PhD in Information Systems

The PhD in Information Systems seeks to train future researchers, scholars and teachers to analyze and understand the multi-faceted impact of information and communications technologies on individuals, organizations, and society. The majority of those graduating with a PhD degree will accept tenure track positions in academia. Our program will target the placement of students in top academic institutions with strong research programs. The PhD program takes a broad perspective, favoring an approach in which the impact of information systems is examined from multiple perspectives, including, but not limited to, organizational theories. Students entering our program will complete 54 hours of coursework that includes: 15 hours of Information Systems PhD seminars, 6 hours of research apprenticeship, 21 elective hours in one or more support disciplines, and finally, 12 hours of dissertation credit. Following coursework and comprehensive exams, students spend the remainder of the program working on research (including dissertation) and teaching undergraduate classes.

Most students entering our program will do so on a full-time basis; however, the Baylor PhD program in MIS also welcomes part-time students who are fully or partially funded by their organizations.  Arrangements will be made to help students attend classes via computer conferencing.  Part-time students who wish to obtain their PhD and remain in industry will not be required to fulfill the undergraduate teaching duties expected of the full-time students but will instead develop presentations based upon their work and research to deliver to one or more master's level courses.   Dissertations for the part-time students planning to remain in industry will emphasize relevance to the industry in which the student works.