PhD in Technology & Operations Management
Prerequisite Coursework
INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS: All doctoral students enrolled in the TOM doctoral program are required to have completed one undergraduate or graduate course in introductory probability and statistics. If this requirement has not been fulfilled prior to matriculation, then an equivalent course will be required in the first term of the student’s doctoral program.
Doctoral Coursework
A minimum of 13 semester courses at doctoral level, plus unit seminars are required. Each semester students will consult with the Technology and Operations Management faculty coordinator and/or advisor to receive approval of their course selections. Pre-approval by the TOM faculty coordinator is required if a student wishes to fulfill these requirements with alternative courses.
Foundational Courses (2 courses)
INNOVATION TRACK REQUIREMENTS: A comprehensive two semester sequence on economic theory:
- Microeconomic Theory I
- Microeconomic Theory II
OPERATIONS TRACK REQUIREMENTS (MODELING EMPHASIS AND EMPIRICAL EMPHASIS): One semester course on economic theory and one operations management theory:
- Theory of Operations Management
- Microeconomic Theory II
Research Methods Courses (4 courses)
INNOVATION TRACK REQUIREMENTS:
- Introductory Applied Econometrics
- Intermediate Applied Econometrics
- Applied Econometrics for Research in Management
- One Empirical Methods Elective
OPERATIONS TRACK REQUIREMENTS (MODELING EMPHASIS):
- Introductory Applied Econometrics
- Introductory Applied Probability
- Two Modeling Electives
OPERATIONS TRACK REQUIREMENTS (EMPIRICAL EMPHASIS):
- Introductory Applied Probability
- Introductory Applied Econometrics
- Intermediate Applied Econometrics
- Applied Econometrics for Research in Management
Additional Doctoral Courses (7 courses)
INNOVATION TRACK REQUIREMENTS:
- Empirical Studies of Innovation and Digitization
- Macro Topics in Organizational Behavior
- Empirical Technology and Operations Management
- Two doctoral elective courses
- Two breadth courses
OPERATIONS TRACK REQUIREMENTS (MODELING EMPHASIS):
- Advanced Optimization
- Stochastic Modeling
- Empirical Technology and Operations Management
- Two doctoral elective courses
- Two breadth courses
OPERATIONS TRACK REQUIREMENTS (EMPIRICAL EMPHASIS):
- Introduction to Optimization
- Stochastic Modeling
- Empirical Technology and Operations Management
- Theory of Operations Management
- One doctoral elective course
- Two breadth courses
Marketing students are required to take five additional doctoral courses.
Consumer Behavior-track students are required to complete:
- Consumer Behavior
- Marketing Models
- Micro Topics in Organizational Behavior
- Behavioral Approaches to Decision Making and Negotiation
- Two breadth courses
- One elective doctoral course
Quantitative-track students are required to complete:
- Consumer Behavior
- Marketing Models
- Two breadth courses
- Three elective doctoral courses
MBA Courses (2 courses)
All students without an MBA degree are required to complete two case-based HBS MBA courses.
Seminars
Students are required to attend and participate in seminars throughout their program.
TOM Unit Seminars. TOM students are expected to attend this weekly seminar to gain exposure to cutting-edge research conducted by faculty at other business schools and by TOM faculty, and to observe faculty recruiting seminars (job talks).
DBA Seminar for Technology and Operations Management TOM students are required, starting in their third year, to enroll and actively participate in this weekly seminar each semester it is offered. Students present work in progress and receive feedback from their colleagues and a faculty member. This seminar also develops presentation skills, critical thinking, and enduring relationships among students across all stages of the TOM DBA program. First and second year TOM students are encouraged to enroll.
Operations Management Reading Group Operations-track TOM students are required to enroll and actively participate in this weekly seminar at least once during their first or second year. This seminar exposes students to leading research on operations management. Many students participate in this seminar in several years.