PhD in Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University

Stanford University

United States of America, Stanford

University Rank:#3

Stanford University offers the PhD of Management Science and Engineering as a full-time degree delivered on campus at its main campus in Stanford , United States of America. Taught in English and completed over 4 years, the program equips students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for management science and engineering and related professional fields. Tuition fees are USD 20,058 / term, and the next available intake begins on June 24, 2253.

About PhD in Management Science and Engineering

The Ph.D. degree in MS&E is intended for students primarily interested in a career of research and teaching, or high-level technical work in universities, industry, or government. The program requires three years of full-time graduate study, at least two years of which must be at Stanford. Typically, however, students take four to five years after entering the program to complete all Ph.D. requirements. The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 135 units, up to 45 units of which may be transferred from another graduate program. The Ph.D. is organized around the expectation that the students acquire a certain breadth across all areas of the department, and depth in one of them. The current areas are:

Computational Social Science
Decision and Risk Analysis
Energy and Environment
Health Systems Modeling and Policy
National Security Policy
Operations Research
Organizations
Quantitative Finance
Strategy, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship

Doctoral students are required to take MS&E302, our breadth requirement, and a number of specified courses in one of the areas of the department. All courses used to satisfy depth requirements must be taken for a letter grade, if the letter graded option is available. Prior to candidacy, at least 3 units of work must be taken with each of four Stanford faculty members.

Each student admitted to the Ph.D. program must pass an area qualification procedure. The purpose of the qualification procedure is to assess the student's command of the field and to evaluate his or her potential to complete a high-quality dissertation, based on research which must make an original contribution to knowledge, in a timely manner.

Finally, the student must complete a Ph.D. dissertation, and pass a University oral examination, which is a defense of the dissertation. During the course of the Ph.D. program, students who do not have a master's degree are strongly encouraged to complete one, either in MS&E or in another Stanford department.

Breadth Requirement

All first year students are required to attend and participate in MS&E302 Fundamental Concepts in Management Science and Engineering, which meets in the Autumn Quarter.

Each course session is devoted to a specific MS&E Ph.D. research area. At a given session several advanced Ph.D. students in that area make carefully prepared presentations designed for first-year doctoral students regardless of area. The presentations are devoted to: (a) illuminating how people in the area being explored that day think about and approach problems, and (b) illustrating what can and cannot be done when addressing problems by deploying the knowledge, perspectives, and skills acquired by those who specialize in the area in question. Faculty in the focal area of the week comment on the weekly student presentations. The rest of the session is devoted to questions posed and comments made by the first year Ph.D. students.

During the last two weeks of the quarter, groups of first year students make presentations on how they would approach a problem drawing on two or more of the perspectives to which they have been exposed earlier in the class.

Attendance is mandatory and performance is assessed on the basis of the quality of the students' presentations and class participation

Degree Progress and Student Responsibility

Each doctoral student's progress is reviewed annually by the MS&E faculty. Typically, this occurs at a faculty meeting at the end of Spring Quarter, and an appropriate email notification is sent over the summer to the student and their adviser. It shall be the responsibility of the student to initiate each required step in completing the Ph.D. program.

To maintain good standing in the degree program, first-year students must:

complete 30 units, including MS&E302 and doctoral courses taught by faculty in their research area;
develop relationships with faculty members who can potentially serve as dissertation adviser or reading committee member. A faculty member is more likely to accept the responsibility of supervising the research of a student whom he or she knows fairly well than a student whose abilities, initiative, and originality the faculty member knows less well. It is recommended that students participate in research rotations with MS&E and related faculty to facilitate the development of these relationships.

To maintain good standing in the degree program second-year students must:

submit a candidacy form signed by at least one MS&E faculty member with whom they have or will complete research rotations, tutorials, or papers, and listing the course requirements agreed upon by both the student and the program adviser;
complete at least two one-quarter research rotations or tutorials, or one two-quarter research rotation, tutorial, or research paper, continuing to develop relationships with faculty members who might serve as dissertation adviser or reading committee member;
complete 30 units, including most, if not all, of the required courses listed on the candidacy form;
pass an area qualifying exam, or defense of the written paper(s);
be advanced to candidacy by the faculty.

To maintain good standing in the degree program, third-year students must:

submit a progress form listing the dissertation topic and signed by the dissertation adviser (if the dissertation adviser is not an MS&E faculty member, the form must also be signed by an MS&E faculty member who agrees to be on the student's reading committee, as well as the student's point of contact within the department);
complete 30 units, including any remaining depth courses.

