Ph.D. in Technology Management
The Technology Management doctoral program is designed to produce exceptional scholars with a deep knowledge of technology’s effects on organizations and work, technological change, technology entrepreneurship, and technology-enabled innovation who will go on to conduct research and teach at top universities across the country and around the world.
The deadline to submit your application for Fall 2025 admission consideration is January 15, 2025 (11:59 PM Pacific Time). Please read on for program details or contact the PhD Admissions team at Click here to show mail address with any questions or to schedule a virtual appointment.
Technology Management invites you to explore the crucial role of technology and technological change in work, organizations, and society.
Nelson Phillips, Faculty Graduate Advisor, Ph.D. Program
Curious about how technology and technological change influence people, organizations, and society? Our doctoral program in Technology Management provides students with a vibrant interdisciplinary environment where they have the opportunity to work with leading scholars in organizational behavior, organization theory, technology management, entrepreneurship, and innovation. If you are interested in technology, regardless of whether you have a background in the social sciences, physical sciences, management, or engineering, we encourage you to apply.
Interested in applying? Visit UCSB’s Graduate Division website to learn more or contact the PhD Admissions team at Click here to show mail address with any questions.
Technology Management is an academic discipline focused on understanding technology and technology’s effects on society, including how technology is shaping organizations and work, the process of technological change, technology entrepreneurship, and technology-enabled innovation.
The Ph.D. program in Technology Management provides students interested in technology and its role in society with a vibrant interdisciplinary environment where they have the opportunity to work with leading scholars in organizational behavior, organization theory, technology management, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Applicants will be expected to follow their interests and develop their own research program under the guidance of faculty.
We seek excellent students who aspire to become exceptional scholars and go on to research and teach at top universities across the country and around the world. You would fit our program well if you are interested in technology, regardless of whether you have a background in the social sciences, physical sciences, management, or engineering.
The program is designed to prepare students for an academic career as tenure-track professors. Graduates go on to research and teach at top universities across the country and around the world.
All applications must be received by January 15, 2025, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
All applications require a non-refundable application fee. If you are a US citizen or Permanent Resident, the application fee is $135; for all others, the application fee is $155. No application will be processed until the application fee has been received. This fee can be paid by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or with a check/money order using the Check/Money Order Submission Form found on the last page of the application.
Application fee waivers are available to qualified U.S. citizens and permanent resident applicants through UCSB’s Graduate Division, not the Department. International applicants are not eligible for fee waivers. If you are eligible, you must apply for the fee waiver at the end of your application on the payment page. Fee waivers take approximately two weeks to be approved, so please apply early.
We seek students who want to become exceptional scholars and who will go on to research and teach at top universities across the country and around the world. You would fit our program well if you are interested in technology-related work regardless of whether you have a background in the social sciences, physical sciences, management or engineering.
Our program integrates organizational studies with technology and innovation studies in an interdisciplinary environment that transcends the distinctions between disciplines. If you come from a technology or scientific background we will teach you about the importance of organizations and social systems. If you have a social science or management background you will learn to understand the role of technology and innovation in shaping organizational action.
In order to complete your graduate application, you will be required to upload the following four documents in your online application:
- Statement of Purpose
- Personal History and Diversity Statement
- Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Supplemental Document: Writing Sample
1. Statement of Purpose
Give a brief statement outlining your reasons for undertaking a graduate program, your particular area of specialization within the major field (in which you majored as an undergraduate or master's student), your past academic work, and your plans for future occupation or profession. Also include any additional information that may assist the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and aptitude for graduate study at UC Santa Barbara. In your Statement of Purpose, please clearly emphasize your research interests, experience, and goals.
2. Personal History and Diversity Statement
UC Santa Barbara is interested in a diverse and inclusive graduate student population. Please describe any aspects of your personal background, accomplishments, or achievements that you feel are important in evaluating your application for graduate study. For example, please describe if you have experienced economic challenges in achieving higher education, such as being financially responsible for family members or dependents, having to work significant hours during undergraduate schooling or coming from a family background of limited income. Please describe if you have any unusual or varied life experiences that might contribute to the diversity of the graduate group, such as fluency in other languages, experience living in bicultural communities, academic research interests focusing on cultural, societal, or educational problems as they affect underserved segments of society, or evidence of an intention to use the graduate degree toward serving disadvantaged individuals or populations.
3. Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
List your positions of employment or volunteer work/community service since high school, either full or part-time, including the hours per week worked and the nature and dates of employment or service.
4. Supplemental Document: Writing Sample
A writing sample of no more than 40 pages in length. Writing samples should be substantial papers written in English in an upper-division or graduate class.
Document Uploads
UC Santa Barbara accepts PDF and Microsoft Word (.doc and .docx) documents for upload in the online application. The maximum file size allowed is 4 MB per document. You may view and replace documents you have uploaded. Once you click the "Lock" button, you will not be able to replace what you have uploaded. Please preview each document carefully to ensure you have uploaded the correct documents. Graduate Division and departmental staff will not be able to replace documents for you once you have locked a document.
Documents must be uploaded to the online application absolutely no later than 11:59 PM Pacific Time by the application deadline. Documents received after 11:59 PM on the departmental application deadline may be considered ineligible for review, and your application may be marked as Incomplete, and therefore unreviewable, by the department. The application fee is non-refundable for incomplete applications.
Applying to the Ph.D. in Technology Management
If you have any questions about the program, contact an admissions advisor at Click here to show mail address.
A full explanation of the graduate application can be found on the Graduate Division website. Information about cost and financial support can be found here.