Accounting is the creation, dissemination and use of information by organizations. Our Accounting PhD program explores questions about how information is gathered, organized, reported and used by economic agents such as managers, investors, creditors, regulators and governments.
Our doctoral program is designed to develop future accounting scholars for academic careers at leading research universities around the world; they are prepared to conduct research that encompasses, but is not limited to, the following:
The PhD in Accounting is designed as a four-year program, though five years in the program would not be unusual for those students without strong backgrounds in economics and statistics. During the first two years of the program, students will take courses in accounting, economics, finance, econometrics and other related disciplines. At the end of their second year, students are required to take a preliminary written exam. All students in the PhD in Business also complete a core curriculum.
In addition, the program requires completion of two projects: a research proposal, completed during the first year, and a small-scale research paper, completed during the second year. Early in the third year, students will present their second-year project during a regular accounting workshop. To advance to candidacy, students must pass their preliminary exam and successfully complete the second-year paper requirement. Students are responsible for the successful completion of their dissertation during the remainder of the program.
The small size of our PhD program ensures that students in the program will have ready access and numerous opportunities to work with faculty. These opportunities include working as research assistants and as co-researchers. Students will also have the opportunity to interact with faculty from other universities through our active accounting workshop series.
For more information about the Accounting PhD, please contact Sundaresh Ramnath, Associate Professor of Accounting and the PhD program coordinator.