Doctoral Program
Academic rigor, real-world relevance
When you study at the undergraduate level, you are introduced to a field and gradually become aware of its unexpected nuances and complexities. At the doctoral level, you acquire an intellectual framework that allows you to embrace and accommodate that complexity as you strive to make sense of the world. As you progress, your novel insights help others make sense of the world as well. When that occurs, you are contributing to knowledge. Doctoral study is rigorous and immersive — but it is rewarding.
In the Kellogg Ph.D. program, you will master an academic discipline — economics, psychology, sociology, operations research, or data science — and apply that mastery to real-world problems facing managers and policymakers. This discipline-based approach prepares you to challenge conventional wisdom with new ideas, models, and empirical findings that have an enduring impact on businesses, organizations, and communities. After leaving Kellogg, you can look forward to a career leading and inspiring others through teaching and research.
The Kellogg difference
We asked our Ph.D. Faculty Director, Dr. David Dranove, what makes for a successful doctoral student, Professor Dranove's response: The formula is simple.
Quality of Ph.D. Graduate = Quality of Ph.D. applicant x Educational Process
Make no mistake: you are the most important input. All leading Ph.D. programs seek talented applicants who combine raw intellectual potential, motivation, curiosity and creativity. You will bring those talents with you wherever you go.
What makes Kellogg distinctive is what we do to complement and magnify your talents. Through our dedicated faculty, a rich and innovative curriculum, vast research resources, and a unique collaborative environment, we strive to provide the very best educational process, helping you make the most of your potential.
Study with the world’s foremost thinkers and educators
Kellogg’s distinguished faculty includes trailblazing scholars whose research has redefined the study of management and has set a standard for new ideas and innovation.
Currently, there are 143 tenure-track, research-based faculty, of whom 76 hold endowed chairs. The faculty’s commitment to scholarly inquiry is evidenced by the school’s many research centers, as well as by sustained scholarly output. Their work is published in peer-reviewed journals, and many Kellogg professors serve in editorial positions at leading research journals.
The Kellogg faculty is deeply committed to Ph.D. education. Within the past five years, over 60 different faculty have served on at least three Ph.D. dissertation committees, and a phenomenal 26 faculty have chaired at least two committees.
Discover a collaborative, supportive research environment
Kellogg faculty carefully balance their dedication to research with their commitment to teaching and mentoring Ph.D. students, recognizing that both activities contribute to the quality of the education our students receive.
The richness of the curriculum within this collegial environment encourages close working relationships between students and faculty across disciplines. We believe that this approach helps magnify our students' insights and perspectives as they are exposed to new ideas, possible thesis topics, and avenues of research.
Collaboration does not stop at the walls of academia. As a world-class business school, Kellogg also offers tremendous opportunities to connect to real businesses, government organizations, and NGOs, which can translate into ideas and data for research. And Kellogg will provide you with the resources you need for data acquisition, technical support, research labs, and field study so that you can turn your research ideas into reality.