Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business

School of Business

The Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business creates and disseminates knowledge that enhances the quality of the management of organizations. The School of Business, through faculty research programs and our doctoral program, produces high- quality research in areas of importance and infuses knowledge created by this research into all programs, but especially the MBA and related professional programs. Our school’s reputation, primarily resulting from our MBA, Specialized Master’s and doctoral programs, allows us to attract international, national, regional, and campus partners, with whom collaboration results in specialty professional programs with the MBA program as a foundation. This includes areas such as , technology management/engineering, law, and the health sciences. Our culture of teamwork, adaptability, and flexibility permits the school to readily adapt to future environments and strategic opportunities.

The Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business is accredited by AACSB-the International Association for Management Education.

Contact Information

University of Pittsburgh
School of Business
301 Mervis Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
412-648-1508
E-mail: admissions@katz.pitt.edu
www.katz.business.pitt.edu

Application Procedures

Please refer to individual program descriptions in this section for further information regarding application procedures for Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science (MS), Doctor of Business (DBA) and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.

Degree Options

The School of Business awards the Master of Business Administration (MBA), the Master of Science (MS), Doctor of Business (DBA) and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. Full-time, Part-time and Executive MBA degree programs are offered, as well as a number of MS degree programs. The Executive MBA, the Executive MBA in Healthcare, the Executive DBA, as well as the Signature MBA, Accelerated MBA, Dual MBA/MS programs, Part-time MBA, and MS programs are each offered in a cohort-based model.

The PhD degree program has concentrations in accounting, finance, information systems and technology management, business analytics and operations, organizational behavior and human resources management, strategy, and marketing.

The Signature, Accelerated, Dual-degree MBA/MS, and Part-time MBA programs allow students to concentrate their studies through the declaration of micro-credentials and graduate certificates, many of which are stackable within the elective portion of the programs.

Additionally, the School of Business offers a number of MS, dual-degree and joint-degree options for students who wish to specialize and/or add a second professional degree. Many of the specialized degree options in business analytics, supply chain management, and management of information systems qualify as STEM programs.

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Programs

• Executive MBA
• Executive MBA in Healthcare
• Accelerated MBA
• Signature MBA
• Part-Time MBA
• MBA with Business Analytics

Master of Science (MS) Programs

• MS in Accounting
• MS in Accounting and Business Analytics
• MS in Marketing Science
• MS in Marketing Science and Business Analytics
• MS in Finance
• MS in Finance and Business Analytics
• MS in Supply Chain Management
• MS in Supply Chain Management and Business Analytics
• MS in Management
• MS in Management and Business Analytics
• MS in Management of Information Systems

Dual Degree Programs

• MBA and MS in Finance
• MBA and MS in Marketing Science
• MBA and MS in Supply Chain Management
• MBA and MS in Management of Information Systems

Joint Degree Programs

• MBA and Doctor of Medicine
• MBA and Master of Public and International Affairs
• MBA and Master of International Development
• MBA and MS degrees in Engineering
• MBA and Master of Health Administration
• MBA and Master of Social Work
• MBA and Juris Doctorate
• MS in Supply Chain Management and MS in Industrial Engineering

The School of Business also offers micro-credential certificate programs. Micro-credentials are qualifications designed to provide students with knowledge, skills, and abilities in a specific area of business. Micro-credential programs are available in the following areas.

• Accounting
• Data Programming for Business Insights
• Finance
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Leading People in Organizations
• Management Consulting
• Management Science
• Marketing
• Technology Management
• Sustainable Business

Graduate certificates allow students to further specialize in a particular area of business, and are available in the following areas:

• Accounting
• Business Analytics
• Finance
• Management Consulting
• Management Science
• Technology Management

The Undergraduate and Graduate Programs at the University of Pittsburgh School of Business collaborate to offer accelerated BSBA and MS programs.

• 3+1/BS in Business Administration and MS in Accounting
• 3+1/BS in Business Administration and MS in Management of Information Systems

Special Academic Opportunities

The School of Business offers the following special opportunities/programs:

Professional Development Workshops

Students participate in a variety of workshops throughout the program. Students work closely with their academic and career advisors to identify areas for professional development and develop a plan to engage in workshops related to those areas.

Workshops are offered on topics such as presentation skills, project management, problem solving, time management, data visualization, team dynamics, and diversity/equity/inclusion. Full-time MBA and MS students are required to complete a certain number of professional development hours each semester. Part-time students are not required to complete these hours but are welcome to participate in workshops as their availability allows.

Exchange Programs

Students can spend time studying at a school in another country through a variety of international exchange programs. Applicability of these credit-bearing opportunities is dependent on the program and students should discuss the available opportunities with their academic advisor.

Global Research Practicums

As part of a 3-credit international elective course, MBA and MS students can spend a week in another part of the world studying business culture and practices and visiting different companies in that region. Regions frequently visited include Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Corporate Connections

Through both professional development programming and career development programming, students can engage with business executives from major firms throughout the year. Opportunities include skills-development workshops, recruiting presentations, one-on-one conversations, and networking mixers.

