Human Resources Management

A Ph.D. degree in business is ideally suited for you, if you are intellectually curious, enjoy learning new things, and have an analytical mind that enjoys solving problems and generating new ideas. In today’s knowledge-based society, business academia offers a financially secure and flexible career with an opportunity to critically and positively impact society. For more information on the Ph.D. program, view the KU Office of Graduate Studies' doctoral program profile.

The Ph.D. Program in Human Resources Management (HRM) prepares students for success in research universities as faculty members specializing in human resources. The field of human resources is dedicated to a better understanding of how work organizations can perform more effectively by better management of their people. Many HRM scholars specialize or focus on more micro-level work, such as researching the impact of specific HR practices (e.g., selection or training techniques) on individual-level measures of satisfaction or performance. Alternatively, macro-level HR (i.e., “strategic HRM”) scholars study the effects of systems of HR policies and practices on organizational-level outcomes. KU faculty have expertise at both levels, as evidenced by publications in prestigious outlets such as Personnel Psychology, Journal of Applied Psychology, Academy of Management Journal, Organization Science, Industrial and Labor Relations Review, etc. PhD students work closely with faculty to gain research and teaching expertise in the various functions and activities carried out as part of HRM, including the relationship between these practices and organizational strategies, cultures, and performance. Major topics include staffing, performance management, compensation, training and development and labor relations.

Required Coursework

1. BE 701: Business Economics OR BE 917: Advanced Managerial Economics

OR ECON 700: Survey of Microeconomics

2. MGMT 905: Philosophy of the Behavioral and Organizational Sciences

3. MGMT 906: Behavioral Research Methods

4. MGMT 916: Seminar in Organization Theory

5. MGMT 950: Acquiring and Perparing Human Resources

6. MGMT 951: Retaining and Utilizing Human Resources

7. MGMT 952: Strategic Human Resource Management

8. MGMT 953: Designing Effective Work Environments in Organizations OR

MGMT 954: Individual and Interactionist Perspectives of Organizations OR

MGMT 955: Creativity, Innovation, and Change in Organizations OR

MGMT 956: Economic Theories of Strategic Management OR

MGMT 957: Behavioral Theories of Strategic Management OR

IBUS 950: Research in International Management and Strategy OR

MGMT 998: Independent Studey in Management

Human Resources Minor (Research Methods)

One of the two sequences below:

Sequence 1:

10. PSYC 790: Statistical Methods in Psychology

11. PSYC 791: Statistical Methods in Psychology II

Sequence 2:

10. DSCI 920: Probability for Business Research

11. DSCI 921: Statistics for Business Research

AND

12. PSYC 893: Multivariate Analysis

13. PSYC 894: Multilevel Modeling

14. PSYC 896: Structural Equation Modeling I

15. One elective from the following below.

PSYC 996: Structural Equation Modeling II OR

PSCY 895: Categorical Data Analysis OR

EPSY 812: Meta-Analysis OR

EPSY 814: Nonparametric Statistics OR

an equivalent course

The requirements of the PhD program are demanding and students must make sustained progress toward completing all degree requirements in four to five years. College mathematics, including calculus, is a prerequisite. Admitted students usually hold a Masters degree in Business or a related discipline. However, qualified applicants are encouraged to apply directly after obtaining their undergraduate degree in any discipline.

Applicants must demonstrate competence through a high level of prior academic performance and a score of 600 or above on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), however highly qualified applicants with a score below may be considered. Non-native English speakers must score at least a 600 on the paper-based, 250 on the computer-based, or 100 on the internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or at least a 68 on the Pearson Test of English.

Finally, the applicant must demonstrate the ability for doctoral study through a record of achievement in professional and academic experience, as evidenced in letters of recommendation.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

In addition to full tuition and fee payment, all Ph.D. students are supported via research or teaching assistantships or fellowships. Subsidized health insurance is available through the university. Many students also receive University Dissertation Fellowships. Funding is also available to attend professional conferences.