The Retailing and Consumer Sciences (RCSC) doctoral program, leading to a Ph.D. degree, prepares students for faculty positions in higher education and research positions in government and private industry.
The program is designed to provide a foundation in research theory, methods, and advanced research procedures relevant to retail management and consumer sciences. To broaden their perspectives and increase problem-solving abilities, RCSC students are also required to select a minor in a field outside of RCSC. Another requirement includes a research mentoring course in which students become involved in various phases of major research projects conducted in conjunction with a RCSC graduate faculty member. The program culminates in a Ph.D. dissertation project.
* GRE or GMAT must be retaken if scores are older than 5 years from date of intended acceptance
**Applicants who are non-native speakers of English are required to achieve a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). TOEFL must be retaken if scores are older than 2 years from date of intended acceptance. Under specific circumstances, the TOEFL requirement is waived for those students with a graduate degree from an English-speaking institution.
*** Students not meeting requirements may be accepted under certain conditions. Please contact Chair, Graduate Program, Dr. Sherry L. Lotz (telephone: 520.621.1295; e-mail: slotz@ag.arizona.edu)
Plan of Study (A minimum of 63 units beyond the Master's degree)*
Required RCSC Courses:
RCSC 676 Research
Paradigms and Methodology
RCSC 634 Current Research Issues in Retail Management
RCSC 696f Research Process and Academic Writing
9 units
Elective RCSC** Courses (600 level) 9- 18 units
Statistics and Research Methods 9-12 units
Research Mentoring Program 3-6 units
Minor Courses (maximum of 6 units at 500 level) 9-12 units
Doctoral Dissertation 18 units
*For transferrable units of non-degree status students, no more than three (3) units of 500- or 600-level RCSC coursework, earned by a student on non-degree status, may be applied to RCSC Ph.D. degree program upon regular admittance.
**3-unit maximum for courses from another area related to student's field of study.
Research Mentoring Program
One unique aspect of the doctoral curriculum is the research mentoring program. Under the direction of a faculty mentor, this program affords doctoral students the opportunity to play a leadership role in one or more facets of a publishable research project. This type of research activity is differentiated from dissertation research in that it is typically conducted in a student-faculty member environment as opposed to a committee approach; is less formal; is usually achieved with a faculty member other than the dissertation chair in order to give students breadth in their research experience; and, contrary to a complete, full-scale research study, includes one or more major segments of a research project such as writing a manuscript, analyzing data, and/or writing a proposal.
Upon agreement between mentor and graduate student, research mentorship can be taken for one to six units depending on the scope of the research project. Students are encouraged to complete the mentorship component by the end of their second year of the doctoral program. A total of three to six units is required as part of the degree requirements.
Preliminary Examination
Upon completion of course work, students must take written and oral examinations covering both major and minor areas of study.
Doctoral Dissertation
The dissertation demonstrates the ability to conduct original research on a significant topic. It should contribute new knowledge to the field of retailing and consumer studies and is chosen in consultation with a student's major professor. In addition, the dissertation proposal and the completed dissertation must be defended before an advisory committee.
Recommended Time Frame for Completion of Doctoral Program
Students are encouraged to complete their doctoral degree within three to four years based on a full-time status. Students who are progressing toward completion of their degree within the recommended time frame will be granted priority in awarding graduate assistantships and other financial support.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is awarded on a competitive basis - primarily through out-of-state tuition waivers, full tuition waivers, graduate fellowships, and graduate teaching and/or research assistantships. To be competitive for financial assistance, early application submission is suggested.
Information
For additional information, please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator, (520) 621-3346 or email at sfcs@ag.arizona.edu.
Application to Doctoral Program
If interested in applying to the Doctoral Program in Retailing and Consumer Sciences,
please click on Application for Graduate Program Admission link below.
