PhD Program

- Our student-centered program is based on flexibility, a collegial environment, free inquiry, informed risk taking and exposes students to top quality research early in the program.

- We employ a “learner-centered” approach, fostering intellectual partnerships between faculty and students as students hone their skills in identifying interesting research topics, conducting rigorous research, and presenting their research to academic and non-academic audiences.

- We maintain a high faculty-to-student ratio, allowing students to receive quality mentoring and to develop research and teaching skills under the apprenticeship of renowned faculty members.

- We strive for students to have ample co-authorship opportunities with faculty; most of our graduates produce multiple papers with faculty before graduation.

- Students have unmatched exposure to global cultures as USC is home to more international students than any other university in the United States.

- Graduates join two powerful networks with unsurpassed reach: the Trojan Family, with more than 375,000 USC alumni worldwide, and the Marshall Trojan Family, with 80,000 graduates in 123 countries.

At Marshall, we believe in exposing students to research early in the program and providing all the necessary support to prepare students for conducting top quality research. This includes providing resources such as state of the art computers/information systems support, innumerable research databases, behavioral labs, research grants and industry access. It also includes working with faculty on research projects, and receiving the necessary training, guidance and mentorship from a top-flight researcher.

Many of our Ph.D. students will publish at least one top journal paper along with faculty prior to graduation.

The Marshall Ph.D. program offers you the opportunity to explore your research interests and take advantage of the classes, centers and programs offered both within and outside of Marshall.

- Our curriculum includes numerous electives that can be taken within Marshall, at USC schools outside of Marshall and at other universities.

- USC offers more than 400 highly regarded graduate and professional programs that prepare students for leadership positions in research, education and professional practice.

- Our interdisciplinary approach to research includes productive collaborations with other USC professional schools and access to USC’s 100-plus research centers and institutes.

Fellowship & Graduate Assistantships

Accepted students receive a competitive fellowship and/or graduate assistantship package. The package includes full tuition, a generous stipend, health and dental insurance, and coverage of mandatory student health center fees. The combination of fellowship and graduate assistantship is guaranteed for five years for those who maintain satisfactory degree progress.

Outside Funding

Occasionally a student brings outside funding to replace or supplement the funding from the USC Marshall School of Business. Examples of outside funding sources include the Ph.D. Project, foreign governments, and the Accounting Doctoral Scholars program. Such funding is acceptable, but applicants should understand that funding source is not considered in the evaluation process. We accept only the top applicants regardless of the source of funding.

Research Support & Awards

Marshall Ph.D. students are provided with a discretionary account for teaching and research activities. The annual funding increases as the student progresses in the program into more research activities in the later years.

After advancing to candidacy, students become eligible for competitive research awards open exclusively to USC Marshall Ph.D. students. Past awards have been sponsored by the USC Graduate School, the Ford Foundation, the USC Marshall Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurship and the USC Marshall James S. Ford Award.

Marshall is located at the heart of Los Angeles and Southern California, giving students access to the people and places that make the region a global force. As one of the world’s most dynamic, diverse and successful business centers, Los Angeles is equal parts international trendsetter and cultural crossroads. Students at Marshall are immersed in a vibrant international city that is a major player in emerging economies across the Pacific Rim.The University of Southern California, one of the world’s leading private research universities, offers a global outlook as well as close ties with the local community, providing opportunities to gain real-world experience while making a lasting impact.