Courses in Preparation for PhD

[asa_sl]

seems you change your mind.
getting preparation before doing phd.
I think what u need is good math background since you are from business background.

[bauble]

Originally Posted by Ancalagon The Black

bauble, thanks so much. Could you please check the following link below to determine if this is the first PhD level course that you are talking about:

Sections for ECMT - TAMU Economics

Thanks.

Those descriptions are a bit thin so it is hard to tell, but I to IV cover the core for first year. Every dept is different, so perhaps this place had spread it over two years?

[Ancalagon The Black]

Exactly. I need more math. Thats why I was rejected from Stern. I need more math. I am going to take more math over the summer.

[AstralTraveller]

Originally Posted by Ancalagon The Black

Exactly. I need more math. Thats why I was rejected from Stern. I need more math. I am going to take more math over the summer.

I have never been too sure that any lack of math is your exact handicap. I am sure you will have fulfilled most necessary math requirements after this semester. I always thought you just didn't "sell" your math level well enough during applications or interviews.

[Ancalagon The Black]

AT:

Very good point. I didn't know that it was so essential in PhD admissions. Neither did I focus on it, nor did I write about it in the SOP. Also, I didn't do the other fringe things like give math syllabus/text books used or even clarify them.

[moomber123]

Hi,

I would think a focus on econometrics courses is well advised, but keep in mind that there is a difference between econ PhD and business PhD. If the courses focus on a lot of rigorous mathematical concerns, like proof, your time might be better spent elsewhere.

Also, business research can be carried out in many ways. Some departments are very "sociology" oriented than "econ" oriented. Your preparation efforts should reflect the departments you are or plan on heading.

As someone with IS exposure, I'd also caution an overt emphasis on econometrics for IS research. There is a growing concern among IS scholars that the research conducted in IS community lacks relevance. That is to say, all this nice regression research, based on positivist philosophy, just doesn't help giving managerial insights to MIS practitioners. I am one big proponent for such an opinion. It is sad to see doctoral students in IS slaving away to do all those econometrics-based research to shoot for MISQ/ISR publication, and then learn some half-baked skills in system analysis and design just to fulfill the teaching duty. The result is bad teaching and bad learning. I think you are better prepared if you know what kind of IS you are interested in spending the rest of your life doing first. Is it the purely managerial oriented IS that is much like strategy? If so, yes, econometrics will be your best tool. But if you hope to become a scholar capable of guiding technical professional, then that might be the wrong way to go. This is probably a symptom of deeper issues in IS as a field. IS is actually more like two disciplines forced to join together, and might actually be better served if they go their separate ways (in many regard, they already have. publishing in different set of journals, going to different departments, hosting different conferences, etc). For more IS related info, you can go to AISWorld Net Home Page

[Ancalagon The Black]

Thank you so much for the valuable inputs !!