Doctoral 100 Years - Doctoral - Harvard Business School
Training Men for Teaching Business
HBS is authorized by the Harvard University Governing Boards to grant the degree of Doctorate of Commercial Science.
Gragg Awarded First Doctorate of Commercial Science
Charles L. Gragg is awarded the first Doctorate of Commercial Science after completing his dissertation, “A Classification of Marketing for Business Administration.” Gragg went on to become a professor at HBS.
Change in Requirements
HBS Faculty vote to radically change the requirements for the Doctorate in Commercial Science so that the degree was “granted on the basis of scholarly work rather than on the length of residence at the University,” allowing students who had pursued graduate degrees at other institutions to receive advanced standing.
Commercial Science Degree Renamed to Business Administration
The Doctorate in Commercial Science (DCS) is renamed to the Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA).
First Black Student Graduates with DBA Degree
Harding B. Young becomes the first African-American student to earn the DBA degree. Young went on to work in higher education for more than 50 years with institutions including, Georgia State University, Arkansas AM&N (now University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), and North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University). He became the third Dean of the School of Business and Professor of Administration at Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University).
Women Admitted to the Doctoral Program
HBS opens the program to female applicants, announcing that qualified women would be admitted to the Doctoral Program, but noted “there has been no rush of applicants” and “only one lady admitted.”
First Woman Earns DBA
Edna Homa Hunt becomes the first woman to earn the DBA degree.
Doctoral Programs Move to Cotting
Doctoral Program moves to Cotting House, which was previously the home of the International Teachers Program.
Doctoral Graduate John McArthur Becomes Dean
Dean John McArthur (MBA 1959, DBA 1963) is the first HBS doctoral alumnus to become dean of Harvard Business School. McArthur was the 7th Dean, serving in this role from 1980-1995.
Fung Presented with Alumni Achievement Award
HBS presents the Alumni Achievement Award to the first doctoral graduate, Dr. Victor K. Fung (PhD Business Economics 1971).
Sherman Hall Renamed Wyss House
Sherman Hall is renamed as Wyss House in honor of Hansjoerg Wyss (MBA 1965) who provided a $25-million-dollar gift to establish the Hansjoerg Wyss Endowment for Doctoral Education, which not only renovated Sherman Hall but provided increased fellowships for HBS doctoral students.
DBA Graduate wins Nobel Prize
Dr. Robert B. Wilson (MBA 1961, DBA 1963) becomes the first HBS Doctoral graduate to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics. Dr. Wilson, together with Dr. Paul Milgrom, were honored for their improvements to auction theory.