With their Ph. D. studies and in subsequent jobs, students with an MIS Ph. D. will be able to provide critical analysis of current work and conduct research projects to increase academic knowledge in the MIS area.
The greatest academic honor a school may award to its students is the Doctor of Philosophy in Management with a major in Management Information Systems.
The Ph.D. program is demanding, with the goal of training and preparing students to think critically and creatively on their own.
The Ph.D. in Management with a major in Management Information Systems (MIS) is meant to educate students for teaching and research careers in computer-based information systems design, analysis, implementation, and operation, as well as other related organizational and economic concerns.
Computers are used in organizations, and computing technologies are integrated into functional areas of a wide variety of corporate and non-profit organizations.
The Ph.D. program in management information systems begins with a strong foundation in research methods.
It builds on this by presenting a unique combination of cutting-edge technologies and ideas from Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Economics, Operations Management, Cognitive Science, and Socio-technical Networks, to mention a few.
Our world-class faculty is ready to assist students and help them through the many different paths that MIS research may take.
Students learn how to build, deploy, and evaluate information systems and technologies that are of interest to academics and industry alike via a combination of hands-on and theoretical study.
Why Should You Pursue a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems at the University of Arizona?
The University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management is known across the world for its groundbreaking research, innovative curriculum, eminent faculty, and entrepreneurial prowess.
On the UA campus in scenic Tucson, Arizona, the College is AACSB recognized and leads the nation’s business schools in earning grant monies for research. It serves over 4,500 undergraduate and 600 graduate students.
The University of Arizona is situated in Tucson, Arizona, and has a population of over one million people. This location, which is surrounded by mountains and the beautiful Sonoran Desert, has 350 days of sunlight every year.
The University of Arizona is a member of the renowned Association of American Institutions (AAU), a consortium of 62 top American universities known for the scope and quality of its research and graduate programs.
The University of Arizona includes 20 schools and offers over 160 degrees in physical and biological sciences, business and management, and social sciences from top-ranked programs.
MIS teachers are developing the next generation of knowledge and providing students with unrivaled possibilities for independent study and academic publishing via creative research.
Admissions Requirements & Eligibility
The University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management is known across the world for its groundbreaking research, innovative curriculum, eminent faculty, and entrepreneurial prowess. As such, these requirements are necessary for admission:
- GPA of 3.5 or above in undergraduate studies
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally approved institution or university is required for domestic students.
- A bachelor’s degree is equivalent to that in the United States for overseas students.
- GMAT or GRE score copies (uploaded during the online application process)
- Official GMAT or GRE results (test must have been taken within the previous five years of the proposed enrollment term). (There is no minimum score.)
- TOEFL scores on paper (uploaded during the online application process)
- Official TOEFL results (only for overseas candidates who have not completed a degree program in the United States). The exam has to be taken within two years of the anticipated enrolment period. Internet-based testing with a minimum score of 80)
- Official transcripts/academic records copies (uploaded during the online application process)
- Transcripts/academic records (formal transcripts/academic records) (official documents needed only after being admitted into the program.)
Final, certified transcript from a U.S. university indicating degree granted and conferred date
From a reputable international organization: Final, official transcripts/academic documents indicating the degree granted and/or the official degree/diploma certificate
A résumé that contains job experience, as well as dates of employment, is required (uploaded during the online application process)
Three recommendation letters (uploaded during the online application process)
Curriculum & Study Plan
A Ph.D. in MIS is technically a Ph.D. in Management with a focus in MIS. The MIS PhD program or an MIS Ph.D. is what we commonly refer to it.
The MIS Ph.D. program begins with a strong research technique basis.
Building on this, it provides a unique blend of cutting-edge technologies and techniques from a variety of disciplines, including Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Economics, Operations Management, Psychology, and Sociology, to mention a few.
Students learn how to build, deploy, and evaluate business information systems that are of interest to both academics and industry.
There includes a combination of hands-on and theoretical work. A major in MIS and a minor in a comparable area from another department are required for the MIS Ph.D.
The major course work consists of a set of foundation courses (21 units), quantitative methods (9 units), specialization (6 units) and participation in the MIS research seminar (6 units). The table below lists the major requirements including the required courses.
| REQUIREMENTS | COURSES |
| Foundation (21 units required) | MIS 531: Enterprise Database Management MIS 611A: Design Science Research Methodologies MIS 611B: Behavioral Research Methodologies MIS 611C: Economics of Information Systems MIS 611D: Topics in Data and Web Mining MIS 615: Network Science: Theory and Applications MIS 696A: Readings in MIS |
| Quantitative Methods (9 units required) | MIS 601: Statistical Foundations of Machine Learning The student should consult his/her major advisor to select two additional quantitative methods courses. |
| Specialization (6 units required) | The student should consult his/her major advisor to select two courses that contain the basic knowledge in a chosen area of specialization such as Information Technology, Information Economics, Management and Organization, Quantitative Methods and Operations Management. |
| Research Workshop (6 units required) | MIS 699: Research Workshop |
Faculty & Tutors
Premier faculty stands ready to mentor students and guide their entry into the many possible avenues of MIS scholarly pursuits.
There is a mix of hands-on and theoretical work: the students learn how to implement, deploy, and evaluate information systems and technologies that are of interest to academia and industry alike.
Meet some of their tutors;
Laura Brandimarte, Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems
Susan Brown, APS Professor of MIS, MIS Department Head
Hsinchun Chen; UA Regents’ Professor of MIS, Thomas R. Brown Chair in Management and Technology, Director, Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Director, AZSecure Cybersecurity Fellowship Program
Wei Chen, Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems
Moshe Dror, Professor Emeritus of MIS
Yong Ge, Associate Professor of Management Information Systems
Sudha Ram; Anheuser-Busch Chair in MIS, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Professor of Management Information Systems, Director of INSITE: Center for Business Intelligence and Analytics
Muhammad Taqi Raza, Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems
They have over 20 qualified tutors in our faculty, all eager to give the best of their Ph.D. education. MIS
Career Options for Ph.D. Graduates in Information Systems Management
Individuals with a Ph.D. degree in information systems management may work in one of three fields: research, teaching, or private enterprise. Each of these job alternatives is discussed in this article:
- Teaching and Research
A doctoral program in information systems management is aimed to equip students for jobs in teaching and research.
Researchers in this subject are competent to assist in the design, evaluation, and implementation of diverse information systems. They also aid in the examination of the interplay between technology, organizations, and the economy.
This degree may also qualify graduates for positions as college teachers. Professors at colleges and universities are required to do their own research and publish their findings in books and academic publications.
Although the primary role of a college professor is to educate his or her pupils, he or she must also stay up with the newest developments in the subject by:
- Participating in professional meetings
- Current articles and books to read
- Performing research
- The Private Sector
Individuals with a Ph.D. in Information Systems Management might work in the commercial sector as well.
Furthermore, some of these people may decide to create their own businesses. Individuals with a Ph.D. in this discipline may work in a variety of fields, according to colleges like Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Texas at Dallas.
- Companies that provide consulting services
- Companies in the technology sector
- Organizations in the financial sector
- Senior information managers
Most senior information managers may work in a variety of capacities, including
- Officer in charge of information
- Officer in charge of technology
- Director of information technology operations and systems development
Obviously, professionals with a Ph.D. in Information Systems Management can pursue a broad number of high-profile careers.
