In general, PhD coursework consists of 8000-level courses. Students are expected to complete at least 40 semester credits of coursework for their degree program, covering the major area, minor/supporting fields and methodology. Each of the six areas within business administration has specific coursework requirements for Ph.D. students as listed below.

Doctoral students concentrating in accounting must complete at least three of the following six accounting seminars (not including Acct 8892 or 8894) in addition to methodology and supporting field courses.

In Business Finance, the first year's coursework consists almost entirely of economics. Students are required to take the 2-semester, 8-credit PhD-level microeconomics sequence. In addition, it is highly recommended that students complete both the 8-credit PhD-level macroeconomics sequence and the 8-credit applied econometrics sequence as part of their degree program coursework. Students are also required to take the three business finance PhD seminars listed below (Fina 8801, 8811, and 8821), as well as appropriate methodology coursework.

The department requires the students to take a minimum of 46 semester credits over the course of two years. These must include 14 credits within the IDSc core courses listed below (not including IDSc 8892 or 8894), in addition to appropriate research methodology and supporting field courses.

Students are required to take all five marketing seminars (excluding Mktg 8892 and 8894) plus a minimum of 12 credits of research methodology courses external to the department, and appropriate minor or supporting field coursework. The following marketing seminars, which are offered alternating years, are required.

The OMS Department requires students to take ten courses, in addition to minor or supporting field coursework. The required courses include eight of the OMS core offerings (does not include OMS 8892 and 8894), one management course (Mgmt 8101), and one graduate level course in linear programming (OMS 8661 or Math 5711).

The Strategic Management and Organization Department requires its students to take at least five of the department's seven core courses (8101, 8201, 8202, 8301, 8302, 8401, 8402) in addition to methodology and supporting field coursework.