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As a PhD student in accounting at Booth, you’ll have the freedom to explore and cultivate your research interests from day one—wherever they lead.
You’ll join a collaborative research community and work with prominent scholars whose groundbreaking research is recognized for its impact on the academic literature, accounting practice and policymaking, securities regulation, and elsewhere. In addition to your stipend, you may apply for research and conference travel funding from our research centers and the Stevens Doctoral Program. In research workshops and conferences, you’ll present your work and hear about the work of fellow researchers.
As measured by research productivity and impact, Chicago Booth has one of the best accounting faculty groups in the world. The group includes Philip G. Berger, Hans B. Christensen, Merle Erickson, Christian Leuz, Michael Minnis, Valeri Nikolaev, Haresh Sapra, Douglas J. Skinner, and Abbie J. Smith, as well as an outstanding group of research-active junior faculty. The school is committed to maintaining the quality of this group.
These distinguished scholars are also teachers and mentors who will advise you, coauthor papers with you, supervise your thesis, help you find an outstanding job, and serve as colleagues throughout your career.
Wallman Family Professor of Accounting
Chookaszian Family Professor of Accounting and David G. Booth Faculty Fellow
Jeffrey Breakenridge Keller Professor of Accounting
Professor of Accounting
Associate Professor of Accounting and Jane and Basil Vasiliou Faculty Scholar
Charles F. Pohl Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting and Finance
Assistant Professor of Accounting
Associate Professor of Accounting
Deputy Dean for Faculty and Fuji Bank and Heller Professor of Accounting
James H. Lorie Professor of Accounting and FMC Faculty Scholar
Dean and George Pratt Shultz Professor of Accounting
Assistant Professor of Accounting and Kathryn and Grant Swick Faculty Scholar
Associate Professor of Accounting and James S. Kemper Faculty Scholar
Charles T. Horngren Professor of Accounting
Sidney Davidson Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting
Boris and Irene Stern Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting
Assistant Professor of Accounting and Fama Faculty Fellow
Associate Professor of Accounting and Kathryn and Grant Swick Faculty Scholar
Alumni success.
The American Accounting Association periodically awards a prize for seminal contributions to the accounting literature. Graduates of the PhD Accounting Program are regular winners of this prestigious prize.
Our PhD graduates in accounting go on to faculty positions at some of the world's most prestigious institutions.
Assistant Professor of Business, Accounting Division Columbia Business School, Columbia University His research examines the impact of information processing frictions and investor decision making on asset prices and firm investment. His dissertation area is in accounting.
Assistant Professor of Accounting Stern School of Business, New York University Sinja's research primarily examines misconduct reporting, regulation and enforcement, and the use of ESG information by stakeholders such as regulators, employees, and consumers. Her dissertation area is in accounting.
Assistant Professor of Business Administration Harvard Business School, Harvard University Shirley Lu studies Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) disclosure, with a focus on climate change and gender diversity. Her dissertation area is in accounting.
Chicago Booth Review frequently highlights the work of accounting PhD students, faculty, and alumni.
A Q&A with Chicago Booth’s Anna Costello about how the pandemic affected which suppliers got paid on time.
“Corporate risk exposures are often subtly implied in conference call discussions rather than explicitly stated,” write Chicago Booth PhD student Alex G. Kim and Booth’s Maximilian Muhn and Valeri Nikolaev.
A Q&A with Chicago Booth’s Ray Ball on accounting’s past and future.
Historical data can shape future outcomes, helping to determine whether a prospective borrower has access to a home, car, or other opportunities, write University of Utah’s Mark Jansen, Chicago Booth PhD student Fabian Nagel, and Booth’s Constantine Yannelis and Anthony Lee Zhang.
Doctoral students at Booth have access to the resources of several research centers that offer funding for student work, host workshops and conferences, and foster a strong research community.
The Chookaszian Accounting Research Center The Chookaszian Accounting Research Center coordinates accounting research at Chicago Booth and hosts research brown bags and workshops. It also publishes the Journal of Accounting Research , one of the top accounting research journals in the world.
George J. Stigler Center for the Study of the Economy and the State Dedicated to examining issues at the intersection of politics and the economy, the Stigler Center supports research in the political, economic, and cultural obstacles to better working markets.
Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation Chicago Booth’s destination for people committed to tackling social and environmental problems, the Rustandy Center supports the work of PhD students and others who are focused on transforming the social sector.
For Andrew Sutherland, PhD ’13, coauthoring research with Booth faculty was a highlight of the Stevens Program.
