Organizations and Social Change Track
Business Administration, PhD
Organizations and Social Change Track
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Applications for Fall 2012 are now closed. Decisions have not been made yet. To inquire about applying for fall 2013, please contact PhDCM@umb.edu.
UMASS Boston is excited to announce the launch of its new doctoral program in Business Administration with a specialized track in Organizations and Social Change (OSC). This program centers around issues at the intersection of business and society, such as sustainability, workforce diversity, economic development, globalization, and more. Harnessing the resources and techniques of business and entrepreneurship, often in partnership with the public and nonprofit sectors, can generate innovative solutions to these concerns.
This interdisciplinary PhD track leverages the department’s reputation and distinctive vision to prepare graduates to be active academics and leaders in meeting these complex, global challenges. The track will provide a mix of rigorous training in theory and research methods, as well as opportunities to apply this expertise. Organizations structure our society and drive change. The OSC track will focus on the internal dynamics of organizations and on the economic, social, and political context in which organizations operate.
Who should apply?
The Organizations and Social Change program track is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a full-time doctoral program specializing in areas such as:
- social responsibility and sustainability
- social entrepreneurship
- sustainable economic development
- stakeholder engagement in corporate governance
- contemporary human resource management, such as diversity and contingent labor
- cultural and economic impacts of globalization
- transnational identities of consumers and employees
How will my learning experience impact organizations, society, and future global challenges?
The Organizations and Social Change PhD track will prepare students to:
- Apply theoretical frameworks to understand business practices, as well as their economic, social, environmental, and political impacts;
- Conduct qualitative and quantitative research;
- Critique policy and articulate policy recommendations on issues at the interface of business, government, and critical social issues; and
- Conduct research on applied business issues with an emphasis on highlighting problems and providing solutions to issues that promote economic development in regional economies situated within a global context.
What are the career opportunities for me when I graduate?
Students in this track will be positioned to hold jobs with titles such as such as director of research; senior project manager; and chief technology officer in both the nonprofit and private sectors. They will be prepared to:
Pursue academic careers in research-oriented business schools;
- Conduct research in government and multilateral agencies, consultancies, NGOs, and think tanks; and
- Hold pivotal positions within private corporations in various industries, such as energy, healthcare, consumer goods, etc.
What kinds of research are faculty engaged in now?
The PhD program involves close, apprentice-like working relationships with faculty members. A sampling of faculty projects includes:
- Examining the adoption of global standards, such as Free Trade, how these affect organizations, and what impact they have on social issues.
- Understanding new “hybrid” organizational forms that combine mission-driven elements of nonprofits and revenue-generating elements of for-profit businesses.
- Investigating how new businesses are created, particularly in urban areas or with immigrant or transnational founders.
- Exploring how women use networks in distinctive ways, which may enhance or impede their advancement in organizations and their ability to be change agents in organizations.
Why UMass Boston?
UMass Boston is recognized as a world-class research university with a reputation for linking research to economic development and community well-being. And, the College of Management has been recognized by the Aspen Institute’s Business & Society program as among the top 75 business schools in the world for leadership in researching and teaching about the social impacts of business. The location, breadth, and depth of University offerings, and faculty expertise, all offer doctoral students the chance to maximize their investment in their education. Distinguishing factors include:
Professor David Levy is named the 2011 “Faculty Pioneer” by the The Center for Business Education at the Aspen Institute. This prestigious honor is awarded each year to faculty who best demonstrates leadership and risk-taking in integrating social, ethical, and environmental issues into an MBA curriculum.
Faculty: Over a dozen dedicated faculty members are devoted to student learning in the OSC track alone, with additional faculty serving in supporting roles. Faculty are leaders in their fields who regularly publish scholarly articles in top academic journals on topics such as global poverty, social entrepreneurship, sustainable enterprise, and diversity, among others. Doctoral students will be paired with faculty advisors based on their area of interest. This intense mentorship program allows students to learn the crafts of research and teaching in a highly collaborative environment. A sampling of current faculty include:
Mary Still, PhD
Specialization: Doctoral students will have the choice to create their own specialties in conjunction with their interests and faculty expertise. The various University centers and programs serve as additional resources for students as they craft their particular course of study. A wide variety of relevant electives are also offered through other doctoral programs on campus, particularly in Public Policy and Global Studies, as well as a program of courses at Boston area universities, for example, attending research seminars such as the Economic Sociology series hosted by Harvard and MIT or participating in the Graduate Consortium on Women’s Studies of which UMass Boston is a member.
Location: The College of Management at UMass Boston is centrally located in one of the world’s premier cities for finance, technology, health care, social services, not-for-profits, consulting, and the arts. The opportunities for study, research, and outreach by doctoral students are in abundance in the Boston area. Students will be able to leverage relationships among faculty and industry leaders, while conducting their own research. Learn more about campus life.
What are the requirements for applying?
Applicants to the doctoral program should have a broad interest in the role of organizations and the business-society interface. Applicants are welcome with backgrounds in liberal arts disciplines, such as sociology and political science, but will need to study the foundational elements of business. Most applicants will hold a master’s degree, but exceptional students with only a first degree will be considered. Letters of recommendation,standardized test scores, and two essays are also required as part of the application. The program is selective and will admit approximately six to eight students each year.
Learn more about the application requirements.
What are the general costs of the Program?
Full scholarships and annual stipends of up to $25,000 are available for students who are admitted to the program.
