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Program Overview
Housed in the Sonoco International Business Department, the program's objective is to prepare doctoral students for academic careers at major research universities. Students receive specialized training in research methodology and critical thinking skills with a focus on the subject matter.
The Darla Moore School of Business has consistently been recognized as the leading institution in international business research productivity and international business academic programs. The Sonoco International Business Department has been ranked as one of the most prolific international business research departments.
This program focuses on the intersection of international strategy and global institutional analysis. This line of research looks at international business theory, with a particular focus on multinational enterprises (MNEs) and the institutional context within which MNEs operate. Doctoral students develop an understanding of literature related to areas such as management, sociology, psychology, international studies, and political economy.
They also develop expertise in relevant research methods, which may include experimental research, observational research, and field studies. Overall, students learn and research complex, novel, and significant phenomena taking place in the world of international business. The relevance of our research and the opportunities available to our doctoral students are strengthened through the synergies created in partnership with our Folks Center for International Business and the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER).
Like our own faculty, students are encouraged to pursue cognate areas that foster multidisciplinary, cross-functional and multilevel perspectives. Based on their cognate areas, Ph.D. students may take research seminars and method classes from international business and other departments or schools. After graduation, students often pursue faculty positions in management, strategy, entrepreneurship, and international business departments.
Learn from Internationally Recognized Faculty
Faculty in the Sonoco International Business Department are world-renowned scholars, and they play an integral part in the student’s academic and professional preparation. The faculty listed below work directly with doctoral students in this concentration. We encourage you to review their bio information, their research interests and their publication history.
Faculty focusing on the IB concentration include:
| Elisa Alvarez-Garrido | Nancy Buchan | Omrane Guedhami | Tatiana Kostova |
| Chuck Kwok | Sali Li | Stanislav Markus | Gerald McDermott |
| Andrew Spicer | Marc Van Essen | Chris Yenkey |
For more information regarding our faculty’s most recent research, please visit the department’s research section.
Program Structure
All doctoral students complete a rigorous program structure which emphasizes three main aspects: academic coursework, dissertation preparation, and graduate assistantship. Together, these aspects provide a cohesive process which focuses on academic training, structured time to conduct research, and practical mentoring in research and teaching.
Placement and Awards
Many of our doctoral students make presentations at major academic conferences and graduate with multiple journal publications. They also develop their professional network, which may include Ph.D. alumni who are now faculty at other schools, faculty at other schools who have visited the Moore School and faculty at other schools with whom a doctoral student may co-author with, based on an introduction from their faculty advisor.
All of this often translates into great placements and award-winning research — recent graduates have secured faculty positions at some of the nation’s premiere institutions.
Past students are now or have been faculty at top-tier research institutions, including:
- Bryant University
- West Virginia University
- Northeastern University
- Hawaii Pacific University
- Renmin University
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Rutgers University
- University of Sydney
- Peking University
In addition to publishing in top tier journals (e.g., Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Management Studies, Journal of Business Venturing, Journal of Business Ethics, and Journal of Corporate Finance, among many others), our doctoral students have won many prestigious awards:
- Peter J. Buckley and Mark Casson AIB Dissertation Award
- AOM IM Division Best Dissertation Award
- Alan M. Rugman Most Promising Scholar Award, Academy of International Business
- GWU-CIBER Best Paper Award on Emerging Markets, Academy of Management