The PhD program structure is designed to maximize the emphasis on research. This means that as students approach the end of their second year they will be focusing as much on conducting research and writing papers, as on studying for written prelims. It is important to note that this document presents the minimum requirements. We encourage students to take additional methods courses to help them better prepare for doing research. Download a copy of the MIS PhD Program Structure 
(PDF | 18 KB).
MIS 9700 Intro Research Course
A survey of the MIS research literature. Students gain an understanding of the current frontiers of knowledge in a variety of MIS research topic areas. The course explores applicable research theories and frameworks, research concepts, and exemplary MIS research. Students develop the ability to critically evaluate MIS journal articles and are exposed to a diversity of topics, research methodologies, and journals.
MIS 9710 Theories in MIS Research Seminar
A continuation of the survey of MIS research literature started in previous courses with a particular focus on the role of theory in MIS research. A collection of diverse theoretical perspectives from several reference disciplines are studied, along with MIS research which has built upon each of those perspectives.
MIS 8990 Seminar (1 hour) x 4
Taken each semester for the first two years; attendance expected during entire program. A 1 hour pass/fail course designed to cover current topics in MIS practice and research. Seminars will be 1 hour each week. Faculty give one hour presentations on a rotating basis. These could include research in progress, completed research, current topics in industry, current statistical methods, visiting faculty presentations, teaching techniques, etc.
Two Elective MIS Courses
It is expected that students will have an understanding of technology (e.g., programming, database), systems analysis and design, and managerial and organizational aspects of MIS, either from prior course work, work experience, or by taking or teaching courses at UGA.
It is expected that all students will have completed a business statistics course before entering the PhD program. The course should have covered introductory statistics topics such as means, standard deviations, t-tests, F-tests, etc. If students have not had this course, we will send out material for them to learn.
We recommend that students take the Marketing department statistics sequence and MGMT 9010, but would permit students to take other courses in their place. We encourage students to take additional methods courses beyond the four required.
MARK 8240 Applied Models
ANOVA and Regression
MARK 9650 Multivariate
Multivariate techniques
MGMT 9010 Research Methodology
Introduction to the scientific method, research methods, measurement, and proposal development.
Methods course
A course from anywhere on campus that covers lab, survey, or qualitative/field research, or an additional statistics course. We recommend the following courses:
Students choice (in consultation with advisor)
Every student must have submitted a research paper approved by a professor to a journal or conference (minimum 15 pages) before he or she can take oral exams. Written prelims may be taken before the paper is submitted. The paper may not be co-authored with any other students (faculty co-authorships are encouraged). Note that the Department cannot guarantee funding to attend conferences, but will attempt to provide some support. Students will use the following courses to work on the paper.
GRSC 7777
A two-hour course required by the grad school for students with no prior teaching experience.
One-on-One Mentoring
Faculty will provide mentoring when students first start to teach. The lead professor for a course will work together with the student to develop his or her teaching skills for the course. Ideally, the student will have taken the graduate version of the course prior to teaching the undergraduate version. Also ideally, the lead professor will also be teaching an undergraduate version of the course so that the student can sit-in on the professor's course the day before the student is to teach the same material.
Written exam
The current form of the written exam is a one day (six hours) written exam, followed by a take-home article critique. The one day exam is composed of three questions on:
Students are also required to write a research proposal for a specific research question.
Oral exam
The oral exam may follow up on issues contained in the written exam, it may focus on the student's research to date, or any other topics the faculty feels are appropriate to judge the student's readiness to embark on a dissertation. The paper submission and written exam must be complete before the oral exam is taken but the paper does not need to precede the written exam or vice versa.
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