To maintain good standing in the degree program, fourth-year students must:

select a reading committee (a dissertation adviser and two readers) with at least one member from the student's major department, and submit the reading committee form signed by each member on the reading committee;
make satisfactory progress on their dissertation as determined by their dissertation adviser;
if the student has not transferred any previous graduate units to Stanford, complete 30 dissertation units.

To maintain good standing in the degree program beyond the fourth year, students must make satisfactory progress on their dissertation as determined by their dissertation adviser and approved by the faculty. Indeed, the dissertation adviser will have to present the case to (and seek approval for good standing of the student from) the faculty in the annual faculty meeting for student review. It should be noted that each student inherently has to pass the oral examination (see below) and submit their dissertation before their candidacy expires.

Additionally, to remain in good standing, and to remain eligible for funding, students must perform well in all assistantship positions.

Any special cases, for a student to remain in good standing based on extenuating circumstances, must be presented to and approved by the whole faculty.

Prepare for a career in research and teaching, or high-level work in universities, industry, or government and become a leader in solving the critical technical and managerial needs of organizations.

The Ph.D. is conferred upon candidates who have demonstrated substantial scholarship and the ability to conduct independent research. Through course work and guided research, the program prepares students to make original contributions in Management Science and Engineering and related fields.

Disciplines

Management Science and Engineering

Requirements and Admission Criteria for PhD in Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University

Entry Requirements

At Stanford, we practice holistic admission. Each piece in your application is part of an integrated and comprehensive whole.

One piece tells us about your background and life experiences, another about your school and your academic achievement. We learn from others about your character and intellectual contributions. In your essays, we learn about your ideas and interests, and what is meaningful to you.

Each year we aim to enroll a class of diverse backgrounds and experiences, talents, academic interests, and ways of viewing the world.

In a holistic review, we seek to understand how you, as a whole person, would grow, contribute and thrive at Stanford, and how Stanford would, in turn, be changed by you.

Academic Excellence

The primary criterion for admission to Stanford is academic excellence. We look for your preparation and potential to succeed. We expect you to challenge yourself throughout high school and to do very well.

The most important credential for evaluating your academic record is your high school transcript. Please know that our evaluation goes beyond any numerical formula. There is no minimum GPA or test score, nor is there any specific number of AP or honors courses you must have on your transcript in order to have your application reviewed or be admitted to Stanford.

For more complete information on our curriculum guidelines for first-year students, please visit our Academic Preparation page.

Intellectual Vitality

We want to see your commitment, dedication and genuine interest in expanding your intellectual horizons, both in what you write about yourself and in what others write on your behalf. We want to see the kind of curiosity and enthusiasm that will allow you to spark a lively discussion in a first-year seminar and continue the conversation at the dinner table. We want to see the energy and depth of commitment you will bring to your endeavors, whether that means in a research lab, as part of a community organization, during a performance or on an athletic field. We want to see the initiative with which you seek out opportunities and expand your perspective.

Extracurricular Activities

Learning about your extracurricular activities and nonacademic interests helps us understand your potential contributions to the Stanford community. Students often assume our primary concern is the number of activities in which a student participates. In fact, an exceptional depth of experience in one or two activities may demonstrate your passion more than minimal participation in five or six clubs. You may also hold down a job or have family responsibilities. These are as important as any other extracurricular activity. In general, we want to understand the impact you have had at your job, in your family, in a club, in your school or in the larger community, and we want to learn of the impact that experience has had on you.

In some cases, exceptional abilities in athletics may influence our decision if the applicant is otherwise well qualified, but such abilities never, by themselves, ensure admission to Stanford.

Context

Just as no two Stanford students are the same, each applicant to Stanford is unique. This means that as we review each application, we pay careful attention to unique circumstances. We take into account your background, educational pathway, and work and family responsibilities. By focusing on your achievements in context, we evaluate how you have excelled in your school environment and how you have taken advantage of what is available to you in your school and community.

It is important to know these variables are not listed in order of importance in our evaluation and selection process. We review applications holistically. No portion of the application is considered without the rest of the application.

English Requirements

TOEFLMin 100

Tuition and Fee Information for PhD in Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University

Tuition Fee

20,058 / term

Application Fee 90

How to Apply for PhD in Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University

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PhD in Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University

Stanford University

United States of America, Stanford