Video Transcript
Andrew Sutherland, ’13: 00:09 In accounting, there's tons and tons of research on these big public firms that have an army of investor relations people and they constant disclosing things. That's where most of the research was happening, but there's this whole other half of the economy, these private firms, that we didn't really know a lot about. We didn't know a lot about how they got credit. What was interesting to me is that a lot of time, firms are able to get credit without even providing any financial statements or any information whatsoever to the bank. The reason they're able to get credit is that they have a credit score. So in other words, the information is coming, not from the form itself, but from another bank who had dealt with them in the past. What really struck me was there wasn't really a lot of research out there on this information channel. That's when I decided I wanted to learn a little bit more about what this reporting channel does to contract and help firms get credit and how it changes banks' incentives to lend.
Andrew Sutherland, ’13: 01:01 Basically, the firms that have a good credit record or a long track record of borrowing successfully were the ones that were able to shop around. We would think that's a good thing, that giving firms more choice about who to borrow from kind of increases social welfare, you get better matching between lenders and firms. Kind of the dark side is that the firms that have had payment trouble that have defaulted or missed some payments on loans sort of get shut out of the credit part. You have a harder time starting any new relationships with outside lenders. That's kind of a cost.
Andrew Sutherland, ’13: 01:34 The second cost is that information sharing changes the game for lenders. So, if participating in this credit bureau basically allows outside lenders to pick off the firms that are doing better, then that destroys the incentive for lenders to kind of invest in relationships to begin with. That's sort of the second dark side of information sharing, if you will.
Andrew Sutherland, ’13: 01:54 So, I coauthor on a number of projects with the junior faculty member here named Mike Minnis. I probably talked to Mike more than I talk to my wife. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. But, I mean, as a PhD student, there's only so much you can learn in class, and having a faculty member to work with that's kind of gone through the ropes and understands the review process, that's done something on their own, it gives you a really good opportunity to learn. That's something, I think that was absolutely instrumental in my success
PhD students in accounting come to Chicago Booth with a wide range of interests and goals. Recent dissertations have focused on everything from machine learning to the impact of fiscal monitoring, and graduates have gone on to positions at some of the world’s preeminent institutions, including Columbia Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Current Students
Samuel Chang Jonas Dalmazzo Jewel Evans Lingyu Gu Yanzi (Yvonne) Han Grant Hayes Maria Khrakovsky Alex Kim Ginha Kim Andrew McKinley Pietro Ramella Hanbyul Yoon
The Stevens Doctoral Program at Chicago Booth is a full-time program. Students generally complete the majority of coursework and examination requirements within the first two years of studies and begin work on their dissertation during the third year. For details, see General Examination Requirements by Area in the Stevens Program Guidebook below.
Download the 2023-2024 Guidebook!
The Accounting PhD program trains students to do rigorous research in accounting, a specialized area of financial economics. The program is highly analytical and quantitative. We look for strong undergraduate preparation in microeconomics and mathematics, while some prior accounting or finance training at the undergraduate or graduate level is an advantage. Institutional understanding of how accounting information is used by capital market participants and/or within firms is useful and best obtained through relevant work experience, but is not required of applicants.
Close working relationships with faculty members provide an excellent learning experience while at Wharton and can continue throughout the student’s career. Our program provides students with opportunities to interact with faculty and get started on relevant research early in the program. Required research elements include the accounting workshop colloquium, the first-year research assistantship, and the first and second year summer research papers.
For more information on courses and sample plan of study, please visit the University Graduate Catalog .
Visit the Accounting Department website for details on program requirements and courses. Read faculty and student research and bios to see what you can do with an Accounting PhD.
I. preparation.
It is desirable for students to have a solid understanding of applied microeconomic theory, econometrics and mathematics (linear algebra, real analysis, optimization, probability theory) prior to the start of the program. Adequate computer programming skills (e.g. R, Matlab, SAS, STATA, Python) are necessary in coursework. A traditional accounting background such as CPA is not required.
All required courses must be taken for a grade (not pass/fail or credit/no credit). Exceptions are made if the required course is offered pass/fail or credit/no credit only. Each course must be passed with a grade of P or B- or better. Substitutions of required courses require approval by the faculty liaison. Waiving a course requirement based on similar doctoral level course completed elsewhere requires the approval of the course instructor, faculty liaison, and the PhD Program Office.
The faculty encourages students to take at least three courses (in addition to ACC 698/699) related to the academic program each quarter during the academic year in the first two years of the program and some additional selected courses during their third year of study. Students must complete all required courses in order to advance to candidacy. Students should discuss and confirm course schedules with their faculty liaisons each quarter.
