Ph.D. in Management program
Program length
- 90 credits
- Full time: 4-5 years
Application deadline
- December 31, 2025
Schedule format
- Semester
University of Florida’s Ph.D. in Management
The Ph.D. in Business Administration – Management is a full-time, in-residence program with tracks for specialized focus in Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management and Strategic Management. Students will learn from and do research with leading experts in the field in a productive, student-focused climate with cutting-edge training. The mission of the program is to be academic scholars and to place them at top research universities.
Learn more
Amir Erez
W.A. McGriff, III Professor
Ph.D. Coordinator
352-273-0339
Email Amir
Michelle Evern
Ph.D. Admissions Assistant
352-392-0163
Email Michelle
Ph.D. in Management facts and figures
Organization-evolving ideas begin here.
#1
Five year average for research productivity per capita among U.S. business schools, management department.
Texas A&M/University of Georgia Rankings
$43K
Stipend plus a full-tuition scholarship available for Ph.D. candidates.
Why choose Florida?
What makes the University of Florida a great place to earn your Ph.D. in Management? Three factors are particularly important:
- Cutting edge training that students receive
- The productivity of our faculty
- Our student-focused climate
Cutting-edge training
Of course, the education itself is also a core component of any Ph.D. program. At Florida, much of the core Ph.D. coursework occurs during the first two years of the program, though students often take advanced methods courses, or special topics of interest outside the department, over the course of their program.
Faculty productivity
When it comes to gaining research skills, Ph.D. students learn by doing. Having a productive faculty gives students more opportunities to get involved in projects and more opportunities to build their research portfolio. A joint study by Texas A&M University and the University of Georgia shows that the University of Florida management faculty are in the top 3 nationally for number of publications per faculty (2023 #2, 2024 #4, five year average #1). Given the size of our faculty, those numbers rank Florida as one of the most productive departments in the country.
Student focus
Having a productive faculty only benefits Ph.D. students when faculty work with Ph.D. students. At Florida, students join faculty research projects from day one, completing a required first and second year paper under faculty supervision. We use an apprenticeship model, wherein students’ first work on faculty projects and then begin to develop their own program of research. Our current students work on many projects with our faculty, all geared towards publication in top tier journals.
Placements
Florida’s Ph.D. placements over the past several years have been among the best in the country. Our recent graduates have joined the faculties at Cornell, Maryland, Michigan State, Illinois (Urbana-Champaign), Purdue, Iowa, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Arizona, Louisiana State, Rutgers, Penn State, The University of Virginia, and the University of Minnesota’, among others. Those students have gone on to post productive records at their universities, well on their way to earning promotion and tenure (and, in multiple cases, earning awards for early career achievement). Our former students also serve on multiple editorial boards and are associate editors in major management journals such as the Academy of Management Journal, the Academy of Management Review, and Personnel Psychology.
Student testimonials
“Based on my experience, I can think of two reasons as to why I strongly recommend the Management PhD program at Florida. First, the faculty there are truly committed to mentoring, training, and collaborating with students. Not only was my advisor deeply invested in my development, but all of the faculty in the department seemed to have a vested interest in my progression from being a student to a professor. Second, the faculty at Florida helped to ensure that I was 100% ready for competing for top jobs on the academic market. From having multiple publications, to practice job talks, to mock interviews, I felt totally prepared for applying, competing for, and ultimately accepting an ideal job.”
Dave Long (Ph.D. ’13)College of William & Mary
“One of the greatest strengths of UF’s PhD program is the faculty members’ dedication to preparing students for a successful academic career. The faculty members are not only exceptional at what they do, they are able and willing to teach students how to do it as well. As a result, UF’s program is an ideal combination of formal training and individual training. Moreover, the faculty members create a supportive environment where students feel encouraged and enthusiastic about becoming scholars. I couldn’t have asked for a more challenging and rewarding experience.”
Jessica Rodell (Ph.D. ’10)University of Georgia
The UF PhD program gave me exactly what I needed — world-class faculty who involved me in research right away, peers who were both rigorous and collegial, and a program that stretched me intellectually further than I thought possible. Without UF, I wouldn’t have a job where I get to think about business strategy all day — which is my personal passion.
