Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I apply?
- How are admission decisions made?
- What is the application deadline?
- Do you offer part-time or distance-education programs?
- Is a master's degree required for admission to a PhD program?
- Is the GRE or GMAT required?
- How long does it take to complete a PhD degree?
- Is work experience required?
- Are interviews required?
- How large is the doctoral program?
- Are PhD students required to teach courses?
1. How do I apply?
Application materials are available at graduate.ua.edu/application/index.html.
2. How are admission decisions made?
Completed application materials are reviewed by the PhD admissions committees in each program. Decisions are based on candidate qualifications, the consistency of student interets with those of faculty, and available resources.
3. What is the application deadline?
The deadline to submit the completed application and all supporting documents to the Graduate School is February 15 for the following year. Candidates are generally notified of admission decisions once the decisions are made.
4. Do you offer part-time or distance-education programs?
No. All PhD programs are full-time, residential programs.
5. Is a master's degree required for admission to a PhD program?
Some PhD programs expect master’s degrees or prior graduate-level work. See requirements for individual programs. All candidates are required to have completed undergraduate degrees.
6. Is the GRE or GMAT required?
Candidates must provide valid scores for either the GRE or GMAT.
7. How long does it take to complete a PhD degree?
Most students require four or five years of full-time studies. The length varies depending on the background and interests of the student. Unlike bachelors’ and masters’ programs, PhD program requirements do not depend solely on taking a certain number of courses. Course requirements depend on student interests and backgrounds. The time required to complete a dissertation varies as well.
8. Is work experience required?
Prior work experience is not required for admission; however, meaningful experience in business and an appreciation for the business environment are useful for most PhD programs.
9. Are interviews required?
In most cases, yes. On-campus interviews are encouraged whenever possible. Phone interviews are substituted when campus interviews are not feasible.
10. How large is the doctoral program?
Most programs have 8-12 students enrolled in a particular year. On average, two to three students are admitted in a program each year.
11. Are PhD students required to teach courses?
Most students are expected to do some teaching while enrolled in the PhD program. The timing and extent of teaching depends on the students’ backgrounds and the teaching needs of the department.