Quant Specific Courses at Graduate/PhD Level.
Quantitative Analysis: Quantitative Research Design and Analysis, Fundamentals of Statistical Inference, Experimental Design and Statistical Inference, Experimental Design and Statistical Inference, Survey of Multivariate Methods.
Social Statistics: Ethnographic & Qualitative Research Methods, Qualitative Research Methods, Qualitative Research Design, Advanced Qualitative Research.
Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Methods: Measurement and Evaluation, Applied Psychometrics, Correlation and Regression Methods, Factor Analysis, Structural Equation Modelling, Analysis of Variance, Sampling, Dynamic Modeling/Longitudinal Data Analysis.
Four Disciplinary/Specialization Courses: Year 1 - 2
Four Selected Topics courses (including BUS 975 – Selected Topics) across at least two areas of Sustainability Specializations.
One Advanced Elective Course: Year 1 - 3
Three Research Seminar Courses: Year 2 - 4
BUS 976 – Seminar
Students in their second through fourth years
of studies are required to complete two units of seminar course work
each year. Students will contribute to the seminar series by inviting
guest speakers and presenting their own work.
Exam, thesis proposal and thesis requirements
Students will choose two areas in which to take their comprehensive exam. The reading list will be a subset of the reading assignments in the SFU Beedie School of Business graduate courses, special topics, and approved graduate courses in other programs or universities. Students prepare two thematically organized bibliography/reading lists. They should reflect the significant works in the areas in which the student is to be examined. They should also provide a foundation for research in these areas. The lists must be submitted to the PhD program administration and the student’s supervisory committee for approval.
BUS 993 – Thesis Proposal (Year 3)
Students will work on their dissertation proposal and defend their dissertation proposal defence.
BUS 992 – PhD Thesis (Year 4)
Students will work on their thesis and defend their thesis defence.
Apply to this Program
Have Questions?
Please contact Joanne Kim at
Phone: 778.782.6796
Email: phdbus@sfu.ca
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