Jarrod Humphrey (Ph.D. ‘23)Xavier University
“I loved my experience in the PhD program at the University of Florida. The extremely talented faculty are committed most of all to helping their students succeed which shows in the way they mentor, develop, and collaborate with their students. The students are also high-caliber, hard-working, and successful from whom I have learned just as much. And because the environment here has been so collegial and supportive, I find I’m leaving now with not only a great set of future colleagues, but also a set of lifetime friends. I could not have been happier with my decision to come to Florida.”
Eean Crawford (Ph.D. ’11)University of Iowa
“I chose the PhD program at UF because students receive excellent training here. Students work closely with the faculty, who are among the most-productive researchers in the field. The program also has a supportive environment. When students graduate, they are well-prepared for their academic career because they have the skills to conduct high-quality research and a strong professional network.”
Betty Zhou (Ph.D. ’14)Texas A&M
“I highly appreciate my experience in the management PhD program at University of Florida, as the program is 100% dedicated to preparing its students for a successful academic career. Faculty members here are not only productive themselves, but are also willing to invest extensively in mentoring and collaborating with students from the first day students join the program. Other positive aspects of the program include a well-designed course curriculum, which provides students with cutting-edge training on both substantial content areas and research methods, very generous financial support, and a highly collegial group of fellow students who are willing to keep you company along the five-year journey.”
Yihao Liu (Ph.D. ’17)University of Georgia
“The Management PhD program at UF equipped me with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the academic job market and transition seamlessly from being a student to a professor. The faculty are deeply committed to student success, providing strong mentorship and fostering continuous collaboration. Moreover, the program’s abundant research support, coupled with the collegiality both among peers and between peers and faculty, created an invaluable environment for my personal and professional growth.”
Dong Hyun Shin (Ph.D. ’21)City University of Hong Kong
Admissions
We typically admit between 2 and 4 students each fall (we do not admit students in the spring). Sometimes we prioritize organizational behaviors (micro track) applicants and sometimes we prioritize strategic management applicants (macro track). We anticipate admitting students in both tracks for the 2026 class.
Admission decisions are made holistically, with input from multiple faculty members who work with Ph.D. students. We consider factors such as academic performance, GMAT/GRE scores, letters of recommendation, fit with program focus and faculty interests, and career goals.
Application deadline and requirements
Application deadline
We will begin accepting applications for the Fall 2026 cohort in October, with a December 31, 2025 deadline.
Admission requirements
Academic Achievement
Applicants must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement as an undergraduate with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 for the last two years of undergraduate work, though successful applicants have average scores significantly higher.
The College does not require students to earn a master’s degree prior to admission, but a master’s degree in a core social science discipline (such as economics or psychology) is beneficial. Because of differences in emphasis between Ph.D. and masters coursework, credits can rarely be transferred.
Standardized Test Scores
Admission requirements for the Ph.D. include (a) a minimum grade point average of 3.0, and (b) for nonnative speakers of English, a minimum score of 550 (PBT) and 80 (IBT) on the TOEFL. Although these are the minimum requirements, most students accepted into the Ph.D. in management have a GPA above 3.5. There are no set minimums for the GMAT, but most students admitted have a score above 650; the average GMAT scores of our students is around 700.
International Applicants
International students must also submit an English proficiency test. Check the UF Admissions website for minimum scores and exemptions.
International applicants who took the GRE must also have scored a verbal section score of 140 or higher.
Applicants may be exempted from submitting a language test score if:
They are citizens of a country where English is the official language. View a list of such countries.
They have official proof of successfully completing the UF English Language Institute (ELI) prior to applying.
They have proof of spending at least one year as a full-time student at a college or university in a country where English is the official language. Please note: time spent in ESL (English as a Second Language) programs does not qualify for this exemption. View a list of such countries.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters should be written by faculty or persons that can speak to the suitability of the applicant for Ph.D. studies.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
Pursuant to Florida Statute, your application requires inclusion of all post-high school education and employment, as well as information about ongoing international affiliations and research funding. Please ensure this information is included on your curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé.
Application instructions
Step 1: Online Application
Complete the online application to the University of Florida Graduate School. As part of that process, you will need to:
- Write your Academic Statement of Purpose. This essay should convey why you want to pursue a Ph.D. in Management at the University of Florida, and what your career goals are after graduating from the program. Indicate whether you are applying to the organizational behavior or strategic management tracks. Note that the online interface limits your statement to around a single-spaced page in length.
