Organization Studies

The PhD program in Organization Studies is an individualized, research oriented program of study that requires the student to complete core and elective courses in Organizational Behavior and Theory, research methods, and a minor discipline of the candidate’s choice. The program consists of four stages in sequence: coursework, comprehensive examinations, dissertation proposal, and dissertation defense.

Coursework:

Students are expected to undertake the following courses in their first two years of study. They are advised to spread out this course work to commit to a maximum of 3 courses per semester (not including the Graduate Colloquium in Management) and must finalize all course work by June of their second year in the program:

ORGS Mandatory Courses

• ORGS 7010 3.00 INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOUR IN ORGANIZATIONS

  This course introduces students to topics and issues relevant to the study of individual and group behaviour. The readings provide an overview of existing research in this area. Students are encouraged to think critically about the contribution of each approach/theory and to develop research ideas and alternative approaches to test specific research questions. In each session students are encouraged to think about: underlying assumptions of theories; relationships with other theories/approaches; research questions answered; interesting unanswered questions; methodological issues and concerns.

• ORGS 7020 3.00 ADVANCED TOPICS IN ORGANIZATION THEORY

  This course introduces students to leading paradigms and current topics in organization theory. Students obtain an intensive overview of "macro" theories in organizational behaviour and develop an ability to assess organization theory and research critically and comprehensively. Class discussions focus on the strengths, weaknesses and contributions of leading-edge theories and topics; and students are encouraged to think creatively about future directions that various topics and theories might take to advance the field's understanding of organizations. By the conclusion of the course, students: (a) are familiar with important sources and references on prevailing issues in organization theory; (b) have a solid grasp of advanced theory and research on a breadth of topics in macro organizational behaviour; (c) have a better understanding of the process of writing theoretical articles; and (d) possess the ability to evaluate critically the contributions of various research streams to the field of organization theory.

DCAD Courses

• DCAD 7100 3.00 LOGICS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH
  This examines the major philosophical debates in the social sciences and explores the rationale of different approaches to social research. Students learn how to select and develop appropriate research strategies and how to critically examine the use of various research strategies.
• DCAD 7250 3.00 RESEARCH DESIGN
  This course introduces students to research design, strengthens their reasoning and theoretical development skills, helps them effectively apply a range of empirical methodologies to their own research and critically review empirical studies done by others. Topics include types of variables, relationships, sampling and measurement, survey and field research designs, experimental designs, and alternative designs, and research design biases and artifacts.
• DCAD 7400 3.00 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
  This course provides students with detailed exposure to the qualitative research methodologies that have begun to exert a major influence on management research over the last 10 years.
• DCAD 7600 1.50 GRADUATE COLLOQUIUM IN MANAGEMENT
  The rules, norms, and standards that surround the field of academics can seem ambiguous, confusing, and opaque to new Ph.D. students in the management disciplines. The purpose of this two-semester course is to provide a means of articulating central themes in this tacit process, and to provide a means of community-building among management-oriented Ph.D. students. Prerequisite: Open to and required of first- or second-year Ph.D. students in Strategy/Policy and Organization Studies areas.
• DCAD 7610 1.50 GRADUATE COLLOQUIUM IN MANAGEMENT
  The rules, norms, and standards that surround the field of academics can seem ambiguous, confusing, and opaque to new Ph.D. students in the management disciplines. The purpose of this two-semester course is to provide a means of articulating central themes in this tacit process, and to provide a means of community-building among management-oriented Ph.D. students. Pre-requisite: Open to and required of first- or second-year Ph.D. students in Strategy/Policy and Organization Studies areas.

NOTE:

DCAD 7600 and DCAD 7610: This colloquium is a mandatory course held once a month over both the fall and winter semesters in years 1 (DCAD 7600) and 2 (DCAD 7610)

DCAD 7060 and DCAD 7250: It is highly recommended that these two courses be taken concurrently (DCAD 7060 and DCAD 7250).

Elective Courses

ORGS Elective Course #1***
ORGS Elective Course #2
Minor Course #1
Minor Course #2

***  It is strongly recommended that ORGS PhD students take  SB/ORGS 7050 3.0 (Meso Organizational Behaviour) as an elective or as a minor course.

Comprehensive Exam

Students will be required to take a comprehensive exam by the fall of their third year in the program, following completion of their course requirements. Students will schedule this either in June at the completion of their second year or in October at the start of their third year. The comprehensive exam is a written exam consisting of two parts. Part I tests students’ knowledge of theory, ability to conceptualize and ability to extend or offer novel insights into current theory. Part II is a research methods exam.

Dissertation Proposal and Defense

After completion of their comprehensive exams, students are required to have a supervisor recommended to the PhD Program Director for approval by the Dean of Graduate Studies no later than the end of their 5th term of study (Students will not be able to register in the 7th term of study unless a supervisor has been approved). A Supervisory Committee must be recommended by the PhD Program Director to the Dean of Graduate Studies no later than the end of the 8th term of study (Students will not be able to register in the 10th term of study unless a Supervisory Committee has been approved).

A formal proposal that outlines their topic and research plan must be written. The dissertation is produced under the guidance of the Dissertation Supervisory Committee, and examined by the Dissertation Examining Committee, under guidelines established by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

We recommend further consultation with your area Ph.D. rep concerning any impending changes to the program requirements and guidance on selecting appropriate optional courses.