Frequently Asked Questions

A Ph.D. in International Business will prepare you for a career as a college or university professor. The program is designed to prepare individuals to teach, perform research and provide service to their university, college, community and to the profession. Occasionally, graduates of Ph.D. programs do not become university professors but instead move into specialized government or industry jobs; however, our program focuses on preparing candidates for academic careers.

Currently, there is a high demand for academicians in all business disciplines. Research suggests that this demand will continue to increase as one-half of all current business faculty will reach retirement age in the next four years.

Earning a Ph.D. can be broken down into two stages: the coursework stage and the dissertation stage. All students must first complete 2-3 years of coursework, culminated by a set of comprehensive exams. Students then spend at least one year developing and conducting original research resulting in a written dissertation.

When you enter the program, you will be matched to a faculty advisor. Although this faculty member may advise you throughout the entire program, neither you nor the faculty member are obliged to maintain this initial arrangement. As you develop your own interests and research agenda, a different faculty member may emerge as a more appropriate advisor. At the dissertation stage, your advisor will help you select a committee who will assist and guide you as you complete your dissertation.

While taking coursework, you should expect to take nine hours each semester. During the dissertation stage, you will be enrolled for a minimum of three dissertation hours each semester.

The program consists of 2 to 3 years of coursework and a dissertation. Although it is possible to complete the program in three years, it is more realistic to plan on four years. If you do not have a MBA and/or a strong business background, you will likely need to take “leveling” Business Foundation courses. As a result, the program will take longer.

This is a full-time program. Most courses will be offered during the day. Most, if not all, students will teach and/or serve as teaching and research assistants throughout the program. These experiences are a very important part of the training and make successful management of both the program and employment outside the program impossible.

Because teaching is critical to success in an academic career, all Ph.D. students will teach while they are enrolled in the program. Students will teach courses under the close supervision of their faculty advisor. The teaching experience will also allow students to develop a teaching portfolio, a requirement for employment at many colleges and universities.

An MBA or a business-related master’s degree will reduce the amount of coursework needed to earn your Ph.D. in International Business. However, we welcome applicants who have training in other fields. If you do not have a business background, you may be required to take up to eight “leveling” Business Foundation courses in addition to your Ph.D. coursework.

A master’s degree is not required for admission to the program. However, if you do not have a master’s degree you may be required to take up to eight “leveling” MBA courses in addition to your Ph.D. coursework.

Your chances of acceptance are improved if you have a solid record of academic achievement and a high GMAT score. Relevant business experience is also a plus.

A GMAT score is preferred. However, if you have taken the GRE within the past five years with an exceptionally high score, you do not need to take the GMAT.

Yes.

If your GMAT or GRE score is more than five years old, you must take the GMAT.

The TOEFL is required of all applicants whose native language is not English. An acceptable score is 600/250.

You must re-take the TOEFL if your score is more than two years old.

Persons writing letters of recommendation should sign their name across back of the envelope (across the part of the envelope that has been sealed). The writer should send the letter directly to:

The Graduate School
University of Texas at El Paso
200 Administration Building
500 West University Ave.
El Paso, TX 79968-0587

Alternatively, the online application system allows you to "register" your recommenders so that they can submit their recommendation letters online. Please see the application link for this process.

Subject to availability of funds and academic performance, students are provided financial support in the form of teaching or research assistantships. Access to funding is very competitive and is provided to those students who demonstrate the highest probability of success as an academic. Accompanying the assistantship, UTEP will pay your health insurance after a 90-day waiting period and provide in-state tuition rates (waiver of out-of-state tuition rates). Other benefits are also available. For more information about benefits, please contact Human Resources at (915) 747-5202 or visit their website at www.utep.edu/hresourc/. All applicants are also encouraged to apply for financial assistance outside the University. Numerous financial assistance programs are available to Ph.D. students. For more information, please contact The Graduate School at (915) 747-5491.

You do not need to fill out a separate form to apply for a teaching or research assistantship.

El Paso sits at the far most western tip of Texas where Texas, New Mexico and Mexico intersect. According to Census 2000, El Paso is the second safest city of its size (500,000+) in the nation. It is the fifth largest city in Texas and the twenty-third largest city in the U.S. The city boasts mild winters with a mean high of 76.8 degrees, a mean low of 50.6 degrees and an average of 310 days/year of clear and partly cloudy skies. Bordering Ciudad Juárez, México, El Paso provides an ideal location for International Business students to study a wide range of international business issues and to experience a diverse social and cultural environment not available elsewhere. For more information about El Paso and the surrounding region, please visit www.elpasocvb.com.