Our Ph.D. program strives to advance the boundaries of knowledge in Information Systems. We help develop the student's ability to identify, analyze and solve problems relevant to Information Systems. Our program emphasizes:

  • The development of strong analytical and empirical skills.
  • A flexible curriculum tailored for individual needs and interests.
  • Interdisciplinary course work and research.
  • Close interaction between faculty and students.
  • Innovation and applications-driven research.
  • The integration of theory and practice.

The doctoral program in Information Systems educates future researchers and academics in the concepts and techniques needed to understand and advance the state of knowledge and practice in Information Systems. We provide students the opportunity to conduct research over a broad range of topics ranging from the traditional to the cutting-edge and the inter-disciplinary, with the common emphasis being on relevance and applicability.

Our PhD program is characterized by a high ratio of research faculty to students, which fosters close working relationships. Core and elective courses provide students with a thorough understanding of Information Systems principles.  Course work incorporates a broad business outlook into the study of theory and practice.  A sequence of PhD seminars exposes students to traditional and emerging research issues.  From the outset, students have the opportunity to be involved in ongoing research projects under the mentorship of distinguished faculty.  Students are involved in research early, and the close interaction with faculty members enables students to create their own research agenda early in the program.  Students also polish their teaching skills by teaching organized classes under faculty mentorship.

Faculty research interests range from quantitative modeling to empirical studies using tools from across disciplines, including economics (price theory and game theory), operations research, optimal control, probability theory and stochastic processes, statistics, and econometrics.

Our students come from around the world, and typically have an undergraduate/graduate degree in business, economics, engineering, computer science, mathematics, and other quantitative fields. Students admitted into the program typically devote the first two years to course work and research projects.  They take a qualifying exam consisting of a comprehensive in-class exam and a summer paper at the end of the second year. Students should develop their dissertation research areas latest by this time, and expect to complete the degree over the next two to three years.

EXAMPLES OF CURRENT RESEARCH

Our research is shaped by current advances in information technologies, and their potential impacts on firms at all levels, operational, tactical, and strategic. Some examples of current research are:

    • Effort estimation models for open source software development
    • Managing versions of a software product
    • Impact of collaboration software on product design and development
    • Impact of IT on R&D, innovation and firm performance
    • Healthcare Informatics; impact of health IT on care quality and cost
    • IT and business process outsourcing
    • Real options and valuation of IT project portfolios
    • Inferring competitive measures on the web from aggregated data
    • Internet content filtering using isotonic separation
    • Resource allocation policies for personalization servers
    • Information sharing in supply chains
    • Intrusion detection and prevention
    • Strategic interactions between security and IT capacity investments
    • Impacts of switching cost and declining IT cost on IT investments
    • Broadband adoption, jobs and wages in the US telecommunications industry
    • Preserving privacy when sharing distributed transactional data
    • Optimal scheduling and placement of internet banner advertisements
    • Social networks as moderators of decision task performance

ADMISSION INFORMATION

Applicants should have at least a Bachelor’s degree.  Admission is based on the grade point averages obtained in undergraduate and graduate (if any) studies, graduate examination test scores (GMAT or GRE), letters of recommendation, business and professional experience (if applicable), and a written statement of personal objectives.  The institution code for reporting GMAT scores is ZTZPQ60 and for GRE scores is R6897.  International students whose first language is not English are required to submit TOEFL scores as evidence of English proficiency.  Inquiries and requests for application materials may be mailed or e-mailed to Director, IS PhD Program, School of Management, The University of Texas at Dallas, SM33, P.O. Box 830688, Richardson, TX 75083-0688,  email: isPhD@utdallas.edu.  Students admitted into the program are provided with research/teaching assistantships or fellowships.  Continuation of financial aid is contingent on acceptable academic performance and progress in the program.