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2026-2027 Catalog

Management, PHD

Location(s): Online, On-Campus

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A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO MANAGEMENT 

The PhD program in Management at Maharishi International University is a research-based degree program. It explores how organizations create flourishing that fulfills both the interests of the organization and the individual, and produces positive impacts for society and the environment by investigating relationships between management and consciousness.

The program’s investigations of holistic management encompass three components: 

Developing Holistic Consciousness 

The evolution of individual and collective consciousness cultivates the learning capabilities of systems thinking, collaborative relationships, and creative visioning to achieve shared value. 

Managing the Transformation of Organizations for More Holistic Success 

Evolving consciousness expresses itself in new management practices and forms of organization that enable organizations to innovatively address social and environmental needs. 

Measuring and Communicating Holistic Outcomes 

Evolving consciousness attends to and reports on a holistic range of performance outcomes, encompassing economic, social, and environmental results. 

TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION 

All educational programs at MIU include twice-daily practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique. This scientifically validated technique has been shown to lower stress, enhance brain functioning, increase intelligence and creativity, and support overall health. After regular meditation practice, our students often report feeling less stressed and more creative than ever. Students learn to reflect on how this transformative practice can be applied to help achieve their goals as educators, managers, and leaders. 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHING, CONSULTING, AND EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT 

Students in the PhD Management program train in principles and practices for successful management, writing, teaching, and research, which can be applied in a variety of leadership, consulting, and academic situations. 

PREPARING RESEARCHERS TO ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE OF HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT 

The PhD Management program prepares each student to conduct original and significant research through courses in management theory, research methods, statistics, and consciousness. Students are encouraged to identify a research topic early in their studies so that the research projects throughout the program can focus on this chosen topic. 

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES 

Upon successful completion of the PhD in Management, students will be able to: 

  1. Apply and integrate theoretical and conceptual frameworks from the discipline and from Maharishi Science and Technology of Consciousness to guide research design and interpretation. 

  1. Design and conduct original research that meets disciplinary standards of publication in peer-reviewed journals for research design, presentation of results, analysis, and argumentation.  

  1. Produce clear, well-structured scholarly writing and deliver effective oral presentations that communicate complex research findings to academic and professional audiences. 

  1. Uphold and demonstrate the highest standards of critical thinking, ethical conduct, and scholarly integrity, including compliance with IRB protocols, accurate citation practices, transparent reporting of research findings, and responsible and transparent use of generative artificial intelligence (AI). 

  1. Translate and apply research insights into actionable recommendations that address organizational challenges and contribute to effective management practice. 

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS 

The entrance requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Management are: 

  • An earned MBA, master’s degree in a business-related field, or master’s degree and substantial business-related work experience. 

  • GMAT or GRE exam scores 

  • A substantial research paper as evidence of academic writing. The paper may have been submitted for required course assignments or as a thesis in the student’s master’s degree program. This should be a paper written by the student alone, not a project by a team of students. This writing sample may be accepted as a substitute for scores on GMAT or GRE. 

  • TOEFL score of at least 575 (paper-based) or 90 (Internet-based), or IELTS overall band of 6.5, is required if a student’s native language is not English. TOEFL may be waived if the student has completed a degree program conducted in English. 

  • At least two years of professional work experience in business is preferred. 

GRADUATION COURSE REQUIREMENTS 

To graduate with a PhD in Management, students must successfully complete all program requirements within the maximum allowed timeframe. These requirements include: 

  • Completing the initial required coursework, which consists of 14 credits of core management courses, 20 credits of research methods courses, 4 credits of the Science of Creative Intelligence, and one Forest Academy course in each semester in which the student is enrolled for 12 weeks or more. Note: The Forest Academy requirement may be waived in a semester when a doctoral student teaches a Forest Academy course. 

  • Passing a qualifying exam to demonstrate mastery of the subject matter. 

  • Developing and defending a research proposal outlining the planned dissertation study. 

  • Conducting original research that advances knowledge in the field of management and its relationship to consciousness. 

  • Writing and defending the dissertation. 

After the qualifying exam is passed, required coursework consists of one Forest Academy course in each semester in which the student is enrolled for 12 weeks or more, one Research Seminar in each semester that the student is enrolled, plus successful completion of a minimum of 24 credits across the following courses: 

  • MGT 690 PREPARATION FOR QUALIFYING EXAMINATION 

Prepares students for an exam that tests the student’s ability to critically analyze and integrate knowledge to complete a doctoral dissertation successfully. When the qualifying exam is passed, the student advances to PhD Candidate status. 

  • MGT 692 SEMINAR IN WRITING 

Students prepare a dissertation proposal prospectus outlining their intended research topic, its significance, the research approach they plan to take, and the connection between their proposed research and the Maharishi Science and Technology of Consciousness. Students use this prospectus to identify a dissertation advisor. Course topics include scholarly writing standards and rhetorical moves for proposal and dissertation chapters.

  • MGT 700 PREPARING THE DISSERTATION PROPOSAL 

Students work closely with their dissertation committee chair to determine the composition of the dissertation proposal, write the dissertation proposal, and prepare for the dissertation defense to ensure that the plan of researching the proposed research question is complete and has academic merit. This course may be repeated for credit. 

  • MGT 701 DISSERTATION RESEARCH 

When a dissertation proposal is accepted by the dissertation committee, the student advances to PhD Researcher status. The amount of time required to complete the dissertation varies according to the research project. Therefore, this course may be repeated for credit. 

A student’s dissertation committee may require additional coursework if required by the student’s dissertation research. 

