University at Buffalo (UB)
The finance discipline in the Management PhD program prepares you to become a productive researcher and teacher at a top university. Each student follows a slightly different path, depending on research interests, allowing you some flexibility in the curriculum below.
Typically five of the following:
Typically four of the following, with at least one being a finance class:
By the end of the first year, you will be expected to present a paper outlining your current progress in an area of research and how you might contribute in the future.
Typically four of the following
If research interests dictate, you may register for research seminars or other classes in related disciplines such as econometrics (e.g., ECON 712 Time Series Analysis; ECON 713 Advanced Econometrics; ECON 796 Special Topics in Econometrics), accounting (e.g. accounting research methodology, seminar in financial accounting), computer science (e.g. machine learning, big data, computing), industrial and systems engineering (e.g. simulations and stochastic models), etc. Some of these are subject to approval by your PhD advisor.
By the end of your second year, you will be required to present a full research paper of publishable quality. The Department of Finance uses the 2nd-year paper requirement in order to evaluate each student’s potential and ability to develop and execute research ideas independently. The evaluation of research potential/capabilities will be made by the Second-Year Paper Committee (hereafter ‘committee’). The committee is chosen by the student and should consist of at least two finance faculty members (including a committee chair and a committee member).
In the summer after the second year, you will be required to pass the comprehensive exam. The exam consists of two written parts and takes two days. On day one, you will be asked to answer questions inspired by the finance research classes you have taken. On the second day, you will be required to write a paper review for a hypothetical finance journal.
After passing the comprehensive exam, you will work closely with your faculty advisor toward the completion of your thesis. While you may continue to take regular classes, your focus will be on the quality of your research and its publishability.
If you are a doctoral student in the School of Management who is interested in obtaining an external area of focus in Economics, you should consult with your academic advisor. The following courses satisfy the Management doctoral core requirements in statistics (two courses) as well as the requirements for an external focus area in Economics (a grade point average of 3.0 is required in external focus area courses).
ECON 611 Mathematics for Economists I
ECON 613 Introduction to Econometric Theory
ECON 665 Microeconomic Theory I
Plus one course from the following:
ECON 614 Econometric Theory II
ECON 712 Econometrics: Time Series Analysis
ECON 731 Optimal Contract Theory
ECON 666 Microeconomic Theory II
MGO 797 Accounting workshops are required for one credit-hour.
If you are a doctoral student outside of the School of Management who is interested in obtaining an external area of focus in Finance, you should consult with your academic advisor. Course requirements are:
And two of:
Any of the 600-level courses may be waived if the student has had an equivalent prior course.
Any of the following courses may also be taken, but are not required:
Refer to the PhD Handbook for complete information on: