Ph.D. in Business
Specialization in Marketing
Are you considering an academic career in marketing? Join our stimulating and supportive environment where you will grow as a serious scholar and contribute to knowledge in the field of marketing. If accepted, you’ll receive a competitive stipend, tuition remission and access to basic coverage under the university’s student health insurance plan.
August Start
Application is open September 1 - February 1
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Admission Requirements
Review Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements
Deadlines
All application materials must be received by January 15. We admit a handful of new students each year. We do not admit Ph.D. candidates to start course week at mid-academic year (January).
Since the university’s Office of Graduate Studies has to verify and approve all application materials before forwarding to us, it’s important to apply as early as possible. We take a great deal of care in reviewing applications to identify those who are a good match and who we believe have the potential to make meaningful contributions to knowledge and the discipline of marketing. When your file is complete in all respects, it will be circulated to our faculty for a decision. Applicants for whom the faculty shows substantial interest are invited to spend a day with us on campus, if possible. Final decisions are normally made by April 15.
Admission Requirements
- A master’s degree in business or a related field from an accredited university.
- Academic transcripts showcasing excellent grades. Transcript instructions for both domestic and international students can be found in the “Review Admission Process” tab above.
- GMAT score of at least 650.
- Professional résumé.
- Statement of purpose.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- TOEFL score (only for international students; minimum of 550 paper, 213 computer-based or 80 iBT)
Though we have made exceptions for exceptional students with GMAT scores below 650, we do not waive the GMAT exam requirement. You will need to include statement of purpose discussing your area of interest in marketing, why you want to earn a Ph.D. and what you hope to accomplish with it. It should be submitted through the graduate application.
Tips on applying to Ph.D. programs.
GMAT – Graduate Management Admission Test
- You must register to take the GMAT (preferred) or GRE and have the results forwarded to Nebraska (use institution code S40-HW-48). You must also submit your scores through the graduate application.
- We will consider GRE scores, but GMAT scores are strongly preferred. Your GRE score must be convertible to a minimum 650 GMAT equivalent.
TOEFL - Test of Spoken English
- International students must include a TOEFL score (use institution code 6877).
- You will need a minimum score of 550 paper, 213 computer-based or 80 iBT.
Finance Resource Certification Form
Any applicant who is recommended for admission and expects to hold an F1 (student) or J1 (exchange visitor) visa should submit the Financial Resource Certification (FRC) form.
Note to International Students
We recommend starting your application process at least one year prior to the date you would like to be admitted. You must also be aware of the additional requirements that you need to meet in order to be admitted to the College of Business. The International Student and Scholar Office provides orientation, counseling and advising, and serves as the official liaison between your sponsoring agency and the United States government. Staff members are also available to help you make contacts on campus and in the Lincoln community.
Admission Process
Review Admission Process
Admissions Process
Apply
Apply online and submit the $50 application fee.
Upload Supporting Documents
All Supporting Documents including unofficial transcripts and test scores are uploaded directly via the graduate application.
You are required to submit an unofficial transcript from each post-secondary institution you have attended during the application review process.
Submit Official Transcripts
If you are admitted, you will be required to submit an official transcript sent directly from each institution you have attended to The Office of Graduate Studies. We recommend that you complete this task before your admitted term begins. A hold will be placed on your account if they do not receive your official transcripts by October 1 for the fall term, February 1 for the spring term and July 1 for the summer term. Students will have until that day to submit official transcripts or your admission will be rescinded.
Transcripts can be sent electronically to graduate@unl.edu or by mail to
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Graduate Admissions
1100 Seaton Hall
Lincoln, NE 68588-0619
International Student Transcript Submission
If you are an international student, please refer to the Nebraska Office of Graduate Studies for transcript and document information.
International Transcript Information
Additional information on Application Requirements can be found at Graduate Studies website.
Customized Attention
At Nebraska, you’ll benefit from a program tailored to meet your needs, objectives and prior coursework. By working closely with faculty and fellow students, you’ll gain valuable research and teaching skills and cultivate a network of mentors dedicated to your success. With scholarly events held throughout the year, such as the Mittelstaedt & Gentry Doctoral Symposium, you’ll have numerous opportunities to discuss research and interact outside of the office.
Current Students Faculty Staff Emeritus Mittelstaedt & Gentry Doctoral Symposium
Program Requirements
We require students to have earned a master’s degree or completed at least 36 hours of graduate coursework before starting the Ph.D. program. The master’s degree or graduate coursework can be in any area relevant to the student’s research interests in the program.
The University of Nebraska requires at least 90 credit hours of graduate classes to complete the Ph.D. degree. Between 30-36 of these credit hours can be transferred from the master’s degree or prior graduate-level coursework. The remaining hours are comprised of seminars in marketing, methodology and other courses that provide the tools necessary to do research, courses in an external minor area and dissertation hours. The program typically takes four years to complete, with two to two-and-a-half years of coursework and the remainder devoted to dissertation research and writing.
As a student in our program, you will have the opportunity to take several doctoral seminars offered by our department, such as Behavioral Research in Marketing, Marketing Channels, Marketing Management, Marketing Models and Sales Management. You will also take coursework from other departments and colleges in the university, including several research methods courses (e.g., research design, causal modeling, field research, etc.) to provide you the necessary tools to do research. Additionally, you will choose an outside area relevant to your interests (e.g., psychology, economics, sociology, etc.) and complete at least four courses in the chosen field. If your master’s level background in business and marketing is not strong, some additional coursework may be necessary.