Topic | Courses |
---|---|
Accounting (7+ courses) | Students may be exempt from a required accounting course (or be required to substitute with another accounting course) if the course is not offered in the first three years of the student’s program. In general, students are expected to complete all Accounting PhD courses offered during their first three years in the program. |
Economics (3 courses) | mics II mics III Possible substitutions include but are not limited to: |
Econometrics (3 courses) | Choose one course from the following |
Finance (3 courses) | |
Breadth Requirement (1 course) | One graduate level course in a field other than accounting, finance, or economics. Suitable courses will depend on the student’s research interests, and might include subjects such as behavioral science, statistics, political economy, linguistics, computer science, mathematics, logic or marketing. Course selection for breadth requirements have to be approved by the liaison.
|
All students are required to register for ACC 698 “Practicum in Teaching” or ACC 699 “Practicum in Research” for one unit in every quarter of the academic year and during the summer quarter. Students register for ACC 698 and ACC 699 on Axess and receive a letter grade for ACC 698 and ACC 699.
We estimate that students in their first and second year will spend 10 hours per week per quarter during the academic year and 20 hours per week in the summer quarter on the practicum. Students in years three through five will spend approximately 14 hours per week per quarter during the academic year and 10 hours per week in the summer quarter on the practicum.
In years three through five, students have the option to work up to 6 hours/week during the academic year and up to 10 hours/week during the summer as an RA or CA. Students sign up for RA or CA work on the CARA system. In addition, at any point during the program, students have the option to work as a grader up to the appropriate limits per school and university policy. Students sign up as a grader on CARA.
International students may be restricted in the number of hours they can work as RA, CA or grader due to their visa status.
The purpose of the accounting group’s research practicum is to give our doctoral students hands-on exposure to accounting research. In the student’s first academic year of study, each student will be assigned to work with a different faculty member each quarter. During these first-year series of practica, students will gain exposure to the given faculty members areas of research through a variety of activities, such as reading and discussing research papers, collecting data for a research project, working on an aspect of the faculty member’s research or performing a literature review.
In the second year of the program, research practica will involve serving as a research assistant for the sponsoring faculty member. In the third through fifth year of the program, the research practica ideally evolve from a research assistant to collaborative relationship with the sponsoring faculty member. The pace of this evolution is determined by the progress of the student in the program and the research agenda of the sponsoring faculty member. These practica are meant to provide the student with valuable research experience through the initiation, development and completion of both existing and new research projects, writing referee reports under the supervision of the faculty member, and similar career-building activities.
The scope and nature of the research practicum will be determined by the sponsoring faculty member each quarter. In addition to the activities determined by the sponsoring faculty member, students are required to regularly attend the accounting seminars and internal workshops.
The purpose of the accounting group’s teaching practicum is to give our doctoral students hands-on exposure to aspects in teaching. A teaching practicum can involve a variety of activities such as conducting review sessions, or development of teaching material including case writing The scope and nature of the teaching practicum will be determined by the sponsoring faculty member each quarter.
Students are required to enroll in a minimum of two quarters of ACC 698 prior to the end of the fourth year in the program.
Satisfactory completion of the following research papers and presentations are required for admission to candidacy.
Each student is required to write an original research paper during the summer after the first year of coursework. This research paper is due before the start of the fall quarter of their second year, and is required to be presented to the faculty during an accounting workshop at the beginning of the fall quarter at a time announced by the liaison. The student receives a pass/fail grade for the 1st year summer paper.
Each student is required to write a second original research paper after completing two years of coursework and the area field exam. This second research paper is due at the end of the fall quarter of their third year, and is required to be presented to the faculty during that fall quarter at a time announced by the liaison. The second year summer paper is expected to be more substantive than the first year summer paper. Ideally, it can be developed into a doctoral thesis. The student receives a pass/fail grade for the 2nd year summer paper.
The purpose of the field exam in accounting is to examine (1) the student’s command of the past and current academic literature in accounting; (2) the student’s ability to understand, critique and apply the methods used to conduct research in accounting; and (3) the student’s ability to evaluate research in accounting and independently develop suitable research designs to address research questions in accounting.
The field exam tests whether the student has the solid understanding of accounting research necessary to conduct meaningful research in accounting. Studying for the field exam may also help the student identify gaps in the literature as well as research areas and questions of interest to her/him. The questions on the field exam focus on topics covered and skills developed in the students’ coursework during the first two years in the program.
The field exam in accounting is usually a written exam conducted over two days during the summer after the second year. The format and date will be announced by the liaison.
Students are required to enroll in a minimum of two quarters of ACC 698 - Teaching Practicum prior to the end of the fourth year in the program.
Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree is a judgment by the faculty of the student’s potential to successfully complete the requirements of the degree program. Students are required to advance to candidacy by September 1 before the start of their fourth year in the program.
The oral examination is a defense of the dissertation work in progress. The student orally presents and defends the thesis work in progress at a stage when it is one-half to two-thirds complete. The oral examination committee tests the student on the theory and methodology underlying the research, the areas of application and portions of the major field to which the research is relevant, and the significance of the dissertation research. Students are required to successfully complete the oral exams by September 1 before the start of their fifth year in the program.
