Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Management Sciences

The program information below was valid for the winter 2023 term (January 1, 2023 - April 30, 2023). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

• Admit term(s) 
  • Fall
• Delivery mode 
  • On-campus
• Program type 
  • Doctoral
  • Research
• Registration option(s) 
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
• Study option(s) 
  • Thesis

• Minimum requirements 
  • A Master's degree with at least an 83% average and evidence of ability to pursue independent research.
  • Background in quantitative methods (e.g., Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability and Statistics).
  • All applicants must submit a "Statement of Purpose" - a one page statement addressing their academic background, area of research interest, proposed research studies.
• Application materials 
  • Résumé/Curriculum vitae
  • Supplementary information form
  • Transcript(s)
• References 
  • Number of references:  3
  • Type of references: 

    if the applicant has been working for several years, 1 business reference will be accepted along with 2 academic references.

• English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Thesis option:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• PhD candidates possessing a Master’s degree are required to take at least 4 courses (0.50 unit weight per course) of graduate credit. Students must successfully complete at least 2 courses (0.50 unit weight per course) from the list of core courses.
• All courses must be approved by the student's supervisor.
• Core courses:
  • MSCI 605 Organizational Behaviour
  • MSCI 607 Applied Economics for Management
  • MSCI 623 Big Data Analytics
  • MSCI 630 Human Computer Interaction
  • MSCI 631 Probabilistic Models in Operations Research
  • MSCI 634 Deterministic Models in Operations Research
  • MSCI 641 Text Analytics
• Core courses may be replaced by other advanced courses if the student can demonstrate competency based on previous studies of similar material. The decision is made by the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies after the course replacement is recommended by the supervisor. The student may be required to demonstrate competency by taking an exam. 
• All courses must be at the 600 and 700-level. Students must maintain an overall average of at least 73% at the end of each term, with no more than 2 failed courses overall.
• No more than 2 courses (0.50 unit weight per course) may be taken outside the Management Sciences Department. These courses will require the approval of the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies.
• PhD candidates without a Master’s degree are required to take at least 8 courses (0.50 unit weight per course) of graduate credit. They must successfully complete at least 2
  courses from the list of core courses.

Link(s) to courses

• Management Sciences (MSCI) courses

PhD Comprehensive Examination

• Students are required to meet the University-level PhD Comprehensive Examination minimum requirements outlined in the “Minimum requirements for the PhD degree” section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar (GSAC), with certain noted differences that are specific to the Faculty of Engineering Comprehensive Examination minimum requirements:
  • Comprehensive examination purpose: Consistent with University-level minimum requirements.
  • Timing: Students must follow the Faculty of Engineering completion timelines whereby students shall complete their comprehensive examination before the end of their 4th term or 6th term in cases where the student is admitted to the PhD program without a completed Master’s degree. 
  • Committee: Students must follow the Faculty of Engineering committee composition guidelines which differ from the University-level minimum requirements in both number of committee members and committee makeup.
  • Who Chairs an examination: Students must follow the Faculty of Engineering Chair guidelines whereby the Chair is normally selected from outside of the student’s home department.
  • Format / Content: Consistent with University-level minimum requirements but with additional information provided in the Faculty of Engineering Comprehensive Examination minimum requirements.
  • Academic integrity: Consistent with University-level minimum requirements.

• In addition to the University-level and Faculty-level PhD Comprehensive Examination minimum requirements, students in the PhD in Management Sciences program are also required to meet the following requirements:
  • Students must pass a comprehensive examination, scheduled according to the Faculty of Engineering requirements above. This examination will focus on three issues:
    • Suitability of the proposed thesis topic.
    • Adequacy of the preparation of the student for completing the proposed research.
    • Knowledge of the fundamental concepts of the management sciences.

PhD Thesis

• Students must submit and defend a thesis.