Finance PhD Curriculum

The typical duration of the Finance PhD Program is five years.

Following the fall of the second year, each student is required to pass a qualifying examination. During the spring of the third year, each student is required to present an original research paper.

Coursework

The schedule for the Finance PhD students will typically be as follows:

Summer II semester (if necessary)

• ECMT669 - Math for Economists (3 hours)
• ECMT685 - Introductory Econometrics (3 hours)   

First fall semester (9 hours required)

• FINC688 - Finance Doctoral Seminar (3 hours)
• ECON629 - Microeconomics I (3 hours)
• Econometrics or approved substitute (3 hours)

First spring semester (9 hours required)

• FINC688 - Finance Doctoral Seminar (3 hours)
• ECON630 - Microeconomics II (3 hours)
• Econometrics or approved substitute (3 hours)

Second summer (6 hours required for all students)

• FINC691 - Research Hours (3 hours, required for all students)

Second fall semester (9 hours required)

• FINC688 - Finance Doctoral Seminar (3 hours)
• FINC690 - Research Topics Seminar (3 hours)
• Econometrics or approved substitute (3 hours)
• FINC691 - Research Hours (if needed)
• Qualifying Examination (typically in December)

Second spring semester (9 hours required)

• FINC688 - Finance Doctoral Seminar (3 hours)
• FINC690 - Research Topics Seminar (3 hours)
• Econometrics or approved substitute (3 hours)
• FINC691 - Research Hours (if needed)

Second summer

• FINC691 - Research Hours (3 hours required if the student receives one month of financial support during the summer; 6 hours required if the student receives two or three months of financial support during the summer; 6 hours required for all students who do not hold a Master's degree)

Third fall semester (9 hours required)

• FINC688 - Finance Doctoral Seminar (3 hours)
• FINC690 - Research Topics Seminar (3 hours)
• FINC691 - Research Hours (3 hours)

Third spring semester (9 hours required)

• FINC688 - Finance Doctoral Seminar (3 hours)
• FINC690 - Research Topics Seminar (3 hours)
• FINC691 - Research Hours (3 hours)

Third summer

• FINC691 - Research Hours (3 hours required if the student receives one month of financial support during the summer; 6 hours required if the student receives two or three months of financial support during the summer; 6 hours required for all students who do not hold a Master's degree)

Fourth fall semester (9 hours required)

• FINC688 - Finance Doctoral Seminar (3 hours)
• FINC690 - Research Topics Seminar (3 hours)
• FINC691 - Research Hours (3 hours)

Fourth spring semester (9 hours required)

• FINC688 - Finance Doctoral Seminar (3 hours)
• FINC690 - Research Topics Seminar (3 hours)
• FINC691 - Research Hours (3 hours)

Fourth summer

• FINC691 - Research Hours (3 hours required if the student receives one month of financial support during the summer; 6 hours required if the student receives two or three months of financial support during the summer)
• Dissertation proposal defense - To maximize the student’s job market placement prospects, the department strongly recommends that the dissertation proposal defense be complete before job market applications are being mailed out.  The target recommended defense date is therefore between March and May of the student’s fourth year in the program. 
• Preparation of job market package (August)

Fifth fall semester (9 hours required)

• FINC691 - Research Hours
• FMA interviews
• Campus visits

Fifth spring semester (9 hours required)

• FINC691 - Research Hours
• AMA interviews
• Campus visits

Fifth summer

• FINC691 - Research Hours (3 hours required if the student receives one month of financial support during the summer; 6 hours required if the student receives two or three months of financial support during the summer)
• Dissertation final defense