Admission to the program is highly competitive. It is based on an applicant's past graduate and undergraduate school records, score on the graduate management admissions test (GMAT), prior experiences, a personal statement and letters of recommendation.
No specific graduate or undergraduate major is required. However, an MBA is preferred. A student who does not have a master's degree in business may be required to complete a set of courses equivalent to a "core" that is covered in an MBA program. Questions about prerequisites should be directed to the program director. This is a full-time program, requiring year-round study and a 20-hour/week paid research assistantship. Typically, students can finish their coursework in two years and the program in four-to-five years, subject to progress on a dissertation. Students generally take about 15 courses consisting of seminars and directed readings and/or research. A student's curriculum choices are supervised and approved by an advisory committee.
All required courses are offered on a biennial basis in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters, along with a variety of elective courses.

