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Ph.D. Program

PH.D. IN BUSINESS

SPECIALIZATION IN SUPPLY CHAIN
MANAGEMENT AND ANALYTICS

Ph.D. faculty

Pursue Research in Supply Chain Management and Analytics

Are you interested in pursuing an academic career in supply chain management and analytics? Our doctoral program is designed for those interested in becoming professors and academic researchers with concentrations in supply chain management, operations management or analytics. In this program, you will work closely alongside faculty to develop the research skills necessary to find solutions for important and challenging problems in diverse application areas including supply chains, health care, agriculture, transportation systems and many others. If accepted, you will receive a competitive stipend, tuition remission and access to basic coverage under the university’s student health insurance plan.

The Ph.D. program application for Fall 2023 will open September 1, 2022.

calendar

August Start
Apply by January 1

Review Admission Requirements
Review Admission Process

Admission Requirements

Deadlines

All students must start the program in the fall semester. We do not admit Ph.D. candidates to start in the middle of the academic year (January).

All application materials must be received by January 1 to ensure full consideration for enrollment in the fall.

Background

Students with higher education degrees in business, engineering, mathematics or any other relevant field with a strong math background can apply for the SCMA Ph.D. program. You must have completed the following courses at your previous institution of higher education:

  • Calculus through multivariable calculus (equivalent to MATH208 or higher)
  • Linear algebra (equivalent to MATH314 or higher)
  • Statistics (equivalent to STAT218 or ECON215 or higher)
  • Intermediate Microeconomics (equivalent to ECON312) is strongly recommended.

In some cases, deficiencies in prerequisites can be addressed after your admission to the Ph.D. program but prior to enrollment. SCMA Ph.D. students who possess a relevant MS, MBA or other master’s degree in business may transfer up to 21 credit hours of master’s-level coursework.

Application Requirements

  • Statement of purpose
    The statement of purpose should include your professional background and accomplishments, your research interests in supply chain management and analytics, professional goals and reasons for pursuing a Ph.D. at Nebraska.
  • Professional résumé
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Academic transcripts
    Transcripts are required for each institution of higher education that you attended. A minimum GPA score of 3.50 on a 4.00 scale at the final degree institution is required. Transcript instructions for both domestic and international students can be found in the “Review Admission Process” tab above.
  • GMAT or GRE score
    You must register to take the GMAT or GRE and have the results forwarded to Nebraska (use institution code S40-HW-48). You must also submit your scores through the graduate application.
  • TOEFL score (only for international students)
    International students must include a TOEFL score (use institution code 6877). You will need a minimum score of 550 paper, 213 computer-based, 80 iBT or 6.5 IELTS.

Note to International Students

You must be aware of the additional requirements to be met in order to be admitted to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Please refer to Guidelines for International Students.

The International Student and Scholar Office provides orientation, counseling and advising, and serves as the official liaison between your sponsoring agency and the United States government. Staff members are also available to help you make contacts on campus and in the Lincoln community.

Admissions Process

Apply

Apply online. The application fee is $50.

All application materials must be received by January 1 to ensure full consideration for enrollment in the fall.

Upload Supporting Documents

All supporting documents including unofficial transcripts and test scores are uploaded directly via the graduate application.

You are required to submit an unofficial transcript from each higher education institution you have attended.

Submit Official Transcripts

If you are admitted, you will be required to submit an official transcript sent directly from each institution you have attended to The Office of Graduate Studies. We recommend you complete this task before your first semester begins. A hold will be placed on your account if we do not receive your official transcripts by October 1 of the first semester. Students will have until that day to submit official transcripts or your admission will be rescinded.

Transcripts can be sent electronically to graduate@unl.edu or by mail to:

University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Graduate Admissions
1100 Seaton Hall
Lincoln, NE 68588-0619

International Student Transcript Submission

If you are an international student, please refer to the Nebraska Office of Graduate Studies for transcript and document information. International Transcript Information Additional information on application requirements can be found at the Graduate Studies website.

Contribute to a Better World

At Nebraska, you will spend the first two years gaining a broad foundational knowledge of Supply Chain Management and Analytics (SCMA). You will then have the opportunity to tailor your coursework and research to your personal interests by choosing a concentration in supply chain management, operations management or analytics. Whatever concentration you choose, you’ll collaborate with world-class faculty who conduct rigorous research on problems of high practical relevance and significant societal impact. Our low student-to-faculty ratio will allow you to form close, collaborative relationships with our faculty and become a part of the College of Business Ph.D. student community.

Faculty

Program Requirements

A minimum of 90 graduate credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree is required. This coursework will typically be completed during the first two or two and half years of the program and will consist of foundational methods courses and research seminars. If you are coming into the program with a master’s degree in a related area, a maximum of 21 credit hours may be used to partially fulfill the coursework requirements.

