Ph.D. in Finance Program Structure

I. Coursework

The coursework for the PhD in Business Administration with Finance Major is set by the faculty and should be followed as outlined in Advising Sheets provided by the Finance PhD Program Advisor. The current curriculum guide indicates the following coursework for all students:

Year 1
First Semester
BUAD 702: Foundations of Scientific Research
ENGL 760 Problems in Technical Writing
INSS 586: Quantitative & Statistical Analysis

Second Semester
BUAD 701: Applied Statistics I
ACCT 705: Introduction to Accounting Scholarship
FIN 820: Microeconomic Theory

Year 2
Third Semester
BUAD 705: Applied Statistics II
BUAD 711: Seminar in Instructional Methods
FIN 822: Theory of Corporate Finance

Fourth Semester
INSS 795: Data Analytics
FIN 823: Investment Analysis Seminar
FIN 825: Applied Econometric Methods
BUAD 713: Teaching Practicum (as assigned by Department Chairperson)

Year 3
Fifth Semester
FIN 826: Empirical Research in Finance Seminar
FIN 832: Seminar in Selected Finance Topics
ACCT 807: Empirical Research in Capital Markets

II. Requirements for the Minor Area (Business Teaching)

All PhD students should complete the three Minor Area requirements before the start of the Fifth Semester and must complete them before taking the major comprehensive exam.

• Teach an undergraduate course in the major area (i.e., Completion of BUAD 713)
• Submission of a Teaching Portfolio to PhD Program Office
• Submission of proof of completing Online Course Training to PhD Program Office

III. Non-course Requirements for the Major Area

All PhD students must complete three major requirements (in addition to course requirements and minor area requirements) before advancing to candidacy.

• Major Empirical Research Requirement - Student must complete an independent research project, present the results in the GSBM Brown Bag series, and present at academic conference (or publish in an academic journal) by the end of the 3rd year in the program
• Written Comprehensive Exam - Administered in March of 3rd year
• Oral Comprehensive Exam - Administered in April of 3rd year, after successful completion of written comprehensive exam

IV. Dissertation

All PhD students must successfully defend a dissertation proposal (within 1 year after completing major comprehensive exams) and a final dissertation (by the end of the 6th year in the PhD program unless an extension is given by the GSBM Doctoral Program Committee).

V. Funding

All students seeking entry into the doctoral program should provide information on their funding status. Currently, MSU is not providing any funding for doctoral students entering the program.

VI. Other Important Matters

Doctoral students should carefully read the graduate school catalog for guidance on the consequences of not meeting these requirements, other situations that might result in dismissal from the program, and matters of academic dishonesty. Additional guidance may be provided by the GSBM Doctoral Program Director (Dr. Darlington Richards), the Finance PhD Program Advisor (Dr. Phyllis Keys), and the Chairperson for the Department of Accounting and Finance (Dr. Sharon Finney).