PhD/MBA Program
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PhD/MBA
Program
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Mission
The Wake Forest University PhD/MBA program is dedicated to training and research
at the interface between science and business to unleash the power and potential
of technology for the benefit of society.
Vision
A large proportion of Ph.D. graduates work in the private sector in positions
that use the skills acquired during their graduate training. But in addition to
the scholarship and rigor that makes the Ph.D. a world model, there is a need
for a broader range of skills for success in a changing employment climate. The
Wake Forest University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, in conjunction with
the Babcock Graduate School of Management, has initiated an innovative course
of study leading to the PhD/MBA. The Wake Forest PhD/MBA program is the first
program of its kind in the nation, and the first to produce students with the
joint degree (see testimonials from some of our graduates, below).
The
World Can Change at the Intersection of Disciplines
Uniting science and
management, the PhD/MBA program is preparing a new generation of leaders for the
emerging fields of technology. Our mission is focused, providing
education and research training leading to beneficial uses for the rapidly
emerging discoveries in the sciences, and preparing
students for industry or academic leadership. Multidisciplinary knowledge is indispensable
in the development of new products and processes and in the
translation of biomedical advances to patients and the global market. As
the first graduate program in the nation offering management training with the
Ph.D., we are dedicated to capturing the brightest minds and providing them with
the scientific and management expertise needed to foster
the technology infrastructure of the nation.
An
Innovative and Efficient Curriculum
The PhD/MBA program is a synthesis
of curricula from the Graduate School and the Evening MBA Program of the Babcock
School, with specialized course work and opportunities for industrial and business
internships. The joint program is open to new and current students in all PhD-granting
programs across all Wake Forest campuses. Students take from 4-6 years to complete
the joint program, depending on the nature of the graduate research undertaken
in the home program. The first year of the curriculum will provide students with
a core base of knowledge in the core competencies of the home graduate program.
At the end of the second year, and before beginning MBA course work, the student
must take and pass examinations that will admit him/her
to candidacy for the PhD. A student enrolling in the PhD/MBA program would have
5-6 semesters of evening MBA courses added to the graduate degree requirements.
Opportunities for industrial projects and internships are possible after ascent
to PhD candidacy and during the MBA coursework phase. The PhD and MBA degrees
will be awarded simultaneously at the completion of all requirements for both
degrees.
Apply
Online
Admissions are through the Graduate
School of Arts and Sciences. Students wishing to enroll in the combined program
apply to and meet the respective admissions requirements of the Graduate School
of Arts and Sciences and the Babcock Graduate School of Management. Admission
to the MBA portion of the program can occur separately after gaining admission
to the home graduate program, and after securing appropriate approval
from the home program for participation in the joint program. In addition
to the general requirements of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Babcock
Graduate School of Management requires completion of the GMAT (General Management
Aptitude Test).
For
more information
Dwayne W. Godwin, PhD
PhD/MBA
Program Director
Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy
Wake Forest University
School of Medicine
Medical Center Boulevard
Winston-Salem, NC 27157
Phone: (336) 716-9437
Fax: (336) 716-4534
Email: dgodwin@wfubmc.edu
A Small Program with Big
Impact  PhD/MBA students completed an economic impact study of new in silico algorithms used in the drug discovery process. This study contributed to a $2 million grant awarded by the US government to develop computer simulation software designed to predict biological and toxicological effects of drugs, which will reduce the failure rate in the drug development process. Pictured from the left are Donald Debethizy, President and CEO of Targacept, Inc., Randy Jacinto, PhD/MBA graduate; Richard Alexander, PhD/MBA graduate; Dwayne W. Godwin, Ph.D., Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy and Director of the PhD/MBA program; Adam Winseck, PhD/MBA graduate; and William S. Caldwell, Ph.D., Vice President of Drug Discovery and Development, Targacept, Inc. Not pictured is Heather Peters, PhD/MBA student who also worked on the project. |
| What the Students Have to Say About the PhD/MBA Program
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"My
new job is exactly what I have been looking for. I found that the dual degree
is an attractive combination that will allow me to go further, faster."
"Incredible
advances can occur where disciplines collide. The PhD/MBA program has given me
the tools to pursue a broader career horizon without sacrificing my core scientific
interests."
"The
PhD/MBA program prepared me for a career, not just a job. Today I am conducting
research with a deeper understanding of how my work supports my organization."
"Drawing from my management
and scientific training in equal measure, I've enjoyed the increased level of
responsibility and respect that has come with achieving the dual degree."
Links
WFU Babcock Graduate School of Management PhD/MBA site:
http://www.mba.wfu.edu/default.aspx?id=142
Read what The Scientist has to say about the PhD/MBA Program: "Science,
with a Side of Business" from The Scientist,
September 27, 2004.
On-line GMAT practice
tests free of charge.
Read what the Business Journal of the Triad has to say about the PhD/MBA Program:"WFU
Merges Science and Business in Curriculum"
from The Business Journal of the Triad, November 19, 2004.
Hear what Public Radio has to say about the PhD/MBA Program: Public
Radio WFDD (Windows Media File).