Graduation

A special School of Business graduation ceremony for all graduating students is held in the spring of each year. Graduate students who completed their degree in the preceding summer and fall semesters, or who are expected to complete their degrees in the upcoming summer semester are invited to participate in the ceremony alongside the spring semester graduates.

MBA and Masters Programs

The following section details the full range of programs for students interested in pursuing an MBA, an MS, or an MBA or MS and another degree at the same time. Unless otherwise noted, additional information regarding these programs may be obtained by contacting the Admissions Office.

Contact Information

University of Pittsburgh School of Business
Admissions Department
301 Mervis Hall
412-648-1508
Fax: 412-648-1659
E-mail: admissions@katz.pitt.edu
www.katz.business.pitt.edu/form/contact

Application Procedures

 Overall undergraduate 3.25 cumulative GPA

 Completed at least six credits of undergraduate quantitative coursework with minimum 3.0 GPA

Financial Assistance

The primary sources of financial assistance for incoming full-time MBA students are tuition scholarships and loans. Limited scholarships are available for the MS programs.

Merit-based scholarships are awarded in various dollar amounts and are directly applied against tuition charges. School of Business scholarships are available to full-time U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and international students. Award notifications are mailed along with the official admission decision. While consideration for scholarship is independent of the admissions decision, there is no additional application required.

There are several educational loan programs available for students.

Tuition and Fees

Financial Information  

Tuition information can be found at https://www.tuition.pitt.edu/. The School of Business also charges a Professional Development fee that is based on the program in which a student is enrolled, which goes to support the implementation of the wide variety of professional development, career development, and student support programming that the school offers. Certain courses, including the Integrated MBA Capstone course also carry a course fee, which supports the experiential components of the course.

MBA and Master’s Program Academic Standards

The following section details academic standards for the full-time Masters’ programs.

Good Academic Standing

To maintain good academic standing, a cumulative grade point average of 3.000 or above in all courses taken at the School of Business or taken at other schools and used toward a School of Business degree is required throughout the program and for graduation from the School of Business.

Academic Probation and Dismissal Policy

Any student whose GPA falls below 3.000 at any time during the program may be subject to academic probation and/or dismissal from the School of Business. Exceptions to the school’s guidelines and procedures may be considered only through written petition to the Associate Dean for MBA and Specialty Master’s Programs and the Senior Director of Graduate Academic Programs and Student Services.

Dean’s List

The Dean’s List for full-time students is compiled at the point of degree completion and is awarded to students who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.750 or above.

Transfer of Graduate-Level Courses

Statute of Limitations

The regulations of the School of Business require the completion of all degree, micro-credential, and graduate certificate requirements within four (4) years of original registration for credits counting toward a students’ degree, micro-credential, or certificate. This includes credits taken as a micro-credential, graduate certificate, or other non-degree status student that the student intends to use toward a later degree. Students who transition from one of these statuses into a degree-seeking program should be mindful of the time remaining under this statute. Under extraordinary circumstances, this statute may be extended, one year at a time, to a maximum of six years. Under no circumstances will a student be allowed more than six years to complete a degree. Requests for extensions of the statute of limitations will be considered by the Senior Director of Graduate Academic Programs and Student Services upon written request. The request for the extension must be detailed and such request must be filed before the end of the statutory period.

This statute of limitations also governs the acceptability of transfer credits. Presented as part of the MBA and Master of Science degrees, credits earned outside of the School of Business must have been earned within the four-year period of the date of graduation. Credits more than four years old, but less than six years old as of graduation, will be considered for acceptance upon written petition to the Senior Director Graduate Academic Programs and Student Services.

Academic Integrity

All students are expected to adhere to the school’s Guidelines on Academic Integrity, copies of which are available in each student’s program Canvas shell, as well as by request from any academic staff member. These standards follow the University’s guidelines with several procedure changes. Students may also contact the school’s academic integrity officer for advice or clarification of academic integrity guidelines.

Development & Employer Engagement

The Career Development team assists all master’s students. The mission is to be a collaborative career development partner with both students and corporate recruiters, as well as an industry leader in professional development. The team is committed to providing advice in a manner that is designed to tailor a career path to fit each student’s unique strengths and professional competencies and develop and execute a job search plan to secure employment post-graduation. All full-time students are assigned a career advisor and are expected to regularly engage with them throughout their enrollment and their job search process. Part-time students are welcome and encouraged to utilize the services of the Career Development team as appropriate for their career needs. The Employer Engagement team’s mission is to cultivate and foster relationships with corporate partners that lead to internship and full-time employment opportunities for MBA and MS students. The Career Development team and the Employer Engagement team work closely to ensure alignment between students’ career preparation, job search, and available employment opportunities.

Academic Advising

The Academic Advising team is responsible for advising students regarding degree requirements and procedures of their program. The academic advisors will verify degree requirements and are responsible for making sure students stay on track for graduation. The academic advisors collaborate closely with the career advisors to ensure that students are well-informed about curricular opportunities that align with and support their career goals. The Academic Advising team also manages the registration of all new students, the maintenance of student records, and the certification of all students’ graduation.

