TAMIU's First Ph.D. Approved

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has provided its approval for Texas A&M International University to grant its first Ph.D. in International Business Administration in action Thursday in Austin.

Dr. Ray Keck, University president, said the approval of the University's first doctoral degree redefines TAMIU.

"We have been redefined as an institution, as a part of the higher education community and in how we continue to deliver our mission here. For the first time, qualified students will have the option of joining scholars from all around the world in completing a Ph.D. program in a city and setting that defines international business," Dr. Keck said.

Keck said the program's impacts are multiple.

"The Ph.D. Program in International Business Administration is a major new initiative which will not only take the University to a higher level of excellence, but will also have a major qualitative impact on the community. The Laredo business community is strongly supportive and looks forward to taking advantage of this great new opportunity to become globally competitive. The larger community of international business scholars, too, will benefit from this addition to the cadre of specialists trained at Texas A&M International University," he explained.

Laredo Senator Dr. Judith Zaffirini, who authored Senate Bill 6 creating TAMIU and authorizing it to offer doctoral and joint degrees, said she was delighted with the Coordinating Board's decision to approve the University's first Ph.D.

"I am delighted with Coordinating Board's approval for this doctoral program," Senator Zaffirini said, "Laredo offers a perfect venue for international business, given its global strategic location. What's more, we sit at the crossroad of a major international trade and business route. As Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and member of the Legislative Budget Board, I will continue to champion funding to advance doctoral programs at our wonderful University."

Dr. J. Michael Patrick, interim dean of the TAMIU College of Business Administration, said the Ph.D. program is now accepting applications from potential candidates.

"We are eager to form our first cohort and look forward to receiving applicants," Dr. Patrick said.

Dr. Tagi Segafi-nejad, director of the Ph.D. Program, described the program.

"It's considered bi-pillar, combining coursework, and research in one of the following functional areas: accounting, economics, finance, management and strategy, management information systems, or marketing. It's designed to produce scholars who can make significant contributions - through research, teaching and service - to the growing area of International Business and associated fields," Dr. Segafi-nejad said.

The University and College of Business Administration have been working steadily for several years to introduce the comprehensive doctorate in International Business Administration.

The College previously secured accreditation from AACSB International, the accreditation body for business schools and programs, in 2001, joining an elite group of international colleges and universities that have earned accreditation.

For more information, please contact Dr. Tagi Sagafi-nejad at Texas A&M International University, 5201 University Boulevard, Laredo, Texas 78041; phone (956) 326-2512, e-mail: IB-PhD@tamiu.edu or click on http://www.tamiu.edu/coba/phd

The University also has two collaborative Ph.D. programs underway with The Texas A&M University System in Curriculum and Instruction and Hispanic Studies.