The School of Entrepreneurship at Oklahoma State University is honored to have been recognized as the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship’s

2013 NATIONAL MODEL DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP!

Doctoral Studies in Entrepreneurship

At the doctoral level, the Department offers the Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship. The doctoral program seeks to produce graduates who can meaningfully advance theory and practice within the discipline of entrepreneurship, and contribute to the pedagogical development of the field. The program is intended to be small, selective and rigorous. Although our core emphasis is innovative, growth-oriented ventures, we seek students interested in entrepreneurial behavior in all of its manifestations, including start-up, corporate, social and public sector contexts.

The Ph.D. Program Advisor is Dr. Justin Webb, for more information or an appointment, please call (405) 744-7864 or stop in Suite 104 of the Spears School of Business on the Stillwater campus.

Doctoral Program Purpose

Dr. Morris passing his knowledge on to Entrepreneuship Doctoral Students

Dr. Morris passing his knowledge on to Entrepreneuship Doctoral Students

The fundamental purpose is to produce thought leaders who can change the advancement of scholarship, teaching and community engagement in the dynamic field of entrepreneurship.

Our Unique Focus

The OSU doctoral program in entrepreneurship exists to train the next generation of scholars who will lead this rapidly growing discipline. As such, selected students work closely with noted faculty members in developing an appreciation for theory, research methods, and the great questions that confront entrepreneurs, public policy makers, resource providers and others who support entrepreneurial activity. The doctoral program is personalized to reflect the intellectual interests of the students, while capitalizing on the strengths of our entrepreneurship faculty. Students are afforded the opportunity to generate and publish research with faculty mentors, and receive active support in facilitating their own research.

Program Requirements

The Ph.D. is designed to be completed over four years, and must be pursued on a full-time basis. Approximately 42 credit hours are required depending upon the student’s graduate background. Requirements include department seminars in entrepreneurship and related disciplines, a minor area, and a statistics sequence. Students are also required to work as research assistants or to teach entrepreneurship courses each year they are in the program.

Doctoral Seminars

The following doctoral seminars in entrepreneurship are regularly offered:

Apply to the Program

  1. Go to the Graduate College Application Website and either
    • Start a new account (if s/he has never submitted an application) or
    • Enter their current account information
  2. On the main menu, choose “Create A New Application”
  3. When the applicant arrives at the “Degree Program” screen, s/he can enter the keyword “Entrepreneurship” or simply press “next”
  4. Select from the pull down menus the “Entrepreneurship – PhD” listing
  5. Continue through the application

At the end of the application, submit with your application payment.

Separately, please send a letter to the Interim Head of the School of Entrepreneurship, Dr. Bruce Barringer, and doctoral program coordinator, Dr. Justin Webb.

  • A letter outlining your motives for pursuing the Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship your professional goals and your research interests as they relate to entrepreneurship.
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • An informal copy of all relevant academic transcripts
  • An informal copy of GMAT and TOEFL (as relevant) standardized test scores
  • A copy of your resume

These materials should be emailed to entrepreneurship_phd@okstate.edu. Please also copy your email to Justin.w.webb@okstate.edu. The deadline for applications is March 1. However, applications are considered as they are received, so please submit as early as possible to receive full consideration.

What We Look for in a Candidate

There is no formula for what makes a great doctoral student. We are interested in individuals with a passionate intellectual interest in entrepreneurship. Further, a strong work ethic and self-discipline are critical ingredients. Students are required to take the GMAT test, and while we have no specific requirement in terms of their score, we generally look for scores of 650 and above. However, attention is also given to the professional background and experiences of the candidate. A carefully written letter of interest that outlines the kinds or research questions that intrigue the candidate is important, as are strong recommendations from individuals who can attest to the intellectual and research potential of the candidate. While it may vary from year to year, we normally accept two new doctoral students to the Entrepreneurship Program annually.

The OSU Scholarly Environment

Entrepreneurship is a flagship program within the Spears School of Business. Further, as one of the few universities in the United States with a dedicated School of Entrepreneurship, which includes 10 faculty members, it’s a natural home for those interested in entrepreneurship research and teaching. The Program is a university-wide focus where the School of Entrepreneurship works with faculty and staff from disciplines around the campus, with key faculty members in different colleges and schools serving as Riata Fellows in the School of Entrepreneurship.

This is consistent with the inter-disciplinary nature of entrepreneurship. Doctoral students in entrepreneurship also regularly interact with those in management, marketing and finance. We are additionally committed to learning through entrepreneurial engagement. Toward this end, the School is complemented by the Riata Center for Entrepreneurship, which is engaged in highly innovative entrepreneurial outreach on campus, in the region, nationally, and internationally. OSU is the home of the Experiential Classroom, the leading program on best practices in entrepreneurship teaching and program development in the world.

A Personal Approach-Support for Doctoral Students

The School of Entrepreneurship and Spears School of Business provide an annual stipend to doctoral students who qualify, as well as support in attending key national conferences in entrepreneurship. Competitive summer research grants are available to support the research interests of doctoral students. In addition, we place strong emphasis on close faculty mentoring of doctoral students, and forums for doctoral students to present and develop their research ideas. Finally, doctoral students are mentored to help them develop strong teaching skills.

History

The doctoral program in the Spears School was launched in 1958. The first two degrees were awarded to Richard Poole, who later became dean of the Spears School, and Duck-Woo Nam, who served as Prime Minister of South Korea. Our graduates represent some of the leading scholars in the various business disciplines, and have been placed over the years in many of the best universities in the United States and abroad. The doctoral program in entrepreneurship was launched in 2009.