The Newsletter of Business PhD and Masters Programs
Issue 3.1 – December, 2008
PhD PROGRAM EXPANSION
The PhD in Management Program is expanding into two
additional fields:
• Marketing
• Accounting
The first cohort will be admitted for September 2010.
Students in the Accounting field will complete eight
courses in Year 1 - seven selected from current course
offerings. At the beginning of Year 2, students will be
required to choose an area of specialization – financial or
managerial accounting. Five new accounting courses will
be developed for the program:
• Survey of Accounting Research
• Seminar in Financial Accounting
• Seminar in Management Accounting
• Seminar in Archival Research in Accounting
• Seminar in Behavioural Research in Accounting
The Marketing field of the PhD program will centre on
research and emphasize the relationship between theory
development and empirical analysis. Students will have
the opportunity to study service and relationship
marketing or branding. Six new marketing courses will be
developed for the program:
• Consumer Behaviour
• Service and Relationship Marketing
• Brand and Brand Communication
• Special Topics (Marketing)
• Marketing Philosophy and Theory
• Marketing Strategy
Stay tuned for more information on these new fields in
months to come.
RECRUITMENT
There are a number of recruitment activities in place to
attract the top candidates to our programs. In addition to
the efforts of the program office, each of the fields has
established a recruitment committee to spearhead the
process. Recruitment efforts in addition to our web site
have generated 120 inquiries as of the end of December,
2008.
This Newsletter is published twice per year (Fall & Spring Terms)
For any comments or suggestions please contact Cora Hennel-Greer at chennelgreer@wlu.ca or ext. 2745.
Faculty are invited to assist in the recruitment effort. If you
can recommend qualified students for the Business PhD
& Masters programs please contact our office.
Priority Application Deadlines
PhD in Management Program: February 1, 2009
Master of Finance, MSc in Management: April 1, 2009
STUDENT CORNER
2008 Cohort
Our student base has almost doubled with the
introduction of the new Masters programs and the 2008
cohort of the PhD program. The programs draw students
from across Canada and Internationally. The student
body is becoming increasingly diverse, reflecting the
international focus of the program. The entrance
admission average is 10.5% with the average GMAT
being 655.
OGS and SSHRC Submissions
Each fall graduate students apply for external funding
scholarships. This year 13 students submitted OGS
applications, and 8 SSHRC applications. The awards will
be announced in the spring of 2009.
Management Research Graduate Students
Association (MRGSA)
MRGSA is a student group dedicated to providing a forum
of discussion for graduate students in the management
research fields at the School of Business & Economics at
Wilfrid Laurier University. We strive to ensure that all
concerns and needs of our members are addressed.
President: Pak Hong Wong
Curriculum Committee Rep: Mardi Witzel
Faculty Council Rep: Joel Marcus
Secretary/Treasurer: Aaron Feldman
Social Director: Jeff McNally
Student News

Please join us in congratulating our students on their

accomplishments in publishing or presenting their papers,
in national and international academic conferences as
well as receiving awards and committee appointments. Mardi Witzel (OB/HRM 3rd year)
• Is the Business PhD & Masters Programs Curriculum
Committee student representative.

Bruce Martin (OB/HRM 2nd year)

Presented his paper:
• "Ganging Up On For-Profits: The Potential
Transaction Cost Advantage for Nonprofits and
Other-Government Service Providers in Government
Contracting," at the International Academy of
Business And Public Administration Disciplines
conference in Memphis this Fall.
• Awarded USASBE Doctoral Scholarship for
Consortium/Conference, December, 2008.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Administrative Sciences Association of
Canada (ASAC) Conference
As the primary Canadian forum for business
scholars to discuss their ideas, the conference
theme for ASAC 2009 focuses on creating the
knowledge necessary to be successful in this
new economy. This year, Laurier School of
Business & Economics is hosting this National
Conference (June 6th to the 9th, 2009) and our
PhD and Masters students will be actively
participating in its various programs.

Welcome Reception
Jeff McNally (OB/HRM 1st year)
Presented his paper: A welcome reception was held for the students of the PhD
• Has co-authored a paper entitled: "Development of a in Management, Master of Finance, and MSc in
scale to measure reactions to electronic monitoring" Management programs. The informal gathering provided
with Dr. Douglas Flint (UNB) and Lynn Haley (UNB). an opportunity for students and faculty to get to know
The paper was presented at the annual Economics & each other outside of the classroom.
International Business Research Conference, Miami,
Florida, December, 2008.
• Appointed as the Graduate Student Representative
for the School of Business & Economics, Graduate
Faculty Council.
• Panellist at the annual Making the Most of Your
Graduate Student Experience, Wilfrid Laurier.
Graduate Student Orientation, September, 2008.

Vishaal Baulkaran (FE 3rd year)

Recipient of a travel grant to attend:
• The American Finance Association Annual Meeting
in San Francisco, January 2009.

Joel Marcus (OB/HRM 4th year)

• Is the Business PhD & Masters student
representative for SBE Council.

This Newsletter is published twice per year (Fall & Spring Terms)
For any comments or suggestions please contact Cora Hennel-Greer at chennelgreer@wlu.ca or ext. 2745.