PHD in Management Requirements

Core Exploring Consciousness Courses (4 credits)

Complete one 4-credit sequence of courses below: 

USA PhD:

  • MGT 5008A - Exploring Consciousness, Pt A Credits: 2
  • MGT 5008B - Exploring Consciousness, Pt B Credits: 2

Core Management Courses (14 credits)

Core Research Methods and Statistics Courses (20 credits)

Required Seminar Courses (after passing the Qualifying Exam)

Forest Academy Requirement* (Credits vary)

  • Any Forest Academy course
  • *Each course in a FOR 500 sequence fulfills the Forest Academy requirement for the semester in which the course is completed. 
  • Credits: variable *

Total Credits (Variable)

PHD Graduation Dissertation, Exam, and Grade Requirements

To graduate with a PhD in Management, students must meet the following requirements:

Course Grades

A grade of B (3.00 GPA) or higher in all courses. If a student’s GPA drops below 3.0, then the course instructor(s) and the program director will meet with the student to identify the reason their grade dropped below the threshold. The student, the course instructor, and the program director will create an academic improvement plan with clear milestones. The outcome of this meeting will be recorded in the student’s file. 

Qualifying Examination

This examination assesses the ability of the student to pursue doctoral research. Upon successful completion of this examination, which must be verified by at least three faculty members from the student’s academic program and the program director, the student advances to PhD Candidate status. 

Teaching and Research Experience

All doctoral students who have passed their qualifying exams may apply to teach courses, help teach courses, and/or help as research assistants. These activities give students experience and skills in academic teaching and conducting research necessary in the career path of PhD graduates. Students who have reached PhD Candidate status may be awarded a PhD Assistantship, which entails this teaching or research. A student must take and successfully complete Faculty Training prior to teaching their first course. 

Advanced Coursework

Advanced courses may be prescribed by the dissertation advisor and dissertation committee to ensure that students have comprehensive knowledge of a major field and related subjects. The courses students are required to take will depend upon academic background in relation to their graduate program and area of research interest. 

Dissertation Committee

A doctoral student must form a Dissertation Committee of at least four members including the dissertation advisor from the Management department, another faculty member from the Management department, a faculty member from another MIU department, and one faculty member from another university or research institution. Each committee member is expected to hold a doctoral degree. Dissertation committee membership must be approved by the director of the doctoral program and the Dean of Faculty.

Dissertation Proposal

The student submits the completed dissertation proposal to their Dissertation Committee for approval and presents an oral defense of the proposal to their committee. The preliminary version of the proposal is the prospectus. All students must submit their research design including consent forms to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) to approve beneficence, justice, and care for the individual. See https://library.miu.edu/dissertation-guidelines-for-phd-candidates/ for details. When the dissertation proposal is approved by their committee and the Dean of the Graduate School, the student advances to PhD Researcher status to conduct the research, write the dissertation, and prepare an oral defense of the dissertation. 

Original Research for a Dissertation

Each doctoral student must conduct original research as the basis for a dissertation that contributes significantly to knowledge. This research is guided by the dissertation advisor and the dissertation committee and requires their approval. 

Doctoral Research Off Campus

Candidates for the doctoral degree may, with the approval of their dissertation committee, carry out all or part of their research work on campus or off campus. All doctoral students must be registered at the Enrollment Center during each semester they’re working on their doctoral dissertation, whether they live on or off campus. 

Written Dissertation and Abstract

Dissertation guidelines are posted online at https://library.miu.edu/dissertation-guidelines-for-phd-candidates/. Students should read these guidelines before beginning their dissertations. When writing a dissertation, students work closely with their dissertation advisor. Students planning to graduate should have the first version of their dissertation thoroughly checked by their dissertation advisor. Once the dissertation advisor has approved the dissertation, the student submits the document to the other members of their dissertation committee. The committee members will review the document and give their comments in a timely fashion - within two weeks. After incorporating all comments, the student will send updated copies of the manuscript to all committee members at least two weeks before the dissertation defense. 

Oral Defense of the Dissertation

The PhD Researcher must successfully complete an oral defense of the dissertation that is conducted and evaluated by the dissertation committee. The examination is scheduled for a date not earlier than two weeks after the dissertation and abstract have been submitted to the dissertation advisor and dissertation committee. The student must be registered during the semester in which the oral defense is conducted. 

Publishing the Dissertation

When the dissertation committee has reviewed and approved the dissertation and the student has passed the dissertation defense, the student incorporates any further recommended changes and corrections before submitting the dissertation to the MIU Library. One week before graduation, the student must give the Library Director the final version of the dissertation, a copy of the abstract signed by the dissertation chair, and the signed signature page. Everything needs to be complete at this time. 

All doctoral dissertations submitted to the Graduate School will be published. MIU subscribes to a service offered by ProQuest ETD Administrator. Information about the publication procedures and fees may be obtained from the MIU ProQuest ETD administrator website and from the MIU Library Director. Two copies of the dissertation will be placed in the MIU Library and will be available for interlibrary loan. The abstract will be published in Dissertation Abstracts, which announces the availability of the dissertation. 

Exit Degree

Master in Management Research (MMR) 

The Master in Management Research (MMR) degree may be awarded to students who have completed the core Management PhD degree coursework and passed the qualifying exams or a capstone but do not continue to or complete the proposal or dissertation stages of the degree program. They may receive the master’s degree on exit from the doctoral program under either of the following conditions: 

  • The students elect to take the master’s degree and declare in writing their intention not to pursue the doctoral degree, or 

  • The faculty recommend that the students not continue. This decision is also recorded in writing. 

  • The decision is recorded in the student’s file in the Enrollment Center, and a copy is sent to the student and, if applicable, to their dissertation advisor. 

  

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