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School of Management
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Curriculum

A typical course schedule is outlined below. However, you can satisfy your seminar, research methodology and managerial skills requirements in numerous ways depending on your prior academic coursework and research interests.

In your first few years of study, your faculty advisor will help you navigate the curriculum and coordinate with other faculty who can serve as your mentors.

Refer to the PhD Handbook for complete information on all program requirements.

Courses outlined here are for example purposes only.

Fall Semester

  • MGO 615 Econometric Methods and Managerial Applications I 
  • ECO 665 Microeconomics Theory I
  • MGO 633LEC Global Operations Management
  • MGO 795SEM Sem in Operations
  • PSY 614 Structural Equation Modeling

Spring Semester

  • MGO 616 Econometric Methods and Managerial Applications II
  • ECO 666 Microeconomics Theory II
  • MGO 636LEC Supply Chain Analytics
  • IE 573 Discrete Optimization
  • MGO 795SEM Sem in Operations

First-Year Paper: Your required research paper must be completed by the end of the first semester of your second year of study. This paper will preferably be developed into a dissertation or a co-authored paper submitted to a top journal.

Fall Semester

  • Research methodology requirements (3-9 credits)
  • Managerial skills requirements (0-3 credits)
  • MGO 796 Seminar in Strategic Management

Spring Semester

  • Research methodology requirements  (3-9 credits)
  • Managerial skills requirements (0-3 credits)
  • Seminar requirements (0-3 credits)

Comprehensive Exam: As a doctoral student in the School of Management, you will demonstrate competence in your field by successfully completing a comprehensive examination. You will take your examination following completion of your course requirement, typically taken at the end of your second year of study.

Second-Year Paper: Your required research paper must be completed by the end of the first semester of your third year of study. This paper will preferably be developed into a dissertation or a co-authored paper submitted to a top journal.

PhD Proposal and Dissertation

Working with your faculty advisor, begin exploring research topics during your first and second year. By your third year and beyond, you're focused on your original research, forming your proposal, researching and then writing your dissertation. Your dissertation usually takes the form of three publishable papers or a longer single dissertation paper.

External Areas of Focus for Non-Management Students

If you are a doctoral student outside of the OMS department who is interested in obtaining an external area of focus in OMS, you should consult with your academic advisor. Course requirements are listed below.

  • Operations and Supply Chain Management
  • MGO 795 Seminar in Operations Management

Plus two courses from the following:

  • MGO 630LEC Operations & Service Mgmt
  • MGO 631LEC Production and Inventory Planning
  • MGO 632LEC Strategic Quality Management
  • MGO 633LEC Global Operations Management
  • MGO 634LEC Project Management
  • MGO 635LEC Healthcare Operations Management
  • MGO 636LEC Supply Chain Analytics
  • MGO 637LEC Purchasing & Supply Mgmt
  • MGO 638LEC Logistics Management
  • MGO 639 Sustainable Operations

Successful Dissertations

An empirical investigation
6/25/26
An empirical investigation of the antecedents and validity of five strategy theory bases of logistics outsourcing decisions, by Lorena Mathien. Received the Institute for Supply Management Dissertation Award
An empirical investigation of cost efficiencies
6/25/26
An empirical investigation of cost efficiencies in the U.S. health care industry, by Jeong Hoon Choi
Investigating network structure
6/25/26
Investigating network structure, social capital and sustainability in operations and supply chain management, by Jasmina Tacheva
Managing brand equity
6/25/26
Managing brand equity in e-banking: A simultaneous equation system approach, by Ta-Wei (Daniel) Kao, with Winston Lin and H.H. Chang. Received the Best Interdisciplinary Paper Award at the Decision Sciences Institute Annual National Meeting
Supply chain relationship and performance
6/25/26
Supply chain relationship and performance: An empirical examination, by Yabing Zhao
Supply chain relationship management
6/25/26
Supply chain relationship management in international manufacturing: An investigation at country, industry and firm levels, by Torsten Doering
Toward supplier portfolio management theory
6/25/26
Toward supplier portfolio management theory: An empirical study of buyer-supplier relationships in the U.S. automotive components industry, by Scott Ellis. Received the Elwood S. Buffa Doctoral Dissertation Award from Decision Sciences Institute
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Operations Management and Strategy Department
School of Management
University at Buffalo
326 Jacobs Management Center
Buffalo, NY 14260-4000

Tel:  716-645-3500
Fax: 716-645-5078

To speak to a faculty member, contact Aditya Vedantam, associate professor of operations management and strategy.

Additional PhD Program Requirements

Refer to the PhD Handbook for complete information on:

  • PhD core requirements
  • First-year paper
  • Second-year paper
  • Qualifying exams
  • Teaching skills
  • Responsible conduct of research training requirement
  • Application to candidacy