Why choose the University of Wisconsin-Madison for doctoral studies in Business?

The answers to this question are numerous. First and foremost, the University of Wisconsin-Madison is renowned for the advancement of research and scholarship. The production and dissemination of knowledge, the University’s key mission since its founding in 1848, has led the UW-Madison to rank in first place among public institutions in terms of expenditures for research, and second overall among public and private institutions. Many of the disciplines offered for study in the University rank in the top 10 in the nation. Graduates of our programs are leaders in research and teaching at higher educational institutions around the world. The strength of UW-Madison School of Business faculty and examples of why they excel in research are reflected in examples of current research productivity.

The faculty of the School of Business is highly recognized for their expertise, wealth of knowledge, cutting edge research, and innovative teaching. As Business School Dean Michael Knetter says:

“Why choose UW-Madison for your doctoral studies in business? The simple answer is that you will find an unparalleled mentoring relationship with some of the finest faculty members in the academic community eager to work with you in the development of your research and teaching skills. Whatever your long-range goals, School of Business faculty colleagues will challenge and support you in ways that will enable you to become the best and most productive you can be.”

PhD students in Business must select a major from one of seven departmental offerings . Most departments offer a variety of sub-plans or the ability to tailor a major and minor combination that suits the individual student’s research interests and needs.

Because of the strength of academic departments across the campus and the university support for collaboration across departments, many of our students benefit from ties to advisors and students in highly-ranked graduate programs on the UW campus that complement their work in the School of Business.

The institutional roots of excellence in research have a very practical outcome. You may be surprised to learn that the UW-Madison is recognized as one of the foremost training grounds for leaders of the American business community. Executive search firm Spencer Stuart each year conducts a study comparing the career paths of today’s CEOs with those of the past to observe the changing profile of today’s leader. Its 2005 Route to the Top survey found that the University of Wisconsin tied with Harvard University in educating the most chief executive officers of companies included in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.

And, of course, there is the location of the University of Wisconsin in the City of Madison , a delightful moderately-sized metropolitan area that is consistently ranked at the top of the list for safety, beauty, and quality of life. It’s a great city with a great university at its heart! For more information about the Madison metro area, click here.

A focus on the highest quality research that results in the production and dissemination of meaningful knowledge in a terrific living environment. If this sounds like a place where you would like to be, we invite you to browse through our menu and learn more through this site and its links.