The Operations Management PhD program is a research-intensive program designed to train future academics by providing rigorous training and opportunities in research, teaching, and service.
Successful applicants will develop the competency to conduct and publish doctoral-level research through a series of courses and seminars that complement and supplement each student’s background and goals.
The OM faculty supports students interested in analytical, computational, model-based, and behavioral research in various areas, including healthcare decision-making, sustainability, emerging technologies in production and transportation, supply chain design and risk management, humanitarian logistics, and sports analytics.
Students admitted to the program must complete 36 coursework hours and 24 dissertation hours to fulfill graduation requirements. In addition to curriculum hours, students must pass a two-stage qualifying exam.
Information on courses for the program can be found in the UA course catalog.
The doctoral program generally admits two to four applicants each year, depending on the availability of financial support and the overall current enrollment. This policy ensures that each doctoral student will have adequate support from the faculty. Applicants are admitted in the fall semester, with occasional exceptions. Applications are accepted and evaluated year-round for program fit and financial support. Review of applications for admission begin December 1, applicants should submit all of their application materials by January 9 for full consideration for admission with funding.
Doctoral applicants typically have a master’s degree and solid quantitative analytical skills. Applicants who do not possess a master’s degree, but are interested in the doctoral program, may also apply to the doctoral program to be evaluated for program fit. In some cases, an applicant may first be admitted to the OM master’s program as a precursor to doctoral studies.
Applicants should submit either a GMAT (minimum 600) or GRE (minimum 312) test score. In addition, an applicant should have a GPA of at least 3.00 in all previous relevant degree programs. International applicants may be required to submit the results of an English proficiency test. For regular admission this can be a TOEFL of at least 79, an IELTS of at least 6.5, or a Pearson Test of English (PTE) of at least 59.
Applicants should apply to the doctoral program through The University of Alabama Graduate School application website (https://slate.ua.edu/apply/). In addition to test scores, applicants should submit their academic transcripts, a statement of purpose, and three letters of recommendation. Be sure the people writing your letters includes the program for which you are applying and your full legal name.
The Written Qualifying Exam (WQE) measures the student’s competency to review, analyze, and propose solutions to questions typically drawn from the coursework in the first year. WQE is typically offered in May of each year.
The Research Qualifying Exam (RQE) measures the student’s ability to review, analyze, and conduct doctoral-level research and culminates with a research presentation by the student. Students typically take the RQE in the Spring semester of their second year.
The OM PhD program includes a First-Year Research Experience program to immerse students in research as early as in their first year. Students may continue to work on the same topic and/or with the same advisor(s) or change based on their experience.
During their third year, students should define their dissertation. Students are expected to have identified a primary advisor by the start of their third year, if not earlier.
Writing a dissertation is the final test of research skill. It requires an understanding of relevant literature and methodology, and the ability to think independently. PhD candidates must find an original topic, plan a test of hypotheses, and write and defend at a final oral examination a document acceptable to the dissertation committee and to the Graduate School.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering & Computer Science – Double Major: Antalya International University
What did you enjoy most about the Alabama Ph.D. experience?
A friendly environment within and outside of the university.
How has the Alabama Ph.D. experience prepared you for your current work?
I was ready on day one. I knew what to expect and how to move forward.
Did the ISM Department and your cohort meet or exceed your expectations?
In my third year (at a doctoral colloquial), I realized that the ISM Department prepares its students way better for the job market. In a way, something that I used to receive exceeds expectations for many.
Do you have any advice for individuals looking to pursue a Ph.D. in Operations Management?
Learn how to program well at least in one programming language.
What did you enjoy most about the Alabama Ph.D. experience?
The instructors were helpful and encouraging. I also enjoyed working with other students and getting to know them.
How has the Alabama Ph.D. experience prepared you for your current work?
I currently teach courses in Operations Management and Statistics.
Do you have any advice for individuals looking to pursue a Ph.D. in Operations Management?
When working on your dissertation, work on it every single day.
What did you enjoy most about the Alabama Ph.D. experience?
The family atmosphere while having a solid academic experience.
How has the Alabama Ph.D. experience prepared you for your current work?
The support of the faculty is unique in this program and their insights into professional life are tremendously useful for life after the Ph.D.