We assign all students as graduate assistants to our faculty members. Through this assistantship, you will learn how to do research. You will also work closely with faculty members to develop first-year and second-year papers, which are expected to culminate in submission to scholarly journals. Upon successfully completing the coursework, the papers and the comprehensive exam requirements, you will be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. and begin working on the dissertation.
In addition to becoming researchers, we also train our students to be good teachers. Over the duration of the program, we will give you the opportunity to teach a class during four academic semesters. We will also try and provide additional opportunities for teaching in the summer, depending on funding availability.
Academic Support
Our highly-accomplished faculty members have published in nationally and internationally prominent journals. They take a great deal of personal interest in each student and give high priority to their advisory role, treating our students as junior colleagues in every way.
Advising
From the start, you’ll be assigned a first-year advisor to guide you through coursework and academic life. A senior Ph.D. student will also serve as a mentor as you settle into the program. By the end of your first year, you will choose a program committee to advise on coursework. After you’re admitted to Candidacy, you’ll assemble a dissertation committee to help advise on dissertation research and writing.
Support
We work diligently to provide you with the resources useful to a graduate education. At present, you’ll receive a personal computer at your desk with office software and access to the university servers, offering statistical packages, library access and email. We encourage you to submit articles co-authored with faculty to journals and academic conferences. A portion of the costs for conference travel are covered by our department.
Equally important is a scholarly environment. We hold “Brown Bag Seminars” several times each semester, where we discuss interesting articles in our field. Faculty and students present research at Friday afternoon research seminars several times during the semester as well. Throughout the academic year, we host our “Visiting Scholars Series,” inviting wellknown scholars in the field of marketing to visit and present current research. In the spring, our department sponsors the Mittelstaedt & Gentry Doctoral Symposium, attracting doctoral candidates and faculty from the Big Ten and research universities west of the Mississippi River. Finally, we host informal gatherings and parties throughout the year, providing opportunities to interact outside of the office.
Benefits
All students accepted into our program receive a four-year graduate assistantship (contingent upon continued progress). The assistantship is composed of a $30,000 stipend, tuition remission covering up to 12 credit hours for each academic semester and 12 hours for the entire summer, health insurance, travel support, and teaching and research opportunities. However, registration fees are not waived. The work requirement involves 20 hours per week, and no other outside employment is allowed during the assistantship commitment. In addition, we try to provide additional opportunities for teaching in the summer, depending on funding availability.
Health Insurance
All graduate assistants with appointments qualifying for full tuition remission receive an additional benefit of basic coverage under the university’s student health insurance plan. Dependent plans are available on an optional basis. Students and the university will share in the cost of the premium, with approximately 79 percent covered by the university. As an international student, you are required to have student health insurance coverage, unless proof of insurance from an outside source is provided.
For more information, visit the Student Health Insurance page.
Ph.D. Program Plan
Year One
- Take foundational and research tool courses.
- Work as a research assistant (with two professors). During your research assistantship, you’ll gain exposure to the research process and develop mentoring relationships with faculty.
- Summer of year one:
* Continue working on in-process research projects
* Complete first-year research paper
Objective: By the end of year one, you should be acclimated to the research environment and have a basic understanding of marketing theories and research methodologies. This is the time to start thinking about areas of specialization as you begin to identify the areas you like or do not like.
Year Two
- Complete foundational, elective and research tool courses.
- Continue working as a research assistant (with one or two professors).
- Summer of year two:
* Complete a second year/comprehensive exam paper
Objective: By the end of year two, you’ll gain competence as a researcher and acquire a deeper understanding of marketing theories and research methodologies. At this point, you should choose a general area of specialization.
Year Three
- Form a dissertation committee and begin developing your dissertation proposal.
- Continue as a research/teaching assistant.
- Defends dissertation proposal in the spring.
- Summer of year three:
* Prepare your job search materials.
* Start your job search.
Objective: By the end of year three, you’ll defend your dissertation proposal and begin to establish a research program. With your teaching and research experience, you’ll be ready for the job market.
Year Four
- Collect and analyze dissertation data in the fall.
- Interviews for jobs in fall.
- Defends dissertation for spring or summer graduation.
Objective: By the end of year four, you’ll complete your dissertation and accept a position as an assistant professor where you’ll gain more teaching experience. You’ll have a solid pipeline of papers to take into your first job as a tenure-track faculty.
Year Five (Optional)
- Complete dissertation.
- Interview for jobs.
- Further develop research program.
This option will be offered only with faculty approval.
Why Nebraska?
Home to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the city of Lincoln consistently ranks among the best U.S. cities for livability thanks to a low cost of living, great schools and friendly, community-minded residents. Set amidst a big sky and open landscape, the city is simple to navigate with a reliable public transit system, a wide range of housing choices, and a low crime rate. As one of the fastest growing metro areas in the Midwest, Lincoln boasts an expanding technology sector, more parkland per capita than all but a few U.S. cities, an extensive bike trail network and numerous options for recreational and personal interest activities. It’s easy to feel at home here.
