Professional PhD - Monarch Business School Switzerland

Professional PhD

Professional business people have great skill-sets. We learn to manage limited resources, plan for continuous improvement and generally keep a results-oriented view point. At Monarch, the Professional PhD program has been designed as a thesis-only program that leverages what business people do best: create positive change. As a business school, we believe that business people are perfectly positioned to create real social change by leveraging the assets and resources at their disposal. One of the most important assets at your disposal is you and the energy you bring to your work. Through pointed and dedicated business research you can make change possible.

Candidates pursuing this degree are interested in examining the critical issues and problems of business and society from both a theoretical and applied business perspective. Candidates entering the program open themselves to positions within the Executive level of industry, professors within academic institutions, directors of think tanks & NGOs/CSOs organizations, members of the Board of Directors and positions of responsibility within government agencies. The defining characteristics of the program are the desire to effect real change and bring about a better world through the mix of theoretical and applied business research.

Completion Requirements

The 3-year accelerated thesis-only Professional PhD program is designed for working professionals. The structure and knowledge gained is directed at returning professionals to the academic environment who wish to develop their research skills while maintaining a professional orientation. Candidates will cover research methods modules along with the preparation and approval of the Ph.D. research proposal. The program concludes with the completion of the dissertation and oral defense. Candidates may also follow the program on the standard 5 year study plan.

Program Modules

The program is designed around the completion of a series of modules that assist the candidate in developing the necessary academic research skills essential for the successful completion of the program.

Research Skills

Understanding where to obtain appropriate research information and establishing the quality of that information and data is critical to the successful completion the doctoral research. In this module candidates develop the necessary knowledge to be a skilled researcher that may quickly find and evaluate materials from a variety of sources.

Research Methods

The candidate is introduced to mixed methods research for social science. Both quantitative and qualitatives research methods are covered.

Proposal Perfecting

This module assist the candidate in fashioning and perfecting the 25-page research proposal that illustrates the focus, supporting reasoning and research methodology and steps that will be followed.

Dissertation Completion

The final component of the program includes the development of the PhD dissertation.

Master-in-Passing - MPhil / PhD

Candidates completing the Professional PhD program will also be awarded the Master in Philosophy in Business Research as a Master-in-Passing award. The degree is automatically awarded upon successful completion of the PhD program and no additional work is required. A Master-in-Passing degree is also known as a Master degree earned en route and is considered equal to a terminal Master degree.

Dual Degree - PhD / DBA or PhD / DOL Combined Program

Candidates completing the Dual PhD / DBA or Dual PhD / DOL Combined programs will be awarded both the PhD and DBA or DOL as separate degrees. They will also receive the M.Phil. in Business Research (Master-in-Passing) degree at the time of successful completion of the program. The combined program requires that the Candidate address both theory development within the requirements of the PhD as well as Praxis application within the requirements of the DBA or DOL. Successful completion is considered when theory and praxis are integrated into a coherent whole and provide a deep and developed understanding of the research.

Usually before entering a PhD program one is asked to provide an academic proposal with the application. This process can be challenging for a graduate from business studies. At Monarch, you are guided in creating your research proposal and clarifying the scope of your research at the beginning of the program. The guidance from supervisors is clear. You can also count on the support of your fellow students as a spirit of camaraderie reigns at the workshops. The Monarch experience is and will remain a tremendous step in my life.