Directed Study
The second part of the student's program, after passing the preliminary exam, is directed toward completion of the oral qualifying examination and advancement to candidacy. Intellectual support during the directed study phase is provided by the field research seminars and one or more individual study courses (PHDBA 602) designed to prepare students to take the oral qualifying examination. The final product is a draft of a dissertation proposal emphasizing the methodological aspects of that proposal.

The field research seminars provide doctoral students with an opportunity to read and hear papers and to develop critical faculties within their research areas.

During the directed study phase, each student finds a faculty member to work with in a directed study course. This faculty member is likely to chair the student's dissertation committee. The faculty member assigns and discusses readings that will help the student search for a research topic, develop a research proposal, and prepare for the qualifying examination, an oral examination held during the third year of study.

In the oral qualifying examination, the student is examined by four members of the faculty, one of whom is from a department outside the business school. Upon passing the oral examination, the student formally advances to the special status of doctoral candidacy.