Science, Technology and Management
• Advances in engineering, science, and technology are having profound impact on business. Conversely, business-related issues and economic factors are critical forces that are shaping the development of new technologies. Throughout the intersecting territories of business and technology lie tremendous opportunities for valuable academic studies. A new generation of scholars educated in both business management and technology is needed to investigate and create new knowledge at the interface of these two disciplines.
• The STM program will be aimed at carrying out systematic, searching and innovative studies of the impact of science and technology on business, and business aspects of technology development. The goal of the program is to develop new methodologies and generate research that explores the interaction between technology and management.
Admissions
• The program will accept students with two types of backgrounds: students who already have a strong background in engineering or science but no formal business training, and students who already have a strong background in engineering or science and MBA degrees.
Course Requirements
• HBS Courses
(1) Two semesters of Management and Markets
(2) Two elective HBS graduate business courses
(3) Students without MBA must take five MBA elective courses or the first semester of the HBS MBA program. Students with non-HBS MBA must take one HBS MBA general management elective.
• HSEAS Courses
Four advanced technical courses which define a technical area of expertise as selected in consultation with HSEAS advisor and approved by the STM PAC. The advanced technical courses should consist of at least three graduate level (200 level) courses and at most one upper division (100 level) course.
Year 1
• Take courses in HSEAS and HBS.
• Actively participate in weekly HSEAS and HBS seminar series.
• Consult with HSEAS and HBS advisors as assigned by the Program and Admissions Committee (PAC) and select an appropriate technical area as defined by 4 advanced level technical courses from HSEAS.
• Pass the general exam in Management based on material in Management and Markets courses.
Year 2
• Take courses in HSAES and HBS.
• Actively participate in weekly HSEAS and HBS seminar series.
• Take Field Examination consisting of a written and oral examination.
• Secure two thesis advisors, one from HBS and one from HSEAS.
• Students without MBA should take five MBA elective curriculum courses.
• Students with non-HBS MBA should take one MBA general management elective.
Year 3
• Complete course requirements.
• Submit a Thesis Prospectus before end of first semester.
• Conduct research.
Year 4 and beyond
• Conduct research, write a PhD thesis, and pass a final thesis defense.
• Students are normally expected to complete the program in five or six years.
Field Examination and Thesis Prospectus
• The Field Exam will consist of a written exam based on an assigned reading list and subsequent oral examination administered by a Field Exam Committee appointed by the PAC and consisting of HBS and HSEAS faculty members. Students are normally expected to take the Field Exam before the end of their second year in the program.
• STM students will be required to submit a Thesis Prospectus before the end of the first semester of their third year. The Thesis Prospectus examination committee will normally consist of HBS and HSEAS faculty. The Thesis Prospectus should define a research topic that (a) shows non-cursory understanding of a technical area and is sufficiently engaging to the HSEAS thesis advisor, (b) is judged by the HSEAS and HBS faculty to form a research question that is appropriate for a PhD related to interactions between science, technology, and management, and (c) shows sufficient technical depth beyond the DBA to HBS faculty. The PAC will make a final decision of pass or fail based the required course work, Field Exam, and Thesis Prospectus.