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Message from the Director

Crystal FarhThe PhD Program in Business Administration at the University of Washington is primarily designed for those who wish to pursue an academic career. Our program provides you with the tools to conduct top quality research in your area of specialization. The first two years of the program are coursework-based in which students take courses not only in their area of specialization but also in the basic fields (e.g., economics, statistics, psychology, etc.) underlying their discipline. Starting in the first year, students also work with faculty as research and teaching assistants, observing close-up the excitement and difficulty of conducting top quality academic research as well as learning the trade of teaching in a top business school. Later in the program, you’ll dedicate yourself to conducting your own research, the most important piece of which is the dissertation. And as you near the end of the program, you’ll work with faculty to find a job that best suits your needs. We take great pride in our ability to place students in some of the most prestigious institutions in the world.

The University of Washington Michael G. Foster School of Business offers several features that make it an excellent place for you to obtain your doctoral degree. First, let’s start with the University of Washington. UW is regularly ranked as one of top public institutions in the world, and the Foster School is recognized by outlets such as US News and World Report and the Financial Times as a top business school. Our faculty are widely regarded as some of the most productive and influential scholars in the world. In addition to ranking highly among their national and international peers in research, our faculty are editors of prestigious journals and their scholarly pursuits are often at the forefront of their fields. Learning the craft of academic research depends on working closely with faculty who themselves are actively pushing the frontiers of business knowledge. With the support of our faculty, you will develop the skills that enable you to launch your career as a scholar and contribute to cutting-edge research dialogues that shape the business world.

Second, we are very proud of the experience that we create for our doctoral students. In the past several years, the Foster School has spent over $200 M dollars building new facilities, a significant portion of which is dedicated to PhD education. Beyond the brick and mortar, we also take pride in our collaborative culture. Alums and current students often highlight the high caliber of their fellow PhD candidates and how much they learn from one another. We encourage a supportive learning environment here, fostering cooperation rather than competition among our students. And we provide financial aid year-round for at least four years, so that students can devote all of their attention to their studies.

Lastly, our college campus, located in Seattle, Washington, is a hub for technology, business, healthcare, and environmental sustainability. You will be at the center of the phenomena you want to study, and enjoy life as well. Indeed, the Pacific Northwest is one of the most beautiful places in the world and offers abundant opportunities for recreational activities (skiing, hiking, biking, canoeing, mountain climbing) that do not exhaust the budget of the PhD student. Seattle on a spring, summer, fall (and even a sunny winter) day is simply magnificent. There is something here for everyone.

I urge you to seriously consider applying to the University of Washington, Michael G. Foster School of Business Doctoral Program. If you have any questions after visiting our website, please do not hesitate to call or email the PhD Program office (numbers and addresses are on the contact information). I look forward to crossing paths with you some day.

Crystal Farh
Professor of Management and Organizations
Michael G. Foster Endowed Fellow