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Data Sciences + Operations PhD Program
Operations Management studies how firms organize their resources and recurring activities in order to be competitive in cost, price, responsiveness and quality. The field stresses quantitative techniques ranging from applied probability to optimization and game theory.
Operations Management
Operations Management studies how firms organize their resources and recurring activities in order to be competitive in cost, price, responsiveness and quality. The field stresses quantitative techniques ranging from applied probability to optimization and game theory. Successful applicants will have strong technical and mathematical training, and we particularly encourage applicants with undergraduate degrees in mathematics, economics and/or engineering to apply at the USC Application Portal. A prior background in business is not required.
Research areas: Our faculty are interested in a wide variety of research questions; check their personal webpages for specific examples. Some indicative topics include:
Operations Management and operations research prize interdisciplinary thinking and approaches. Hence, high-quality research often leverages a range of methodologies and tools, including:
High quality research can involve developing new theoretical tools in these areas, application driven case studies, or both.
Statistics
Our statistics faculty are interested in both pushing the boundaries of theoretical knowledge in the field as well as applied areas. There are many interesting research projects at the intersection of statistics, computer science, econometrics, finance, and marketing. Selected topics include:
Cuttingedge research in these areas leverages and builds upon many mathematical tools including:
Collegial, Supportive and Expansive
The DSO Ph.D. program is research-focused, collegial, supportive and highly interactive. Ph.D. students are viewed as “junior colleagues” and are encouraged to become involved in academic research with faculty early in their doctoral studies through the following programs and initiatives:
RESEARCH
Operations Management Research
Research Environment
The structure of the Ph.D. program permits great flexibility, allowing custom-tailored courses of study emphasizing all areas of specialization within the department. In addition to our own faculty, students typically draw on the distinguished faculty and outstanding resources available throughout the University, most notably in economics, mathematics, industrial and systems engineering, computer science, and the Information Sciences Institute. The Center for Global Supply Chain Management(GSCM) and the Institute for Communication Technology Management (CTM) are also key resources to this program.
Recognized Research Authorities
The Operations Management faculty have served as senior editors and associate editors of premier management journals, including:
Faculty Honors
Learn More: Explore the Data Sciences and Operations department to learn more about current research and faculty activities.
Statistic Research
Research by the statistics faculty emphasizes developing new methodology that grows out of business and public policy applications. In methodology, the statistics faculty's research covers a wide segment of the field of statistics including Bayes and empirical Bayes methods, data mining, categorical data, hidden state Markov models, classification rules, clustering methods, econometric and psychometric models, and general linear models. Applications include finance, marketing, real estate, health policy, defense system testing, computer science and discrimination in employment and in sentencing.
The Statistics faculty members are among the leading authorities of Business Statistics worldwide. One senior Statistics faculty member plays a leading role in the profession's advice to the federal government on statistical methodology. In addition, Statistics faculty members have served as senior editors and associate editors of premier management journals, including:
Learn More: Explore the Statistics group to learn more about current research and faculty activities.
Faculty Coordinator: Vishal Gupta, Associate Professor of DSO
OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS
Year 1
Sample Course Schedule
Fall:
Spring:
Summer:
Research Development Beginning in the first semester, students will apprentice with a faculty mentor to learn research fundamentals. Typically students are assigned to a new mentor each semester in the first year. During the summer following the first year in the program, students are expected to research and complete a Summer Research Paper.
Screening ExaminationIn addition to the papers and examinations assigned in their first-year courses, a screening process will occur in May at the end of the first year. This process will include a review of each student's grades, an analysis of competence in written communications and a written exam based on the material covered during the first year. The results of the examination help the faculty determine students’ developmental needs and fitness to continue in the program.
Year 2
Year 3
Research DevelopmentAt this stage in the program, the relationships Ph.D. candidates have developed through the research apprentices often lead to collaborative research projects. Ph.D. candidates continue to apprentice faculty with increasing responsibility. They also begin work on their dissertations and are expected to have an approved dissertation proposal before the start of the fourth year.
Teaching DevelopmentPh.D. candidates begin developing teaching skills by serving as a teaching assistant for one or two classes and engaging in teaching skills workshops.
Qualifying ExamThe examination qualifying a student for candidacy for the Ph.D. degree is partly written and partly oral, designed, at least in part, to test the student’s fitness to undertake independent research. After successful completion of the qualifying exams, the student is admitted to candidacy.
Year 4
Research DevelopmentResearch is the primary activity in the fourth year and beyond. Faculty view Ph.D. candidates as “junior colleagues” and partner to write and present papers.
Teaching DevelopmentPh.D. candidates co-teach one course with a faculty member.
Dissertation Defense & SubmissionThe dissertation is the culminating work of a student’s independent research. In the fourth or fifth year of the program, students complete, defend and submit the dissertation. This is the last step to earn the Ph.D. degree.
STATISTICS REQUIREMENTS
Research Development Beginning in the first semester, students will apprentice with a faculty mentor to learn research fundamentals. Typically students are assigned to a new mentor each semester in the first year. In the summer following the first year in the program, students research and complete a Summer Research Paper.
Research DevelopmentAt this stage in the program, the relationships Ph.D. candidates have developed through the research apprentices often lead to collaborative research projects. Ph.D. candidates continue to apprentice faculty with increasing responsibility. They also begin work on their dissertations.
Qualifying ExamStudents are required to complete the qualifying exam by November 1 of their third year. The examination qualifying a student for candidacy for the Ph.D. degree is partly written and partly oral, designed, at least in part, to test the student’s fitness to undertake independent research. After successful completion of the qualifying exams, the student is admitted to candidacy.
STUDENTS
The department maintains a highly supportive and collegial atmosphere that fosters close cooperation and coordination among the faculty to ensure the integration of the several specific disciplines represented by individual members of the group. This collaborative imperative guarantees the continued relevance and timeliness of the teaching and research programs.
Student Background: Our students come from all of over the world. They have strong academic backgrounds and bring with them a variety of experiences prior to joining the program.
APPLYING TO THE PhD PROGRAM
DATES + DEADLINES
September: Application OpensDecember 15 Application Deadline: Accounting and Management and Organization*January 15 Application Deadline: Data Sciences & Operations, Finance & Business Economics and MarketingFebruary 15 Decision Notifications BeginApril 15 Admit Decision DeadlineThe Fall 2023 application is open!The link to the PhD Program application is available on the Admissions page and the next opportunity to apply is for Fall 2023 admission. Late applications may or may not be considered at the discretion of the admissions committee.Admissions decisions are made from mid-February to mid-April. You will be notified by email when a decision has been made.
REQUEST INFORMATION
For more information about this program please fill out THIS FORM.
ADMISSIONS CONTACT
Ph.D. ProgramUSC Marshall School of Business3670 Trousdale Parkway, BRI 306Los Angeles, California 90089-0809EMAIL