Student Engagement

 The Student Engagement team manages professional development workshops, student events and activities, student clubs and student government, and large-scale events such as New Student Orientation and Commencement.

Doctoral Programs

The theoretically based, managerially relevant doctoral program in business administration seeks to prepare students for careers in research and teaching in management and related areas at leading business schools and universities. This is accomplished by fostering a learning environment in which students can achieve intellectual growth and fulfillment. Successful completion of the doctoral program therefore entails much more than the satisfaction of a set of formal requirements. Doctoral students are expected to assess their knowledge and skills in regular consultation with the faculty and to develop a set of educational experiences that will fulfill their needs and facilitate the pursuit of personal goals.

Contact Information

University of Pittsburgh
School of Business
Ph.D Program
282 Mervis Hall
katzphd@katz.pitt.edu

www.katz.business.pitt.edu/phd

Application Procedures

All application materials must be submitted by January 15 of the expected entry year into the program. The basic prerequisite for admission to the doctoral program is the equivalent of an American bachelor’s degree. Many applicants also have advanced degrees and professional experience. Scores on the GMAT or GRE (as well as on the TOEFL for international students) are required, along with recommendation letters and transcripts.

Financial Aid

Most financial aid for doctoral students is in the form of an assistantship that requires research and some teaching. The assistantship provides a stipend, tuition remission, and health insurance. Assistantships are available to domestic as well as international students. Funds associated with specific research projects are sometimes available to students, and faculty often help students obtain funding for dissertation research.

Sequence of Study

Progress to the PhD consists of the seminar phase, comprehensive examinations, teaching requirement, and the dissertation. Students complete course work in the seminar phase. This is the time during which the student sets scholarly standards and goals. Every student prepares a written statement called the Field Statement upon declaring the student’s areas of study. This is also the time to form relationships with faculty members and begin developing research skills.

Most doctoral courses involve research projects and the majority of students, including all those with assistantships, work on faculty research from an early stage. A minimum of 72 post baccalaureate credits is required for the PhD degree. A maximum of 30 credits from a previously earned master’s degree may be applied.

Formal requirements in the seminar phase are:

• Work to ensure a basic level of competence in the disciplines and functions relevant to management. Students choose 6 credits of MBA course work. Some or all of these requirements may be exempted depending on educational background and doctoral course objectives.
• Eight courses in the major area of study and three courses in the minor area of study or a seven-course research methodology minor.
• A 6-credit teaching requirement.
• At least four courses in research methodology or a seven-course research methodology minor.
• A grade point average of 3.3.
• A preliminary evaluation (comprehensive examinations).

Comprehensive examinations are written and oral examinations in both the major and minor area of study. Each student’s exams are designed individually, focusing on the area(s) of study. The student is expected to demonstrate comprehensive ability, meaning the ability to synthesize and build on all that the student has learned.

Dissertation

Doctoral students are required to demonstrate their capacity to engage in a sustained research effort by completing a doctoral dissertation. The dissertation entails an independent investigation of a problem of acknowledged significance and size in a management-related area. Only if the dissertation is judged to demonstrate such competence, after a formal defense in a final oral examination, does the department recommend the awarding of a degree.

For more details on requirements of doctoral students, see Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Degrees .

Teaching

All School of Business doctoral students are required to teach six credits as the primary instructor, at the University of Pittsburgh as part of their graduation requirements.

Timeline to Graduation

Most students earn the PhD in five years. The seminar phase typically lasts two years, while the comprehensive exams and the dissertation together require an additional three years to complete.

Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations represents the maximum time permitted for the fulfillment of all requirements for the PhD degree. The statute of limitations is as follows:

1. Comprehensive examinations must be completed no later than the seventh term of study.
2. The dissertation overview examination must be successfully completed before the end of the fourth year.
3. The dissertation defense must be completed successfully before the end of the sixth year.

Exceptions to the School of Business PhD Program statute of limitations, not to exceed the University of Pittsburgh’s statute of limitations, must be approved by the School of Business Doctoral and Research Committee.

Placement

The School of Business’s goal is to place PhD graduates in universities that consistently produce high quality business research, and a successful record has been established in this regard.

Individual Curriculum Design

Students must choose from the following areas of study leading to the PhD.

• Accounting
• Business Analytics and Operations
• Finance
• Information Systems and Technology Management
• Marketing
• Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management
• Strategic Management

Within the framework of these standard areas, every PhD student plans a unique, individual area of study. A student may choose any of the areas as a primary (major) area of study or as a secondary (minor) area of study. Each of the areas of study provides additional choices to meet student interests and developmental needs. All have subspecialties; all explore a range of current topics. In addition, to expand the option in the core areas, students are invited to draw on courses and research opportunities at the School of Business, as well as other parts of the University, and other institutions.

Two goals must be balanced in planning an individual program. One is to acquire a sound body of knowledge in recognized disciplines and methods. The other is to choose a mix of courses, mentors, and research topics geared to the student’s own interests and talents. Ideally, this will lead to a truly original dissertation, followed by a career of meaningful research.