PHD In Business Administration

Compulsory Courses

BUSN601 Advanced Management and Organization Theory

This advanced course delves into the intricacies of management & organizational theory from a managerial perspective. It critically examines the interplay between organizational effectiveness, efficiency, and structure, focusing on an in-depth analysis of the various dimensions that shape organizational structure. The course also covers the evolution of organizations over time, including an in-depth study of the organizational life cycle and the driving forces behind the organizational change.

BUSN603 Advanced Research Methods

This advanced PhD-level course offers a comprehensive and progressive exploration of business research methods and tools. It will delve into the intricacies of various research studies, including non-experimental, experimental, qualitative, and quantitative, and equip students with a mastery of the research process, from problem definition to data analysis. The course will challenge students to demonstrate their expertise by designing, conducting, and presenting a comprehensive and professional research project utilizing advanced statistical methods and data analysis techniques. By the end of the program, students will have developed an in-depth understanding of the techniques used in empirical research and the skills necessary to design, conduct, and analyze complex, cutting-edge research studies in the business domain.

BUSN698 Seminar

The thesis work to be done must be a completely original work. A very good literature research is needed for the thesis study. There is a need to present an independent work by revealing original studies that have not been done before. The presentation of the written thesis work must be completed successfully. The thesis work must be written and submitted in a manner suitable for publication in any scientific field.

BUSN699  Qualification Exam

A comprehensive assessment of a doctoral student’s readiness to advance to the dissertation stage. The exam evaluates integrative mastery of the field’s core theories, methods, and debates; the ability to synthesize and critique literature; and readiness to design rigorous, ethical research. The format may include written and/or oral components administered by an examination committee.

BUSN700 Thesis

The thesis work to be done must be a completely original work. A very good literature research is needed for the thesis study. There is a need to present an independent work by revealing original studies that have not been done before. The presentation of the written thesis work must be completed successfully. The thesis work must be written and submitted in a manner suitable for publication in any scientific field.

Elective Courses

PHIL601 Philosophy of Social Science

This course aims at describing the features of social sciences with their different aspects to the PhD students. Before explaining the philosophy of social science specifically, we will discuss the natural sciences in the conception of philosophy of science. As it is very well known in the literature, in order to address social science, it is necessary to adopt the methodology of natural science which is frequently underlying in the field. This course will bring a visionary thought to the PhD students by introducing with different aspects of social and natural sciences.          

BUSN610 Leadership and Organizational Behaviour

This Ph.D. level course thoroughly examines advanced theories, principles, and concepts related to individual and group behavior within organizational contexts. You will be challenged to think critically and develop cutting-edge analytical skills as you delve into complex organizational issues and apply your knowledge to real-world situations across various industries, including profit, non-profit, and governmental organizations. The course strongly emphasizes leadership, with a deep exploration of leadership theories and developing advanced leadership skills. Self-reflection will play a central role in this program as you gain a sophisticated understanding of your role as a business practitioner and the impact you can have on organizational effectiveness.

HRMN606 Strategic Human Resource Management

This course seeks to assist doctoral students, who have a basic level of knowledge in human resource management (HRM), to enhance their understanding of the functions and processes of HRM at an academic level. The course comprises a comprehensive review of the main concepts and functions in HRM research. It aims to stimulate a deeper knowledge of the development of HRM as a functional and a research field through seminars and discussions.

MARK608 Marketing Research

This course is directed at students interested in quantitative methods of marketing research. The aim of this course is to explore multivariate techniques used in modern marketing practice. Emphasis will be placed on case studies of marketing practice and on the practical application of the methods discussed.

ECON612 Advanced Knowledge Economy

This course focuses on to introduce the basic ideas, theories and industries of knowledge-based economy; to examine the main knowledge management provisions and to give a grounding in the best knowledge management practices and techniques; to introduce knowledge technologies used by businesses, being the basis of an effective knowledge management system; to demonstrate how to identify knowledge processes in practice, manage them using IT; to specify the criteria of human capital formation and development.

ECON613        Economic Development

This course provides an advanced examination of the theories, models, and policy challenges of economic development in developing and emerging economies. It analyzes the growth, poverty, inequality, structural transformation, and human capital development. Emphasis is placed on the roles of institutions, governance, trade, finance, technology, and sustainable development. The course equips students with analytical tools to assess development outcomes and design effective, inclusive, and sustainable economic policies in a global context.

FINS613 Theoretical Foundations of Financial Management

The Advanced Financial Management course is designed on creating and protecting firm value under uncertainty. Topics include capital budgeting (with real options), cost of capital and capital structure, payout policy, liquidity and working capital, risk management with derivatives (FX/IR/commodities), cross-border issues in multinationals, M&A and restructuring, and corporate governance/stakeholder trade-offs. Delivered through cases, analytical modeling, and board-style policy memos.

