PhD in Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship
The Department of Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship at the Carlson School--consistently rated among the top 10 departments for management research--is home to some of the world's leading scholars in the area of strategy and entrepreneurship. We focus on how firms both established and new create and capture value, connecting the challenges and opportunities in the external competitive and regulatory environment to the internal knowledge and capabilities of organizations. We bring together researchers from a variety of disciplinary perspectives to jointly examine questions related to strategic management, entrepreneurship, organization theory, technology and innovation, international business, and non-market strategy.
About the Program
Our program gives students access to this wealth of expertise through a combination of coursework, faculty collaboration, teaching opportunities, research seminars, and a weekly PhD workshop. Students are encouraged to develop an individualized program of study tailored to their research interests, thus preparing them for academic placement at the very best research universities worldwide, and for a long career conducting high-level research.
Welcome Video
Learn more about the Carlson School's Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship PhD program in this welcome introduction from Professor Aseem Kaul, the Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship PhD Coordinator.
Center for Integrative Leadership
Our research interests range from competitive strategy, new business creation, location strategies, inter-firm networks and innovation, to ethics and corporate social responsibility, group and team dynamics, time and timing, and international management.
Alumni Perspectives
Michael Park
"Carlson’ SME department possesses a unique combination of faculty who are leading researchers in the field and a culture of nurturing PhD students. This supportive environment created by the world-class faculty allows students to not only be exposed to cutting-edge ideas but also to become scholars who know how to push the boundaries of knowledge in meaningful directions."
Assistant Professor, Organizational Behaviour
INSEAD
Haram Seo
"My time at Carlson School's PhD program was truly exceptional. The department's renowned faculty have diverse research interests, which is invaluable for students still exploring their own. They are incredibly supportive, providing guidance and feedback while challenging us to excel. While the journey isn't effortless, the personal and academic growth, along with the sense of community, make it all worthwhile and exciting. Carlson is one of the best, if not the absolute best, places to pursue a PhD, and I'm genuinely grateful for the experience."
Assistant Professor, Department of Management
Mays Business School at Texas A&M University
Min Jung Kim
"The PhD Program at the SME department of the Carlson School of Management was an incredible journey that laid the fundamental foundation for my academic career. The SME faculty care deeply about PhD students’ learning and growth. These world-leading scholars not only guide and support PhD students’ research projects but also put sincere efforts into nurturing PhD students to become independent researchers who can contribute to the academic community and society."
Assistant Professor of Business Administration
Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Paul Nary
"Choosing to attend the PhD program at the Carlson School has been the single best decision at the early stages of my academic career. The faculty at the SME department are world-class scholars and leaders in their field as well as excellent mentors. As a research powerhouse and a flagship state university, the University of Minnesota has countless opportunities to expand a student's academic breadth and to gain access to resources outside of the business school. But more importantly, it is the incredible group of genuine and dedicated people that makes the Carlson School such a fantastic place to start a junior scholar off on the path to a fruitful academic career."
Assistant Professor of Management
The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
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