PhD Program - About Us
The PhD Program at the University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business prepares students for research and teaching careers at leading universities. Students benefit from a highly supportive, high-touch academic environment that fosters close collaboration with prominent faculty across seven academic disciplines: Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, Marketing, Operations Management, Organizational Behavior, and Strategy and Entrepreneurship. Students who complete the program earn a PhD in Business Administration with a specialization in one of these areas.
The Leeds PhD Program is intentionally small, with approximately 50 students enrolled across all cohorts. This scale ensures personalized mentoring, a high faculty-to-student ratio, and opportunities to co-author papers, present at conferences, and develop strong dissertation work that is often published in top academic journals.
Our program equips students with the skills to design and execute original research and to disseminate knowledge through both teaching and scholarly writing. PhD students gain a deep understanding of foundational and influential research in their disciplines and are trained to make meaningful contributions through innovative, state-of-the-art scholarship. The program is designed to be completed in five years.
Students also benefit from access to six research centers and initiatives, including the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility and the Center for Research on Consumer Financial Decision Making. As part of their training, doctoral students teach classes and work as research assistants, preparing them for successful academic careers. Leeds maintains a strong placement record, with graduates securing tenure-track positions at respected colleges and universities.
Set within a vibrant business community and a stunning natural setting, the Leeds School of Business fosters a collegial and intellectually stimulating environment for doctoral study—offering students a unique balance of academic rigor and quality of life.
"The cohort of doctoral students at Leeds has been such a gift — people of varying ages from different countries have all come together to form a supportive and uplifting group."
Lisa Barnes ('23 PhD), Assistant Professor, Drexel University
“The PhD program at Leeds prepared me well for an academic career in finance. The faculty are very approachable and gave me a lot of individual attention during my five years at Leeds. Throughout the program, I was given opportunities to co-author with senior faculty, present my research at both domestic and international conferences, and develop my own research agenda.”
Jordan Martel (’18 PhD), Visiting Assistant Professor, Indiana University
"My advisor, Jeff York, has been a huge part of my success. I met Jeff almost ten years ago when I was a MBA student—and when I made the decision to pursue a PhD years later, I knew he was the person I wanted to work with and learn from. Could not have asked for a better advisor and mentor!"
Elizabeth Embry ('23 PhD), Assistant Professor, University of Kansas