BUSN614 Data Analysis

This advanced course in Data Analysis provides students with the skills to analyze complex data using advanced statistical and computational methods. The course covers topics such as multilevel modeling, latent variable modeling, factor analysis, and causal inference. Students will learn to use SPSS and programming languages such as R and popular data analysis libraries to process and analyze large datasets. The course also emphasizes the critical thinking skills necessary to design sound research studies and interpret results.

BUSN611 Strategic Management Theory

This course focusses on some of the important current issues in strategic management. It will concentrate on modern analytical approaches and on enduring successful strategic practices. It is consciously designed with a technological and global outlook since this orientation in many ways highlights the significant emerging trends in strategic management. The course intends to provide students with a pragmatic approach that will guide the formulation and implementation of corporate, business and functional strategies.

BUSN616 Operations Management Theory

This advanced course in Operations Management builds on the fundamental principles of operations management and provides students with a deeper understanding of the strategic and tactical aspects of managing operations in a variety of contexts. The course covers topics such as capacity planning, process design, supply chain management, quality management, and project management. Students will learn to use analytical tools and techniques to analyze complex operations problems and make data-driven decisions. The course also emphasizes the importance of effective communication and collaboration in managing operations.

ECON616 Environmental Economics

Links the core theory and tools of environmental economics to policy design and evaluation. Topics include welfare foundations, externalities and public goods, market failures, non-market valuation methods (contingent valuation/choice experiments, travel cost, hedonic pricing), policy instruments (Pigouvian taxes, tradable permits, performance/technology standards), dynamic management of renewable and exhaustible resources, cost–benefit analysis, and climate policy/carbon markets. Applications draw on cases from Turkey and the EU. 

ECON614 Managerial Economics

Applies microeconomic analysis to managerial decision-making under competition and uncertainty. Topics include demand analysis and forecasting (elasticities, experiments, regression), production and cost, pricing with market power (price discrimination, two-part tariffs, bundling, peak-load), strategic interaction and game theory (entry, capacity, commitment, deterrence), information economics (adverse selection, moral hazard, signaling/screening), auctions and platform markets, contracts and incentives, and regulation/antitrust. Applications are developed through cases and data-driven exercises that translate analysis into actionable managerial recommendations.

BUSN617 Advanced Studies in Entrepreneurship

An advanced, evidence-based course on designing, testing, and scaling new ventures. We integrate research and practice across opportunity recognition and validation, problem–solution and product–market fit, business model innovation, unit economics (LTV/CAC, cohorts), growth engines and network effects, venture financing (cap tables, term sheets), legal/IP basics, and ethics. The course is run as a venture lab with rapid experimentation, customer discovery, and data-driven decision making.

MARK609 Marketing Management and Strategy

This course explores the development, implementation, and evaluation of effective marketing strategies in competitive business environments. It provides an in-depth understanding of strategic marketing concepts, including market segmentation, targeting, positioning, competitive analysis, and value proposition design. Students will examine how to gain marketing strategies with organizational goals, customer needs, and market dynamics. The course also covers digital marketing strategies, branding, pricing, product development, distribution, channels, and promotional tactics. The course will guide students on how to apply marketing concepts and tools in the development of a comprehensive marketing plan. Through case studies and practical applications, students will gain critical insights into decision-making processes and impact of marketing strategies on business performance.

BUSN620 Knowledge Management

This course explores the principles, strategies, and tools of knowledge management within organizations. It focuses on the creation, sharing, and application of knowledge to enhance decision-making, innovation, and competitive advantage. Students will analyze case studies and apply frameworks to develop effective knowledge management solutions.

BUSN621 Cultural Patterns and Communication

This course delves into the complexities of intercultural communication, exploring how cultural patterns influence interactions in global politics, international relations, and business. Through theoretical frameworks like Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and Hall’s high-context vs. low-context cultures, students will analyze verbal and nonverbal communication, cultural adaptation, and the role of technology in shaping cross-cultural interactions. The course also addresses stereotypes, biases, and ethical dilemmas in intercultural contexts, with a focus on conflict resolution, global leadership, and cultural intelligence. Practical applications include case studies, role-playing simulations, and a capstone project, equipping students to navigate and lead in multicultural environments effectively.

BUSN622 AI Fundamentals in Business

Introduces core AI/ML concepts and shows how they create value across business functions. The course covers supervised vs. unsupervised learning, model lifecycle and evaluation, generative AI and large language models (LLMs), data quality and feature thinking, experimentation and A/B testing, decision support and automation use cases (ops, marketing, finance, HR), prompt design and workflow integration, as well as governance, ethics, bias/fairness, explainability, privacy, and risk management.