The PhD Program in Business Administration at the University of Washington is primarily designed for those who wish to pursue an academic career. Our program provides you with the tools to conduct top quality research in your area of specialization. The first two years of the program are coursework-based in which students take courses not only in their area of specialization but also in the basic fields (e.g., economics, statistics, psychology, etc.) underlying their discipline. Starting in the first year, students work with faculty as research assistants, observing close-up the excitement and difficulty of conducting top quality academic research.

The University of Washington Michael G. Foster School of Business offers several features that make it an excellent place for you to obtain your doctoral degree. First, we have an outstanding faculty. In addition to ranking highly among their national and international peers in research, our faculty are editors of prestigious journals and authors of influential articles. Their scholarly pursuits are often at the forefront of their fields, and they have won awards, honors, and fellowships that go along with outstanding performance.

Second, the program’s moderately small size – approximately 80 students in residence with 6 to 15 students in each of the 7 fields of specialization – allows close contact between faculty and students. Faculty teach in PhD seminars, supervise research assistants, mentor theses, and conduct joint research with students. They enjoy the challenge presented by PhD students to keep abreast of the latest developments in their fields. For students, co-authored work is not only a valuable learning experience but also an important addition to their curriculum vitae.

A third factor that students often mention is the high caliber of their fellow PhD candidates and how much they learn from one another. We encourage a supportive learning environment here, fostering cooperation rather than competition among our students. And we provide financial aid year-round for at least four years, so that students can devote all of their attention to their studies.

Finally, the UW campus is among the most beautiful campuses in the U.S. and the School of Business is in the process of building a new facility for students and faculty. Seattle and the Pacific Northwest offer abundant opportunities for recreational activities that will not exhaust the budget of a PhD student. The climate is mild and reasonably moist with plenty of opportunities to ski, hike, bike, canoe, mountain climb, and enjoy a myriad of other outdoor activities. Seattle on a spring, summer, fall (and even a sunny winter) day is simply magnificent.

I urge you to seriously consider applying to the University of Washington, Michael G. Foster School of Business Doctoral Program. If you have any questions after visiting our website, please do not hesitate to call or email the PhD Program office (numbers and addresses are on the contact information). I look forward to sharing with you the excitement of the pursuit of knowledge.

Terence Mitchell
Director of PhD Program and
E.E. Carlson Distinguished Professor in Business Administration