PhD in Information Systems

The objective of the Ph.D. degree in Business Administration with a major in Information Systems is to develop scholars with an ability to teach and conduct independent research. The main emphasis in our program is to offer training in scholarly research. This is accomplished through a combination of rigorous coursework and research activities. The coursework provides fundamental knowledge in various areas of information systems and offers insights into research topics of interest to Information System researchers. It also includes courses on research methodology and data analysis techniques. Students work closely with our world-renowned faculty members on a one-on-one basis on research projects that have wide-ranging implications for the industry and the economy. Students are encouraged to present their research results in conferences and publish their findings in journals. Students have the opportunity to gain teaching experience by independently teaching one or more classes.

We have a highly accomplished faculty that is internationally recognized for its research accomplishments. Their research interests encompass technical, managerial, and organizational issues dealing with the development, deployment, use, and impact of information systems in business organizations as well as in the society. Some of the areas of current interest are cybersecurity, social media, big data and advanced analytics, text, and data mining, intelligent information systems, mobile computing and decision making, healthcare IT, IT for development, organizational knowledge management, and others. Please visit our faculty web pages to learn more about the research interests of individual faculty members.

Applicants with a degree in information systems, computer science or a related field who aspire to become college professors and researchers are encouraged to apply.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Ph.D. program is based upon the completion of the general admission requirements of Graduate Admissions. For Ph.D. program admission, a score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and a record of undergraduate and master level academic performance are required. Students for whom English is not their native language must achieve a TOEFL score of at least 550. The TOEFL cannot be waived, even when a student has a Master's degree from a US university. International applicants that score below minimum acceptable levels on the verbal portion of entrance examinations may be admitted under the condition that they pass an English proficiency exam or complete UT Arlington’s Graduate English Skills Program prior to beginning graduate coursework. Applicants are encouraged to submit a résumé with their application that highlights professional and personal accomplishments, linguistic abilities, computer expertise and leadership experience. A statement of purpose which describes the applicant's academic and work background, research interests, and reasons for applying to the UTA Ph.D. program is required as part of the application.

Multiple criteria are used to make admission decisions. Quantitative measures include an applicant’s GMAT or GRE score and grade point averages on undergraduate and master level courses as calculated by the Graduate Admissions. No formula is used nor weights assigned to these factors. There are no set minimum scores for GMAT or GRE required for admission and no cutoff scores on grade point averages. A standardized test score (GMAT or GRE) is not used as the sole criterion for an applicant’s admission decision.

Ph.D. admission decisions are made by a committee headed by the major field coordinator for the track that an applicant wishes to specialize in (Management, Finance, etc.). These committees typically give consideration to many factors (educational objectives, letters of recommendation, etc.) in addition to quantitative metrics to arrive at a decision. All students who wish to have a strong application for a Ph.D. program are encouraged to gain research experience through activities such as working as a research assistant for a faculty member, writing a master's thesis, and/or presenting papers at academic conferences. Strong performance in courses in research methods and advanced statistics are also viewed positively. Students who wish to learn more about the admission process for a particular area of business administration are encouraged to contact the major field coordinator for that area.

Additional information about the program.

Tuition and Affordability

UTA Tuition and Affordability Information

Priority Application Dates

Fall | March 15
Spring | August 15
Summer | February 15

Applications are accepted after the published priority date for each term, but for guaranteed consideration of admission please submit the application and associated materials by the priority date. However, it is important to apply well in advance of your intended start date to be eligible for program-specific funding opportunities such as assistantships and fellowships. Keep in mind that departmental application processing times vary greatly and some programs require applications up to one year in advance.