Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Does your department have any research specialties?

Answer: Our department hosts what may be the nation's strongest collection of organizational justice, fairness, and ethics research faculty. Students interested in these topics would be especially well served by our program. The department is also building resources and capabilities related to entrepreneurship and technological innovation research. However, our faculty possess additional areas of expertise capable of supporting Ph.D. research on other topics. Please contact the department coordinator for additional information regarding faculty interests and research opportunities.

Q2: I am primarily interested in teaching at a college or university. Is your program a good choice for me?

Answer: No. Although teaching is a critically important part of a research oriented professor's career, teaching often accounts for less than 50% of a university professor's job responsibilities. In addition to disseminating existing knowledge through teaching activities, university faculty are expected to create new knowledge through their research activities. Our program prepares students to excel in both education and research. Consequently, our program is a poor fit for those whose interests are primarily focused on teaching.

Q3: Do you allow students to enroll part time?

Answer: No. Our program does not offer part time or distance learning options.

Q4: Can I work part-time to supplement the stipend offered by the program?

Answer: No. We believe that outside commitments will interfere with the demanding schedule imposed by our program requirements. Consequently, we do not permit our students to work either part or full-time jobs while enrolled in the program.

Q5: How many hours per week should I expect to work during the program?

Answer: Our Ph.D. program is a full time, immersive professional experience that requires a considerable time commitment spanning four to five years. Although demands tend to vary on a week by week basis, current students report 50+ hours per week as typical.

Q6: I'd like to live in central Florida, after I complete my degree. What options might I have?

Answer: UCF is Orlando's only major research university, and UCF typically does not hire its own Ph.D. graduates. As a result, graduates will almost certainly have to move from central Florida when they complete their degrees. As a general rule, academic labor markets are rather unpredictable with respect to available openings at specific locations (e.g., Florida or the southeast) in a given year. Thus, we encourage students to maintain considerable flexibility with respect to their post-graduation geographic preferences.