- Request three letters of recommendation online. Note that requests for recommendation are not sent to your contacts until after you submit the online application. Paper-based recommendations are also accepted and should be mailed to:
Dr. Amir Erez
Ph.D. Coordinator
PO Box 117165
Gainesville, FL 32611-7165
- Pay application fee online. The fee is $30.00 (plus $1.75 processing fee) for both U.S. citizens and International applicants. Fee waivers cannot be granted.
Step 2: Official Test Score Report
Submit official GMAT (preferred) or GRE scores through the respective testing service website. Please also note your scores in your online application. You may upload unofficial score documents, if you have them, but only the official scores submitted to the University of Florida, as noted below will be used for admission.
- GMAT scores: institution code J7Z-5J-64, “University of Florida – Warrington College of Business – PhD in Management”
- GRE scores: institution code UF 5812
International Applicants
For International applicants, submit official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), or MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) scores through the respective testing service website. Send TOEFL scores to institution code 5812.
Step 3: Additional Document Submission
For purpose of initial review, the Office of Admissions accepts unofficial transcripts. Applicants may upload unofficial transcripts within the academic background section of their application, or if not available at the time of application, through their application status page at a later date.
Applicants who receive an offer of admissions should arrange to have official transcripts sent to the UF Office of Admissions from each postsecondary institution attended. If you attended UF as your postsecondary institution, you do not have to order a transcript from the Office of the University Registrar.
All academic credentials become property of the university. They will not be returned to you or forwarded to a third party. For diplomas and academic credentials that are only issued once, please send an attested or certified copy of the original.
International students must submit credentials in the original language accompanied by an English translation and degree statement, if applicable.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to our most frequent questions about the University of Florida’s Ph.D. in Management.
We typically admit two to three students a year and prioritize creating a match between faculty availability and student research interests. Often, faculty members who are not currently supervising a Ph.D. student will have priority in identifying potential students, so it is impossible to offer any indication of likely acceptance until after the application deadline. Accordingly, we encourage all interested students to apply for admission.
Faculty typically meet in January and February to evaluate applications with interviews occurring in February and March before making offers for admission. Like most universities in North America, the University of Florida adheres to a common acceptance deadline of April 15 for our offers of admission to graduate programs which start in August.
Typical students offered admission have a minimum GMAT scores of 650 or equivalent GRE scores. The average GMAT score of our current students is 700.
We typically make our admissions decisions in March.
Most students complete the program in five years. Students typically interview for jobs during the fall of their fifth year and complete their final dissertation defense in the spring of their fifth year.
No. Getting a Ph.D. is not just about coursework—it includes an apprenticeship component where students learn to conduct research side-by-side with faculty. That experience requires a full-time, in-residence commitment.
Ph.D. students generally teach one to two courses across years 3 and 4 of their program. Students teach undergraduate courses in Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management and Strategic Management.
Courses and curriculum
Our curriculum includes a wide variety of management content courses based on the research expertise of our faculty, including topics such as Motivation, Job attitudes, Leadership, Groups and Teams, Affect, Cognition and Decision Making, Human Resource Management, Entrepreneurship, Strategic Adaption, and Innovation.
We also place heavy emphasis on methods coursework, allowing our students to complete the Ph.D. with exposure to a wide variety of methodological tools. All students take a series of methodology overview courses offered in the department and college and all are required to take an additional sequence of methods courses to meet their individual research needs, determined in consultation with their advisor and the Ph.D. Coordinator; these course include Econometrics, Multilevel analysis, Advanced Quantitative Research, Experimental Design, and Structural Equation models.
Core courses include a variety of departmental seminars, covering research methods, micro (OB) content areas, and macro (Strategy) content areas.
- Research Methods in Management
- Leadership
- Motivation and Attitudes
- Groups and Teams
- Affect, Cognition and Decision Making
- Human Resource Management
- Decision Making
- Process of Strategic Management
- Content of Strategic Management
- Entrepreneurship
Our students also take a number of courses methods and statistics courses outside the department, tailored to their specific backgrounds and interests. Some of the options for those classes include:
- Statistics I
- Statistics II
- Regression (basic and advanced)
- Structural Equation Modeling
- Multi-level Modeling
- Social Networks
- Econometrics I
- Econometrics II
- Experimental Design
Mentoring
A unique aspect of the UF Ph.D. in management is our apprenticeship approach to student development. In year 1, each student is assigned an advisor based on mutual interests. Students work with faculty (and sometimes other PH.D. students) on a project throughout their first year. They present the results of that research in a department seminar during year 2. In year 2, student continue with faculty mentored research, but they assume a stronger leadership role. This research is presented in a department seminar in Year 3.