Do you have any advice for individuals looking to pursue a Ph.D. in Operations Management?
If you do not live a proper/balanced life, you will not be able to go far in a Ph.D. program and afterward.
What did you enjoy most about the Alabama Ph.D. experience?
The mentorship of faculty.
How has the Alabama Ph.D. experience prepared you for your current work?
It gave me a solid set of tools, thereby allowing me to establish, and refine my research agenda.
Did the ISM Department and your cohort meet or exceed your expectations?
There are many things I took for granted in the program. Looking back, the Department exceeded my expectations.
Do you have any advice for individuals looking to pursue a Ph.D. in Operations Management?
Exploit the resources that you have at your disposal, and begin reading journal articles early. If your undergraduate institution/country doesn’t have the tradition of continuous assessment or lots of graduate coursework, understand that the system in the US is different.
What did you enjoy most about the Alabama Ph.D. experience?
The faculty were very collegial, which made for a good environment, and they provided good support and examples for the students. I also enjoyed getting to know my student peers, many of who I continue to interact with.
How has the Alabama Ph.D. experience prepared you for your current work?
After working for three years at the University of Houston, I was fortunate enough to return to UA and my hometown. So, in my case, the Ph.D. experience essentially served as a preview for my current role.
Did the ISM Department and your cohort meet or exceed your expectations?
I would say that the department exceeded my expectations. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I came back. : )
Do you have any advice for individuals looking to pursue a Ph.D. in Operations Management?
My advice would be to pursue opportunities to gain practical experience in operations and network with practitioners. A major determinant of your success in a Ph.D. program, and in academia, is your ability to identify relevant business problems and methods or insights regarding how such problems can be addressed. Practical experience and connections with practitioners can make the process of problem identification much easier.
What did you enjoy most about the Alabama Ph.D. experience?
I enjoyed the discussions with my advisor and peer colleagues.
Did the ISM Department and your cohort meet or exceed your expectations?
Definitely exceed!
What did you enjoy most about the Alabama Ph.D. experience?
The opportunities to get to know and interact with the faculty.
How has the Alabama Ph.D. experience prepared you for your current work?
The teaching experience (in particular) was invaluable.
Do you have any advice for individuals looking to pursue a Ph.D. in Operations Management?
Be clear about your career objectives (Teaching-focused? Research-focused? Industry-focused?) and find a program that matches your objectives as best you can.
What did you enjoy most about the Alabama Ph.D. experience?
The support through my professors, the combination of research and industry project.
How has the Alabama Ph.D. experience prepared you for your current work?
It helped me to approach business processes in a methodological way, with deep operations knowledge.
Do you have any advice for individuals looking to pursue a Ph.D. in Operations Management?
Good analytical skills are required as well as the desire to work hard.
What did you enjoy most about the Alabama Ph.D. experience?
I enjoyed being in a smaller doctoral program with caring faculty. In my doctoral program, I was taught by true scholars; Professor Schmidt and Professor Mittenthal, who were personally vested in my success as a doctoral student. Another key element of the doctoral program that was very useful was the flexibility that allowed me to take graduate courses in other Colleges and learn about qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. The travel support helped me attend seminars and workshops at other Universities that helped with networking.
What did you enjoy most about the Alabama Ph.D. experience?
I enjoyed being able to attend academic conferences as a Ph.D. student almost every year!
How has the Alabama Ph.D. experience prepared you for your current work?
During my Ph.D. studies, I learned how to conduct systematic research, something I still do as an assistant professor. I had the opportunity to teach as a graduate instructor and gained experience on how to handle a classroom on my own. Additionally, I was involved in the UA INFORMS Student Chapter’s activities, most recently as the president of the chapter, and had a chance to expand my network through the events we organized.
Did the ISM Department and your cohort meet or exceed your expectations?
Yes. I very much appreciate the collegiality and cohesiveness in the department.
Do you have any advice for individuals looking to pursue a Ph.D. in Operations Management?
Pursuing a Ph.D. is absolutely not an easy ride; choose your advisor and the projects you want to get involved in very carefully.
What did you enjoy most about the Alabama Ph.D. experience?
The opportunity to work with organizations to improve their processes.
How has the Alabama Ph.D. experience prepared you for your current work?
It provided me with the foundation to take real-life problems from one organization into publishable solutions for many.