The doctoral dissertation is expected to be an original contribution to scholarship or scientific knowledge, to exemplify the highest standards of the discipline, and to be of lasting value to the intellectual community. Accounting does not have any general guidelines beyond the University requirements, and instead defer to the student’s Dissertation Reading Committee.
Years one & two.
Related departments.
The nation’s top accounting program.
Texas McCombs boasts the most prestigious accounting doctoral program in the country and has graduated more than 300 PhD students since its inception in 1934. Are you ready for the best?
Your Future In Accounting
Mentorship and practice, application deadline.
The application deadline for the Accounting Doctoral Program is December 15.
If you are a practicing accountant, these topical areas will be familiar to you. However, we welcome students with backgrounds in Mathematics, Economics, Engineering, Finance, Psychology, or other disciplines to apply. We can remedy any lack of accounting knowledge through additional coursework. Most students enter our accounting doctoral program with some knowledge in these areas:
Financial accounting researchers are interested in the use of accounting information by investors, creditors, analysts, and other decision-makers. We are also interested in the preparation of accounting information by managers who may respond to economic incentives and use discretion to manage earnings. Finally, we are also interested in the regulation of accounting information by standard setters and other regulators who are evaluating the relevance and reliability of current and potential accounting information.
Auditing researchers are interested in questions of independence, governance, compliance, auditing processes, and biases. This research helps global standard-setters and regulators adopt standards and policies that protect the integrity of our accounting information.
Managerial accounting research topics include optimal employee compensation and governance, using information for efficiency management, motivating creativity, etc.
Taxation research covers economic incentives, transfer pricing, compliance with tax enforcement, multistate taxation, and numerous topics about accounting for income taxation, where tax rules overlap with financial reporting standards.
Academic leadership, research methodologies.
When you earn a doctorate, most of your time is spent developing deep expertise in research methods. Accounting researchers use three main approaches. In all cases, your doctoral studies will involve a firm grounding in statistics and typically a choice of either economics or psychology as an additional foundation.
Archival research involves the statistical analysis of historical data to examine relevant research questions based on economic theory for its predictions. Thus, archival research requires a strong background in statistics and economics, which we provide through rigorous coursework in the business school and the economics department.
Experimental or survey methods are commonly used to obtain data to conduct what is broadly known as behavioral research. Behavioral research relies on psychology for its theories. Because this research is interested in what people do and why they do it, it is often necessary to conduct controlled experiments or survey participants. Using experiment or survey methods, researchers in accounting and finance have provided compelling alternative explanations where economic theories fall short.
Analytical research uses quantitative mathematical models to explain and predict behavior. This research is grounded in game theory from economics. Students wanting to conduct analytical research should have even stronger mathematical backgrounds than other applicants. We will design a program of study that builds on those initial strengths with additional coursework in mathematics and economics.
Preparation and qualifications, career placement, the world needs you, career destinations.
The primary goal of the Texas McCombs PhD program is to prepare students for exceptional academic careers. Over the last five years, McCombs Accounting PhD alumni have excelled at top institutions globally.
Jesse Chan | 2022 | Boston University
Cassie Mongold | 2022 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Ryan Hess | 2021 | Stanford University (postdoc); Oklahoma State University
Ryan Ballestero | 2021 | Kent State University
Dan Rimkus | 2021 | University of Florida (October 2021 graduation)
Shannon Garavaglia | 2020 | University of Pittsburgh
Jakob Infuehr | 2019 | University of Southern Denmark
Antonis Kartapanis | 2019 | Texas A&M University
Kristen Valentine | 2019 | University of Georgia
Colin Koutney | 2018 | George Mason University
Zheng Leitter | 2018 | Nanyang Technological University
Brian Monsen | 2018 | The Ohio State University
Xinyu Zhang | 2018 | Cornell University
Jeanmarie Lord | 2017 | University of Montana
Ben Van Landuyt | 2017 | University of Arizona
Shannon Chen | 2017 | University of Arizona
Prasart Jongjaroenkamol | 2017 | Singapore Management University
Ying Huang | 2017 | University of Texas - Dallas
Mary adenle, yiying chen, dorothy dickmann, mandy ellison*, kenzie feinberg, michael gonari, nathan herrmann, sean kemsley, minjae kim*, kaitlyn kroeger, jingpei shi, albert wang, are you ready to change the world.
The Texas McCombs Doctoral Program is seeking individuals who are interested in transforming the global marketplace. Are you one of these future thought leaders?
A minimum of 13 semester courses at doctoral level are required. Each semester students will consult with the Accounting & Management faculty coordinators to receive approval of their course selections.
Microeconomics Theory : A comprehensive two semester sequence on economic theory:
All Accounting and Management students are required to have completed one undergraduate or graduate course in introduction to Econometrics. If this requirement has not been fulfilled prior to matriculation, then an equivalent course will be required in the first term of the student's doctoral program.
