Collaboration and Support for Academic Careers

The Sam M. Walton College of Business offers Ph.D. programs designed to prepare select students for careers in academia or government/industry research. Only a small number of students are admitted each year, encouraging a supportive environment where faculty are actively committed to student success.

Walton College faculty are committed to moving your career forward immediately with opportunities for collaborative research available the first day you arrive on campus. Exceptionally small teaching loads, especially during your first year of study, create an environment that encourages you to focus on perfecting your research skills.

Students selected for Walton College Ph.D. programs are supported with strong financial, physical and intellectual resources in an unparalleled collegial atmosphere.

Focused on Research and Teaching

The doctoral programs in Walton College focus on developing the student as a professional with emphasis on research and teaching. Developing the skills to conduct superior research is of paramount importance.

Our goal is for each doctoral student to have multiple publications and professional conference presentations completed at graduation. Walton College provides travel funding, eighteen hours of coursework related to research methods and analysis, and compelling faculty mentors.

Your teaching assignment begins after you have established your research base. Prior to asking you to step into the classroom, we prepare you to teach effectively by requiring participation in our Doctoral Teaching Seminar. This seminar, along with support from our Center for Teaching Effectiveness and Faculty Development, provides the resources you need to excel.

Our Programs

• Accounting
• Economics
• Finance
• Information Systems
• Management
• Marketing & Logistics

Financial Aid for Ph.D. Students

All students admitted to a Walton College Ph.D. program receive tuition waivers and additional funding. There are three levels of additional funding ranging from $17,000 to $37,000 annually.  These awards are renewable for four years.

Travel Grants to Advance Your Career

Attending conferences allows doctoral students to network within the academic community, to gain experience presenting at conferences, and to begin developing an academic identity. The Walton College provides travel grants to doctoral students to present papers at professional conferences.

Our Corporate Partners ~ An Unparalleled Resource

In the past five years, employment growth in Northwest Arkansas has been triple that of the national average with our region seeing 17.5 percent growth while the United States grew at only 5.6 percent during the same period. Attributable in large part to our  exceptional business environment, Northwest Arkansas ishome to the corporate headquarters of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Tyson Foods, Inc., and J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Additionally, over 300 Fortune 500 companies have offices close to the University. This extraordinary corporate environment gives the Walton College unrivaled access to innovative research opportunities and data sets that exist nowhere else. Walton College faculty are valuable partners in moving our corporate partners forward with fresh ideas and
academic inquiry.