PhD in Finance

Graduates of the PhD-FIN program will be prepared to:

• critique methods of research and academic inquiry in the field of finance
• reconcile the results of research in the business field of study with extant theory
• identify, investigate and synthesize complex issues within the field by applying a range of analytical tools and theoretical models
• communicate research outcomes effectively to academic and practitioner audiences both orally and in writing
• publish scholarship in peer-reviewed journals related to business administration and finance
• teach effectively and disseminate fundamental knowledge in the field of study and related areas in business administration
• uphold standards of ethical academic conduct

In addition to meeting the university’s general requirements for admission to PhD degree programs, applicants to the PhD-FIN degree program must meet the following program admission requirements:

• Applicants must have completed a master of science in finance, a Master of Business Administration degree, or any related master’s degree, with a minimum CGPA of 3.0.
• Applicants must submit an official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score.
• Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose and a current vitae/resume.
• Applicants to the PhD-FIN will be required to have completed a graduate-level course in applied econometrics.

Required Courses

(minimum of 48 credit hours)

Business Core Courses

(9 credit hours)

Students must successfully complete the following required business core courses:

• BUS 701 Philosophical Foundations of Business Research
• BUS 703 Advanced Applied Econometrics
• BUS 704 Applied Time Series Analysis

Required Courses in Finance

(9 credit hours)

Students must successfully complete the following required finance courses:

• FIN 711 Finance Theory
• FIN 713 Advanced Topics in Financial Markets and Institutions
• FIN 714 Empirical Research Methods in Finance: Asset Pricing

Comprehensive Examination

• FIN 791 Comprehensive Examination

PhD Dissertation

• FIN 799 Dissertation (for a minimum 30 credit hours)

Elective Courses

(minimum of 12 credit hours)

Students must successfully complete four elective courses (for a minimum of twelve credit hours) selected from the following list of courses. The elective courses must be approved by the program coordinator.

• FIN 712 Contemporary Issues in Financial Research
• FIN 715 Advanced Corporate Finance Research
• FIN 721 Seminar in International Finance
• FIN 722 Corporate Restructuring and Reorganization
• FIN 723 Advanced Topics in Corporate Governance and Compensation
• FIN 724 Advanced Portfolio Management and Investment
• FIN 725 Seminar in Financial Risk Management
• FIN 794 Special Topics in Finance