Courses meeting this requirement include:
Students must take four research methods courses, including one course in research design.
Courses that fulfill this requirement include, but are not limited to:
Research methods courses that meet the research design course requirement include, but are not limited to:
Accounting and Management students are required to take seven additional doctoral courses.
All students without an MBA degree are required to complete two case-based HBS MBA courses.
Students are strongly encouraged to attend and participate in seminars throughout their program. In the third year, students are required to attend Accounting & Management Unit Seminars .
Teaching requirement.
Students must teach or assist with teaching in a formally offered course for one full academic term. This engagement should include, at least, 8 hours of front-of-class teaching and 16 hours of teaching preparation time. The requirement may be fulfilled by completing a teaching fellow or instructor assignment at a Harvard University
Students are required to pass the Special Field Exam at the end of the second year or beginning of the third year. This exam has two parts: a written exam and an oral exam based on the course syllabi from any relevant doctoral research seminars in financial or managerial accounting undertaken by students in the course of their studies.
By the end of their third year, all students are required to obtain approval of their dissertation proposal by their Dissertation Chair.
Students are required to write a dissertation, which typically takes the form of three publishable papers, to the satisfaction of their Dissertation Committee. The dissertation defense is oral and open to the public.
The first PhD in accountancy was issued at the University of Illinois in 1939. For 80 years, Gies College of Business has been the place for serious scholars entering the accounting professoriate. With the largest alumni network in the discipline, the most productive research faculty in the world, and a small cohort size currently composed of 15 students, a PhD from Gies Business will pave your way toward success in academia.
Our reputation is based on the accomplishments of our top-ranked accounting faculty , the productivity and placement of our PhD candidates, and the breadth of accounting education we provide. We include PhD students in a research team composed of full, associate and assistant professors who have distinguished themselves in auditing, financial accounting, managerial accounting, and taxation research. A point of emphasis has been the development of co-authored projects among doctoral students and faculty. To prepare students for these collaborations, our PhD curriculum helps develop your research and writing skills.
"Illinois treated me very well when I earned my PhD here, and I’m thrilled to help the program continue its long history of excellence. No program can boast a faculty that has deeper or broader expertise, or that is more open-minded in topic, method, or theory."
Justin Leiby, PhD ‘11 Associate Professor of Accountancy
The accountancy PhD program emphasizes a balance between coursework, research, and teaching. Coursework during the program prepares students for a career marked by quality research. Your experience will include an in-depth understanding of the accounting environment, so you can identify accounting questions and problems that are interesting from a research standpoint. In addition, our coursework also emphasizes foundational theories and research tools from source disciplines like economics, finance, psychology, and statistics. Furthermore, faculty mentors advise and build your research and teaching skills while fostering your confidence and knowledge over the five years, on average, it takes to finish the program.
We are confident that your experience at Gies will provide the research competence, teaching prowess, and academic confidence to thrive in academia.
Research opportunities with our top-ranked faculty and within coursework launch your publishing experience, while helping you find a dissertation topic. Learning and researching with these scholars pushes you to look beyond what is happening today, to change the industry’s future for the better. Your publishing opportunities will solidify your stature as an extraordinary thinker who is willing to take on accounting’s most pressing questions.
As you work closely with expert faculty, your research will benefit from our connections with top-tier journals, editorial boards, and leadership positions throughout academic societies. At Gies, we also provide financial assistance in many forms, to help you get the education you deserve.
Our rigorous curriculum and collaborative research environment positions doctoral graduates to teach at any of our peer institutions. For example, alumni are teaching at Emory University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Washington, University of Florida, Northeastern University, Indiana University, and many more. Joining the Gies accountancy PhD program means developing research that will change the way accountancy works, and then having the confidence to take your newfound knowledge into a classroom of your own.
"Being tenured at the University of Texas is a dream come true, and it wouldn’t have happened without the doctoral program at Gies. The combination of hard and soft skills I learned from my mentors, and the opportunity to learn from distinguished faculty in other fields were uniquely valuable dimensions of my Illinois experience."
Brian J. White, PhD ‘12 Associate Professor of Accounting, University of Texas at Austin
Find out why the nation’s most prestigious PhD accountancy program is the right fit for you.
While offering the promise of providing an early-warning system to consumers about potentially incurring penalty fees, consumption tracking may also instill a false sense of security or “complacency” among consumers.
Findings coauthored by professors David Molitor and Julian Reif are part of a multi-year, large-scale randomized control trial at the University of Illinois designed to rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of workplace wellness programs.
Mock Live Session: Encouraging Your Customers to Make Better Decisions
Gies iConverge 2024
Gies Homecoming Business Bash
University of Illinois Homecoming 2024
MBA applications are open! First deadline: October 14.
Accounting ph.d., earn a ph.d. in business and a major concentration in accounting and learn the essentials in theory, research methods and contemporary accounting issues.