Structure
The Ph.D. program’s structure follows this path:
Year One
- Required coursework in methods and management content
- Mentored research project (first year paper)
Year Two
- Required coursework in methods and management content
- Mentored research project (second year paper)
Year Three
- Additional methods and content class to match student interests and needs
- Teaching experience
- Continued to develop program of research
- Select dissertation topic and committee; advance to candidacy
Year Four
- Develop and defend dissertation proposal
- Begin data collection
Year Five
- Complete and defend proposal
- Job search
Program requirements
Review the Graduate Student Handbook for details on the requirements of the program.
Financial information
All students who are admitted into the program receive a stipend of at least $43,000 a year. Students also receive a full tuition waiver.
Fellowships and assistantships
Financial support can be offered as a graduate assistantship or fellowship. An assistantship is a salaried position that requires the student to support a faculty member in research and/or teaching. Standard assistantships require a time commitment averaging 13.5 hours per week. A fellowship is a salaried position that does not have a work requirement. A fellowship allows a student to devote more time to research activities.
Graduate Assistantships provide opportunities for graduate students to work on a part-time basis under the supervision of one or more faculty members in duties related to instruction, research, or professional service. Students who hold graduate assistantships are required to enroll for a minimum number of credits, corresponding to the amount of their assistantship appointment. Graduate assistantships typically are awarded by the student’s academic department depending upon funding availability and program needs.
The retention of assistantships and fellowships is predicated on satisfactory academic progress as well as satisfactory performance of assigned tasks. The Department does not guarantee continuous funding for graduate students, nor any minimum number of semesters of aid. Most assistantships and fellowships, however, are extended for a duration of five years.
Students holding at least quarter-time graduate assistantships or fellowships paying at least $3,150 per semester are eligible for in-state or out-of-state tuition waivers up to the minimum credits required for full-time enrollment. Tuition waivers for each semester will be granted to qualifying assistants and fellows, provided they maintain a 3.0 GPA and are employed on or before the first day of classes through the end of final exams. Tuition waivers do not cover fees associated with registration (approximately $700 per semester).
Applications for graduate assistantships and fellowships are made by submitting all application materials to the department. The host department will identify qualified applicants and compete for resources at the College and University level. Historically, fellowship winners have had a high GPA (3.75 or above on a 4-point scale), outstanding test scores (680+ on the GMAT or a combined score of 333+ on the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE), and evidence of research potential.
International students must have a F1 or J1 visa to receive an assistantship
Tuition and expenses
Visit the Graduate Catalog financial information page.
Financial aid applications
Visit the Student Financial Affairs website for applications and information concerning educational loans.
Health insurance
Ph.D. students may enroll in GatorGradCare health insurance.
Graduate school funding and Catalog
Visit the Graduate School funding page and the Graduate Catalog financial aid page for other sources of information on fellowship and assistantships.
Management faculty
Meet our professors who teach and mentor management Ph.D. students.
Amir Erez
W.A. McGriff, III Professor
Trevor Foulk
Associate Professor
Aaron Hill
W.A. McGriff, III Professor
Klodiana Lanaj
Martin L. Schaffel Professor
Gwen Lee
Chester C. Holloway Professor
Kyung Lee
Assistant Professor
Yixuan Li
Associate Professor
David Ross
R. Perry Frankland Professor
Brian Swider
Beth Ayers McCague Family Fellowship
Mo Wang
Associate Dean and Lanzillotti-McKethan Eminent Scholar
Ph.D. students and alumni
Meet our current students, students who are available for hire and graduates of our program.