Program Milestones
Ph.D. Program Plan of Study

Qualifying Exam
You will be required to submit one or more written research project proposals and present them orally to the SCMA faculty at the end of the summer of the first year.

Comprehensive Exam
You will be required to take a written and oral exam after completing the Ph.D. program coursework, typically at the end of the second year of the program. The exam will consist of three parts: standardized questions related to required coursework, customized questions related to your concentration area, and an oral exam.

Second-Year Summer Paper
You will be required to complete a summer research paper on an original research topic during the summer after your second year in the Ph.D. program, followed by an oral presentation of that paper to the SCMA faculty during the fall semester of your third year in the Ph.D. program.

Dissertation Proposal and Defense
After passing the comprehensive exam, you will form a dissertation committee and complete your dissertation, which will demonstrate your competence as a researcher. You are encouraged to defend your dissertation proposal at the end of the third year of your Ph.D. program, or at the start of the fourth year. Upon the completion of your dissertation, you will be required to conduct a formal defense.

The coursework for the SCMA Ph.D. program includes foundational courses in economics and statistics, along with seminars on key topics in SCMA, and additional electives and method courses selected based on each student’s research interests.

Download Ph.D. Program Plan of Study

Required Courses

Foundational Courses

  • Analytical Methods in Economics and Business
  • Advanced Microeconomic Theory I and II
  • Mathematical Statistics I
  • Econometrics I

SCMA Seminars (Half-Semester Courses)

  • Mathematical Programming
  • Logistics and Transportation Modeling
  • Stochastic Models for Operations and Supply Chain Management
  • Simulation Modeling and Analysis
  • Decision Theory
  • Service Systems Design
  • Revenue Management
  • Inventory and Procurement

Methods Electives

All students must complete at least three methods electives from outside of the Department of Supply Chain Management and Analytics. These courses are subject to the approval of the SCMA Ph.D. Committee based on a student's research interests. Examples include:

  • Ph.D. courses offered by the Department of Economics, including topics such as Advanced Econometrics
  • Ph.D. courses offered by the Departments of Mathematics and Statistics, including topics such as operations research, probability theory, stochastics processes, statistical learning and computational statistics
  • Ph.D. courses offered by the Departments of Sociology and Psychology, including topics such as social research methods and qualitative methods
  • Ph.D. courses offered by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, including topics such as data mining and machine learning

Other Electives

All students must complete at least two additional electives from outside of the Department of Supply Chain Management and Analytics. These courses are subject to the approval of the SCMA Ph.D. Committee based on student's research interests. Examples include:

  • Ph.D. seminars offered by other Ph.D. programs in the College of Business, such as Management, Finance, Accounting and Marketing
  • Ph.D. courses offered by the Department of Economics, including topics such as macroeconomics
  • Ph.D. courses offered by the Departments of Sociology and Psychology, including topics such as social network analysis

Benefits

Assistantships
All offers include graduate assistantships. A graduate assistantship compensates you for teaching and/or research appointments. The compensation includes a waiver of tuition, partial payment of the cost of health insurance and a monthly cash stipend. The work requirement involves 20 hours per week and no other outside employment is allowed during the assistantship commitment.

All assistantships are contingent upon available funding, but we aim to fund students with assistantships while pursuing the Ph.D. degree in residence. Assistantships are awarded on a year-to-year basis, contingent upon satisfactory progress toward degree completion and satisfactory work performance.

Health Insurance
If you hold an appointment that qualifies for full tuition waiver, you may purchase basic coverage under the university’s student health insurance plan. Dependent plans are also available.

Why Nebraska?

Home to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the city of Lincoln consistently ranks among the best U.S. cities for livability thanks to a low cost of living, great schools and friendly, community-minded residents. Set amidst a big sky and open landscape, the city is simple to navigate with a reliable public transit system, a wide range of housing choices, and a low crime rate. As one of the fastest growing metro areas in the Midwest, Lincoln boasts an expanding technology sector, more parkland per capita than all but a few U.S. cities, an extensive bike trail network and numerous options for recreational and personal interest activities. It’s easy to feel at home here.

Points of Pride About Lincoln Local Events

Cost of Living Comparison (2018)
  Lincoln Ann Arbor Boston Austin College Station Raleigh Seattle United States
Overall 96 127 182 130 99 111 204 100
Grocery 92.9 90.7 105.7 88.7 87.5 93.4 100.4 100
Health 120 90 83 92 91 103 82 100
Housing 94 190 314 185 125 139 407 100
Utilities 92 99 117 99 96 99 69 100
Transportation 87 115 152 131 83 100 157 100
Miscellaneous 98 95 129 100 89 98 120 100

Contact

Araz, Özgür M
Özgür M. Araz
Program Director
scmaphd@unl.edu
HLH 511
402-472-3137