Accounting Research involves the systematic and scientific study of accounting systems, institutions, standards and regulations for the purpose of understanding and characterizing their decision-facilitating and decision-influencing roles within organizations, in product and capital markets, and across economies. For instance, financial reporting systems play many roles in publicly held organizations characterized by separation of ownership from control. They help investors in valuing their claims to firms in financial markets (valuation role), are essential for corporate control and managerial performance evaluation (auditing, governance and stewardship roles), and impact how firms allocate their resources and make financial decisions (real effects). In a similar vein, management accounting systems facilitate planning and control within organizations. Often, these many roles of accounting information interact, posing challenges for system designers, policy makers, and standard setters.
The main goal of the accounting doctoral program is to train students to do high-quality research, and become influential scholars in top academic institutions. The accounting group has world-class senior faculty and young, talented scholars with considerable expertise in the above topics and a vibrant research environment. In addition, the program leverages the resources and excellence of Rice University in related fields such as finance, economics and statistics. Students will be required to take courses in economics, statistics, econometrics, finance, and a rigorous set of cutting-edge research seminars covering the essentials in theory, research methods, and contemporary accounting issues.
Program information.
Rice Business offers an outstanding program for doctoral students interested in accounting.
Overview of Accounting Ph.D. Seminar Series
Introduction to Accounting Research The course offers a thorough and broad-ranging introduction to accounting theory and research. It covers origins and evolution of key relevant accounting institutions, thought, paradigms and methods.
Analytical Research The course provides a thorough and comprehensive introduction into the key economic theories underlying a significant part of contemporary cutting edge accounting research. The course is designed to be sufficiently deep to support both students intent on pursuing analytical research and at the same time broad enough that students with an empirical orientation will gain a solid foundation.
Empirical Research in Accounting The course provides a thorough and comprehensive synthesis of empirical accounting research, covering the key “classic” papers in the major research areas, methodological issues and emerging areas within empirical accounting research.
Advanced Contemporary Accounting Research The course provides a more advanced treatment of cutting edge, predominantly empirical accounting research. Accordingly, the course content is expected to change frequently to reflect the current state of accounting research.
For doctoral students who have chosen accounting as their area, the Ph.D. degree requirements are as follows.
Summer before the beginning of first semester
Quantitative Methods Review
Year 1 (Fall)
ECON 501Microeconomic Theory I ECON 510 Econometrics I BUSI 530Introduction to Accounting Research Workshop in Statistical Computing and Research Elective
Year 1 (Spring)
ECON 508 Microeconomics II BUSI 532Analytical Research in Accounting BUSI 533 Contemporary Accounting Research Topics Workshop in Statistical Computing and Research Elective
Year 2 (Fall)
BUSI 531 Empirical Methods in Accounting BUSI 523Empirical Methods in Finance Elective Elective
Year 2 (Spring)
BUSI 532 Analytical Research in Accounting (suggested retake) BUSI 533 Contemporary Accounting Research Topics (suggested retake) Elective Elective
Doctoral students may continue taking graduate-level accounting courses beyond their second year as well. Examples of elective courses are:
General: ECON 435: Industrial Organization ECON 511: Econometrics II ECON 514 Industrial Organization and Control ECON 517 Empirical Industrial Organization
Analytical Track: BUSI 510 Analytical Models in Marketing ECON 502 Macroeconomics ECON 505 Financial Economics ECON 509 Topics in Microeconomics ECON 575 Topics in Financial Economics MATH 321 Introduction to Analysis I MATH 515 Integration Theory STAT 581 Mathematical Probability STAT 552 Applied Stochastic Processes
Empirical Track: BUSI 522 Corporate Finance BUSI 511 Select Topics in Marketing BUSI 524 Finance Special Topics BUSI 527 Finance Special Topics ECON 309 Applied Econometrics ECON 578 Topics in Econometrics I ECON 579 Topics in Econometrics II: Time Series Analysis STAT 519 Statistical Inference STAT 541 Multivariate Analysis
Accounting and UNC Kenan-Flagler’s international reputation makes us one of world’s top academic centers of innovative accounting thought and research. We are widely recognized as a leading center of research on financial reporting, tax, international accounting, accounting standard setting, managerial accounting, and the role of accounting information in decision making.
We pride ourselves on frequent and successful student-faculty collaboration and encourage our students to work with, and seek advice, from every one of our faculty. We believe this frequent interaction with our faculty, who themselves work in many diverse areas, creates well-rounded graduates who can think creatively and deeply about important problems.
View our current Accounting PhD students .
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Program information.
The doctoral program at the KU School of Business prepares students for research and teaching careers at major universities. As a doctoral student in accounting, you will have the opportunity to work with internationally known faculty members on a variety of research projects.