Did the ISM Department and your cohort meet or exceed your expectations?
Overall the program met my expectations but there are some areas (like support for students to be successful) where it exceeded my expectations.
Do you have any advice for individuals looking to pursue a Ph.D. in Operations Management?
Start on research early and find out if academia is for you.
Are you ready to gain the Manderson Advantage?
2021:
Mehran Azimi: Tenure Track professor at The University of Massachusetts, Boston
Sott Luo: University of Oklahoma
Emma Xu: Tenure Track professor at the College of Charleston
Lukal Yang: Tenure Track professor at Texas A&M International
2020:
Anqi Jiao: Tenure Track Professor at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics
Haoyi Yang: Tenure Track Professor at Nanjing University
Wenqiao Zhang: Tenure Track Professor at JiaoTong University
2018:
Michael Young: Post-Doctoral Student at The University of Missouri
2017:
Collin Gilstrap: University of Toledo
Daewoung (Joey) Chol: LSU-Shreveport
Joseph Stover: Trinity University
Weiwel Zhang: Visiting Assistant Professor at Madison University
Mi Shen: Central University of Finance & Economics
2016:
Xinyan Yan: Assistant Professor of Finance at University of Dayton
2015:
Binay Adhikari: Assistant Professor of Finance at Robert
C. Vackar: College of Business and Entrepreneurship at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Randy Beavers: Associate Professor of Finance at Seattle Pacific University
S. Brad Daughdrill: Director of Data Science at USAA
Jackson Mills: Assistant Professor of Finance at St. Joseph’s University
Anna Cai: University of West Alabama
2014:
James Malm: Associate Professor at College of Charleston
Eli Sherrill: Associate Professor at Illinois State University
Kate Upton: Associate Professor of Finance and Director of the Reed Finance Center at Elon University
M. Tony Via: Assistant Professor at Kent State University
2013:
Steven Stelk: Assistant Teaching Professor at University of Southern Mississippi
Rusty Yerkes: Associate Professor of Finance/Medical Properties Trust Faculty Fellow at Samford University, Brock School of Business
2009:
Heng An: Associate Professor at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Jin Q Jeon: Professor of Finance at Dongguk University, Seoul, Korea
2008:
Xudong Fu: Associate Professor at University of Louisville
Kimberly Goodwin: Full Professor and Director of the School of Finance and Parham Bridges Chair of Real Estate at University of Southern Mississippi
2007:
Qin Lian: Cameron Professor of Finance at Portland State University
Hao-Chen Liu: Associate Professor at College of Charleston
2006:
John C. Wiley: Director MSRE Program, Bowers Professor of Real Estate at Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University
2005:
Brandon Cline: Director of the Institute for Market Studies, John “Nutie” and Edie Dowdle Professor of Finance at Mississippi State University
Travis Jones: Professor of Finance at Florida Gulf Coast University
2002:
Sara H Robicheaux: Dean of Business Programs/ B.A. Monaghan Professor of Business at Birmingham-Southern College
2001:
Ken H Johnson: Associate Dean of Graduate Programs at Florida Atlantic University College of Business
Sean Salter: Assistant Dean for Assessment/Associate Professor of Finance/Dale Carnegie Trainer at Middle Tennessee State University — Jones College of Business
1997:
John M Clark: Chair, Department of Finance at University of Missouri Kansas City
1996:
Pankaj Agrrawal: Professor of Finance at University of Maine
1995:
H. Shelton Weeks: Chair, Department of Economics & Finance at Florida Gulf Coast University
1994:
Doug Waggle: Professor of Finance at University of West Florida
1993:
D. K. Malhotra: Professor of Finance at Thomas Jefferson University
1992:
John Burnett: former professor of finance at The University of Alabama in Huntsville
1991:
Maneesh Sharma: Dean, College of Business at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
1990:
Kam C. (Johnny) Chan: Leon Page Endowed Chair of Finance at Western Kentucky University
1989:
K. Victor Chow: Professor of Finance at West Virginia University
Kartono Liano: Professor of Finance at Mississippi State University
Ming-Shiun Pan: Professor of Finance at Shippensburg University
1979:
Hassan Tehranian: Professor and Griffith Family Millennium Chair in Finance at Boston College, Carroll School of Management
