Ph.D. in Management

Admission to the Ph.D. in Management program requires:

• A completed graduate application.
• A master’s degree in business or a business-related field from an institutionally accredited college or university, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended.
• An APA formatted essay summarizing career goals, motivation for completion of the program, a management issue/problem that should be addressed through applied research, and other department supplied response questions.
• Three letters of recommendation.

Applicants who do not meet every minimum requirement may be considered for provisional admission. International applicants will be required to submit additional documentation.

1. Submit a completed online application.
2. Complete and print the Official Transcript Request  form and submit it to all previously attended schools with the appropriate fee.
3. Send all additional items via mail to:

Faulkner University
Attn: Graduate Enrollment
5345 Atlanta Hwy
Montgomery, AL 36109

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Faulkner University’s Ph.D. in Management is an applied research doctorate for professionals who want to teach at the university level, lead research and analytics functions, consult, or shape organizational and public policy. Housed in the Harris College of Business & Executive Education, the program builds on the college’s Master of Science in Management with Emphasis (MSM-E) and is designed as its natural next step, while remaining open to applicants who hold a master’s degree in business from another institution.

The 60-semester-hour curriculum combines ten core management courses, three electives, three research-methods courses and four dissertation courses. Students take two courses per semester on Faulkner’s 16-week calendar and finish in ten semesters, or roughly 42 months, with three entry points each year (spring, summer and fall).

Students complete the program in a hybrid format: each semester, one course is fully online and the second includes a multi-day residency.

The completed dissertation and its oral defense serve as the program’s capstone. Throughout the program, coursework integrates faith and management, ethical decision making and moral leadership, reflecting the university’s mission to develop graduates who integrate faith, learning and service.

Faulkner University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); the Ph.D. in Management was approved and included in the university’s scope of accreditation in August 2026.

Students complete two courses each semester for a total of 60 semester hours. Core and elective courses are taken as they are offered and need not be completed in a set order; the research methods and dissertation courses are taken in sequence. Full course descriptions (PDF) are available for every course in the program.

Core Management (30 hours)

• MN 7310 Leadership for Organizational Transformation
• MN 7330 Human Resource Management
• MN 7350 Organizational Behavior
• MN 8310 Ethical Decision Making and Moral Leadership
• IS 7310 Information Technology Management
• MKT 7310 Strategic Marketing Management
• MN 8320 International and Cross-Cultural Management
• MN 8330 Integration of Faith and Management
• ACF 7310 Financial Management
• MN 8380 Strategic Management

Electives (9 hours)

Students select three courses from the following. Offerings vary by semester based on enrollment and faculty availability.

• IS 7320 Artificial Intelligence in Organizations
• IS 7340 Managing Disruptive Technologies
• IS 7330 Information Security Management
• IS 7331 Telecommunications & Network Security
• BAN 7310 Analytics for Organizational Decision Making
• BAN 7320 Predictive Analytics
• MKT 7320 Supply Chain Management
• MN 7360 Operations Management
• MN 7340 Project Management
• MN 7370 Risk Management
• MN 7320 Entrepreneurship

Research Methods (9 hours) — taken in sequence

• RM 9310 Research Methods I
• RM 9320 Research Methods II
• RM 9330 Research Methods III

Dissertation (12 hours) — taken in sequence

• DR 9310 Dissertation Research I
• DR 9320 Dissertation Research II
• DR 9330 Dissertation Research III
• DR 9340 Dissertation Research IV (dissertation and oral defense)

• A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
• Successful completion and defense of the doctoral dissertation.
• No more than one grade of “C” and no grade of “D” or “F” in the program of study.
• No holds on any financial account. 

The Ph.D. in Management follows Faulkner’s traditional 16-week semester calendar. Students may enter in spring, summer or fall and begin with the courses being offered that semester.

First cohort: Spring 2027 — classes begin January 11, 2027.

For drop, refund and graduation deadlines, see Faulkner’s Academic Calendars.

Is the Ph.D. in Management offered online?
Yes, but a residency is required for one course each semester.

How long does the program take?
Ten 16-week semesters — about 42 months — taking two courses per semester.

When can I start?
The first cohort begins January 11, 2027. The program has three entry points each year, and admissions are rolling.

Do I need a business master’s degree?
Yes. A master’s degree in business or a business-related field with a 3.0 GPA from an accredited institution is required. Faulkner MSM-E graduates are a natural fit.

Is the GMAT or GRE required?
No. Neither the GMAT nor the GRE is required for admission.

Is a dissertation required?
Yes. An applied dissertation is developed across four courses and culminates with an oral defense.

What careers does the degree prepare me for?
University faculty, researchers, consultants, organizational leaders and policy influencers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9% growth for management analysts from 2024 to 2034.