The program includes a combination of coursework, faculty mentoring and hands-on experience in both teaching and research. Students have access to a wide variety of databases and the small size of the program ensures extensive faculty and student interaction. The program is flexible, with some students leaving in four years and some staying for a fifth year.
KU accounting faculty are ranked No. 1 in audit archival and all audit research contributions over the past six and 12 years, and in the top 15 in archival research across all topics — and our doctoral program graduates are ranked in the top 5 in archival audit research, according to Brigham Young University’s 2021 accounting rankings . Recent doctoral student placements include Clemson University, Kansas State University, Iowa State University, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of Arkansas.
Faculty research interests include the economics of the auditing profession; dynamics of the auditor-client relationship; the impact of regulation on auditors and clients; the causes and consequences of financial reporting failures; voluntary disclosure; information intermediaries; corporate governance; the design of control systems and compensation packages; and many other topics.
Priority: December 15
Final: January 10
As a doctoral accounting, you will have the opportunity to work with internationally known faculty members on a variety of research projects. The small size of the program ensures extensive faculty and student interaction.
Part of our mission is to develop effective teachers. To that end, all doctoral students are required to teach at least two sections as independent instructors. The school and university prepare and reward doctoral students for excellence in teaching through various programs and awards.
Key components.
Find an overview of key components of the program, including details about expectations and major research projects.
BSAN 920: Probability for Business Research
BSAN 921: Statistics for Business Research
BE 917: Advanced Managerial Economics
ECON 715: Elementary Econometrics
ACCT 928: Introduction to Accounting Research
ACCT 929: Seminar in Archival-Based Accounting Research
ACCT 930: Seminar in Auditing Research
ACCT 932: Seminar in Financial Accounting Research
ACCT 936: Seminar in Accounting Research Design & Corporate Governance
Choose six from the below courses:
BSAN 922: Advanced Regression
FIN 937: Seminar in Business Finance
FIN 938: Seminar in Investments
FIN 939: Seminar in Financial Institutions
ECON 730:Topics in Industrial Organization
ECON 769: Financial Economics
ECON 817: Econometrics I
ECON 818: Econometrics II
ECON 830: Game Theory and Industrial Organization
ECON 831: Economics of Regulation
ECON 869: Advanced Financial Economics
ECON 880: Selected Topics in Economic Theory:
ECON 915: Advanced Econometrics I
ECON 916: Advanced Econometrics II
ECON 917: Advanced Econometrics III
ECON 918: Financial Econometrics
PSYC 790: Statistical Methods in Psychology I
PSYC 791: Statistical Methods in Psychology II
PSYC 893: Multivariate Analysis
PSYC 894: Multilevel Modeling
PSYC 896: Structural Equation Modeling I
STAT 835: Categorical Data Analysis
MATH 727: Probability Theory
MATH 728: Statistical Theory
Coursework in the area of concentration is supplemented and strengthened by study in one or two supporting area (minors). Examples of supporting areas include finance, econometrics, or economic theory. The first supporting field is generally topical in nature, such as financial economics or corporate financial theory, and usually consists of two or more graduate-level courses typically seminar in nature.
The second supporting field generally develops specialized analysis skills, such as econometrics, and usually consists of two or more graduate-level courses beyond the core requirements.
Alternatively, a more focused minor area of concentration can include four or more additional courses (e.g. finance or econometrics). Methodology courses not shown in the following list can be substituted with approval (for example, certain math courses).
For more information, view a detailed list of courses in the academic catalog.
A course that is not being offered within a reasonable timeframe, or a course in which a student can demonstrate competence may be, with the approval of the area group and the doctoral team, replaced with another course.
Area-specific core requirements may be changed subject to the approval of the area group and the Ph.D. team.
A minimum of 15 courses, plus FIN 901, BUS 902 and BUS 903 are required for the completion of the degree.
Area of concentration.
Most students admitted in accounting typically will select that area as their concentration. However, an aspirant, with the assistance of his or her faculty advisor and the area faculty, may propose an interdisciplinary area of concentration. The aspirant must take at least five advanced courses in the area of concentration. These courses may include those offered outside the School of Business.
Coursework in the area of concentration is supplemented and strengthened by study in one or two supporting areas. A supporting area is one that supplements and complements the area of concentration. The aspirant will satisfy the supporting area requirement by taking at least four advanced courses in the supporting areas (at least two courses in each of two supporting areas, or at least four courses in one supporting area). Courses recommended for preparation for the qualifiers may not be included in satisfying the supporting area requirement.
For successful qualifier assessment, the student's program of study should include adequate preparation in research methodology.
Coursework and research
Comprehensive exams and research
Dissertation and job market
Program faculty.
General information.
Accounting is an interdisciplinary area, combining study of financial information with areas such as economics, finance, decision theory, and cognitive psychology.
