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Application required spring of third year
The Global Commerce Scholars (GCS) program provides selected McIntire students with the opportunity to carry out independent research under the guidance of one or more faculty advisors. While the proposed research topic need not have a direct “international” focus, students with more general interests are encouraged to consider the global implications of their research topic.
Interested students are encouraged to schedule a meeting with program director Professor Dorothy Leidner (cva8qh@virginia.edu) as early as possible in their third year to discuss their research interests. Students will also register for COMM 4839 (1 credit) for the spring semester; however, enrollment in the course does not guarantee admission to the program. Admission depends on having a sufficiently well-developed research idea and a commitment from an advisor before the spring semester drop/add deadline. Professor Leidner will work with students to develop their idea and connect them with a potential advisor. Students may not seek an advisor directly.
Students who are admitted to the program will work closely with their thesis advisor during the spring semester of their third year to further develop their research idea. GCS students who make satisfactory progress will then continue with COMM 4840 (2 credits) for the fall semester of their fourth year, when they will produce a literature review and a detailed research proposal. Students whose proposals are approved by the GCS faculty advisors will complete their research and write their thesis while registered for COMM 4841 (2 credits) during the spring of the fourth year.
The program also has a research methods requirement that must be satisfied by the end of the fall semester of the fourth year. Generally, Marketing and Management concentrators will satisfy the research methods requirement with COMM 3330 (Marketing Research & Analytic Techniques), while Accounting and Finance concentrators will do so with ECON 3720 (Econometrics). Students may petition Professor Wilhelm for approval of an alternative methods course, but the requirement cannot be waived.
GCS students learn about professional research methods and practice as well as career opportunities in research. The experience is valuable to students considering graduate studies leading to research careers in business, consulting, government, or academia. Students who successfully complete this research program are designated as “Scholars in Global Commerce” and recognized at graduation.