5th year
Zhefan Huang
Stuzin Hall 210
352-281-6668
Email Zhefan
Junhui Yang
Stuzin Hall 212
352-392-5833
Email Junhui
3rd year
Hatameh Ahmadi Harandi
Stuzin Hall 204
352-392-0102
Email Hatameh
Bingjie Lu
Stuzin Hall 204
508-280-1033
Email Bingjie
Kaidi Wang
Stuzin Hall 208
772-911-9187
Email Kaidi
Jesse M. Render
Stuzin Hall 206
407-304-7530
Email Jesse
2nd year
Yejoo (Esther) Lee
Stuzin Hall 210
515-509-3965
Email Yejoo
Zhihui Sheng
Stuzin Hall 208
858-666-7421
Email Zhihui
Baoluo Wang
Stuzin Hall 212
717-683-3126
Email Baoluo
1st Year
Pedepo Emmanuel
Stuzin Hall 212
813-834-7991
Email Pedepo
Preston John Miller
Stuzin Hall 206
801-368-3190
Email Preston
Inoo Moon
Stuzin Hall 211J
352-709-6733
Email Inoo
Zhefan Huang
Stuzin Hall 210
352-281-6668
Email Zhefan
Junhui Yang
Stuzin Hall 212
(352) 392-5833
Email Junhui
Our former students have gone on to have strong academic careers. Some have won early career awards, others serve on the editorial boards – or as editors – of top management journals. Our graduates have a solid track record of publishing as well, authoring more than 400 academic articles, and many in top journals. Below is a list of our former students along with their initial placement and their current position.
| Graduation | Student | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Daniel Dong-Wook Kim | University of Iowa |
| 2023 | Jake Gale | Indiana University |
| 2023 | Jarrod Humphrey | Xavier University |
| 2022 | Remy Jennings | Florida State University |
| 2022 | Yiduo Shao | University of Iowa |
| 2021 | Dong Hyun Shin | City University of Hong Kong |
| 2020 | Binyamin Cooper | Carnegie Mellon University |
| 2020 | Valeria Alterman | University of Miami |
| 2019 | Elisabeth Gilbert | Washington and Lee University |
| 2019 | Yifan Song | Temple University |
| 2019 | Min-Hsuan Tu | State University of New York at Buffalo |
| 2018 | Yixuan Li | Purdue University |
| 2017 | Trevor Foulk | University of Maryland |
| 2017 | Yihao Liu | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
| 2017 | Andrew Woolum | University of North Carolina Wilmington |
| 2017 | Victor Jarosiewicz | University of Missouri |
| 2016 | Mishari Alnahedh | Kuwait University |
| 2016 | Randall Croom | Stetson University |
| 2016 | Jaclyn Koopmann | Auburn University |
| 2015 | Alex Rubenstein | University of Memphis |
| 2015 | Le (Betty) Zhou | University of Minnesota |
| 2014 | James Van Scotter II | University of Colorado-Colorado Springs |
| 2013 | David Long | College of William & Mary |
| 2012 | Swapnil Garg | Indian Institute of Management |
| 2012 | Ryan Klinger | Old Dominion University |
| 2012 | Jennifer Knippen | University of Virginia |
| 2011 | Eean Crawford | University of Iowa |
| 2011 | Lauren Simon | Portland State University |
| 2010 | Charlice Hurst | University of Western Ontario |
| 2010 | Jessica Methot | Rutgers University |
| 2010 | Jessica Rodell | University of Georgia |
| 2009 | Beth Livingston | Cornell University |
| 2009 | Pauline Schilpzand | Oregon State University |
| 2009 | Cindy Zapata | Georgia Tech |
| 2008 | Erin Fluegge | Southern Missouri State |
| 2007 | Nathan Podsakoff | University of Arizona |
| 2007 | Brent Scott | Michigan State University |
| 2006 | Richard Gentry | West Virginia University |
| 2006 | Bruce Rich | Cal State University, San Marcos |
| 2005 | Thomas Greckhamer | Louisiana State University |
| 2005 | Christine Jackson | Purdue University |
| 2005 | Ronald Piccolo | Rollins College |
| 2004 | Eric Fong | University of Alabama – Huntsville |
| 2004 | John Shaw | Jacksonville University |
| 2003 | Remus Ilies | National University of Singapore |
| 2002 | Vilmos Misangyi | Penn State |
| 2001 | Misty Loughry | Clemson University |
Contact us
Ph.D. in Business Administration – Management
Warrington College of Business,
University of Florida
Phone: 352-392-0163
Fax: 352-392-6020
Questions?
Dr. Amir Erez
W.A. McGriff, III Professor
Ph.D. Coordinator
352-273-0339
Email Amir
Michelle Evern
Ph.D. Admissions Assistant
352-392-0163
Email Michelle