Program Overview
The PhD in Business Administration with a focus in Finance prepares students for careers in research and teaching in academic or government research institutions. The program provides a strong foundation in financial and economic theory and the methodological skills needed to execute research projects. Graduates come to understand the fundamental concepts of finance, the workings of financial markets and financial intermediaries, and corporate financial decision-making. Faculty members work closely with PhD students and provide a stimulating intellectual environment that fosters collaboration. Graduates are placed at major research and teaching universities in the U.S. and overseas as well as in finance positions in private and public sector organizations.
Faculty Reputation
Terry’s Finance Department’s research publication record in the leading finance journals ranks in the top 20 of finance departments at public universities. Faculty members have received best paper awards from leading academic journals and conferences and have been invited to be keynote speakers at major conferences.
Collaborative Research Environment
Faculty members frequently co-author with current and former PhD students. Those articles were published in the top finance journals such as the Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, Review of Financial Studies, and Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis.
Research Topics
Corporate governance, fintech, household finance, mergers and acquisitions, financial institutions, impact of asymmetric information on corporate finance, market microstructure, causes of major market movements, and the impact of analysts’ guidance.
Prerequisites
The program is highly quantitative, and entering PhD students should have strong quantitative aptitude. Academic preparation in economics, engineering, mathematics, or statistics is helpful. Students not having sufficient background in integral and differential calculus or linear algebra are encouraged to enroll in review courses before arriving on campus.
Preferred deadline: January 4
- Bradford McFadden Professor of Personal Financial Management and Associate Professor, Department of Finance
Typical Course Sequence
Year 1
Fall
Year 2
Year 3 and Beyond
- Electives include ACCT 9120: Capital Markets Accounting Seminar, ACCT 9140: Capital Markets Accounting II Seminar, ECON 8040: Macroeconomic Theory I, ECON 8050: Macroeconomic Theory II, REAL 9910: Real Estate I Seminar, REAL 9920: Real Estate II Seminar, RMIN 9450: Property and Liability Seminar, and other courses in computer science, economics, psychology, statistics, etc. as approved by the PhD coordinator.
- Some PhD seminars may not be offered every year. Thus, you will take some in your first year and some in your second year, not necessarily in the order listed in this sample plan of study.
Placements
Recent finance PhD graduates were placed or have held tenure-track positions at institutions such as:
- Auburn University
- Clemson University
- George Mason University
- George Washington University
- Iowa State University
- Louisiana State University
- Oklahoma State University
- Singapore Management University
- Texas A&M University
- Texas Tech University
- University of Alabama
- University of Georgia
- University of Kansas
- University of Missouri
- University of Nebraska
- University of South Florida
- University of Tennessee
- Washington State University