There are many paths, but we are one HBS. Our PhD students draw on diverse personal
and professional backgrounds to pursue an ever-expanding range of research topics.
Explore more here about each program’s requirements & curriculum, read student profiles for each discipline as well as student research, and placement information.
The PhD in Business Administration grounds students in the disciplinary theories and research methods that form the
foundation of an academic career. Jointly administered by HBS and GSAS, the program
has five areas of study: Accounting and Management, Management, Marketing, Strategy, and Technology and Operations Management. All areas of study involve roughly two years of coursework culminating in a field
exam. The remaining years of the program are spent conducting independent research,
working on co-authored publications, and writing the dissertation. Students join these
programs from a wide range of backgrounds, from consulting to engineering. Many applicants
possess liberal arts degrees, as there is not a requirement to possess a business
degree before joining the program
The PhD in Business Economics provides students the opportunity to study in both Harvard’s world-class Economics
Department and Harvard Business School. Throughout the program, coursework includes
exploration of microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, probability and statistics,
and econometrics. While some students join the Business Economics program directly
from undergraduate or masters programs, others have worked in economic consulting
firms or as research assistants at universities or intergovernmental organizations.
The PhD program in Health Policy (Management) is rooted in data-driven research on the managerial, operational, and strategic issues
facing a wide range of organizations. Coursework includes the study of microeconomic
theory, management, research methods, and statistics. The backgrounds of students
in this program are quite varied, with some coming from public health or the healthcare
industry, while others arrive at the program with a background in disciplinary research
The PhD program in Organizational Behavior offers two tracks: either a micro or macro approach. In the micro track, students
focus on the study of interpersonal relationships within organizations and the effects
that groups have on individuals. Students in the macro track use sociological methods
to examine organizations, groups, and markets as a whole, including topics such as
the influence of individuals on organizational change, or the relationship between
social missions and financial objectives. Jointly administered by HBS and GSAS, the
program includes core disciplinary training in sociology or psychology, as well as
additional coursework in organizational behavior.