The Ph.D. curriculum in accounting encompasses two major streams of research. The first stream examines the role of accounting information in contracting and capital markets. This first stream is economics-and-finance based and relies heavily on empirical research methods using archival data. The second stream is judgment and decision making in accounting (also known as behavioral decision theory research). This second stream is primarily psychology-based and relies heavily on controlled experiments with human subjects. The accounting Ph.D. program is designed to prepare students to publish research in top-tier accounting journals including The Accounting Review, Journal of Accounting and Economics, and Journal of Accounting Research and to take positions at leading research-based universities.
The Department of Accounting offers both major and minor areas in accounting. The remainder of this page first describes the policies for a major in accounting. This is followed by a description of the policies for a minor in accounting.
Department web site Accounting Faculty
Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree at an accredited university and should have reasonable training in mathematics and economics. An admission committee of faculty members reviews all completed applications. While the committee considers all relevant factors in its recommendations, important factors include past academic performance, GMAT scores (the GRE exam can be substituted for the GMAT but the GMAT is strongly preferred), personal statements, and letters of recommendation. Evidence of quantitative aptitude, creativity, commitment to completing a Ph.D., and collegiality are all important.
In the summer preceding arrival at UW, new doctoral students are strongly encouraged to review important concepts in basic tool areas (e.g., economics, statistics, calculus, and linear algebra). Knowledge of financial and managerial accounting is required. The Ph.D. curriculum is extremely rigorous, so students greatly benefit from getting a head start on key skills important to completing the initial coursework.
Assistant Prof. Darren Bernard, Accounting Area Faculty Coordinator, would be glad to answer your questions. You can contact him by email .
The Accounting Area Faculty Coordinator advises new students until they establish a supervisory committee by the end of the Spring quarter of their first year. The supervisory committee assists the student in choosing appropriate courses, approves the course of studies, and monitors the student’s progress.
All accounting majors must complete the following requirements. The number of credits for each course is indicated in parentheses after the course number.
ACCTG 582 (4) | PhD Research Seminar | Introduces faculty areas of research |
ACCTG 580 (4) | Introduction to Accounting Research | Includes positive accounting theory |
ACCTG 579 (4) | Special Topics in Accounting | **Experimental seminar **Analytical seminar *Python coding *Innovations in econometric methods |
ACCTG 596 (4) | Seminar in Financial Accounting | Capital markets |
ACCTG 599 (1) | Accounting Research Workshop | Weekly accounting workshop series |
*Offered periodically. **Offered every second year.
Accounting majors are expected to register for ACCTG 599 each year in which they are enrolled in coursework (minimum two years). All Accounting majors are expected to attend ACCTG 599 each year they are in residence.
Occasionally, optional special topics classes will be offered reflecting instructor and student interest (for example, empirical research in taxation).
Research Methods Minor Area Requirements
In addition to the major area, students are required to choose three additional areas as minors. Doctoral students in accounting must select Research Methods as one minor area. Coursework in Research Methods should include ECON 580 (or equivalent courses in probability and/or statistical inference), ECON 581, and FIN 585. ECON 580 and 581 are within the econometrics series the UW Department of Economics offers, and FIN 585 is a research methods course the UW Department of Finance and Business Economics offers. These requirements are viewed as minimal background for conducting doctoral level research.
Students should also include at least 3 units (e.g., one course) of additional coursework in Research Methods tailored to their specific interests and selected in consultation with the area advisor. The UW Business School also offers behavioral research method courses BARM 590 and 591. Additional econometric and behavioral research method courses are available in the economics and psychology departments, respectively.
Other Minor Area Requirements
Although Economics is highly recommended as a second minor area, students may petition to substitute another minor area in special circumstances. The courses to be included in the Economics minor should include the three-course sequence ECON 500, 501, 508 and at least 3 additional units (e.g., one course) of coursework selected in consultation with the Economics area advisor. The three-course sequence is the microeconomics series economics doctoral students are expected to complete in the economics department.
The third minor area will depend on the student’s interest. For example, students might choose one of the following minor areas: Finance, Information Systems, International Business, Operations Management, Psychology, or Quantitative Methods. It is also possible to design a special minor area, which more directly addresses a student’s interests. Since many students choose Finance as the third minor area, it is also briefly discussed below.
The Finance minor area is recommended for students interested in financial accounting research. Students can either complete the 4 course doctoral seminar sequence FIN 580, 590, 591, 592 or they can take three courses from this sequence and at least 3 additional units (e.g., one course) of coursework selected in consultation with the Finance area advisor. The four-course sequence includes coursework in financial economics, capital market theory, corporate finance, and advanced finance research.
Accounting Doctoral Student Planned Courses (as of July 2022) The summer before you begin, you will be expected to do preparatory math and programming work. You will then arrive to campus in early September to begin on-campus math, economics, and programming camps. We will have a “welcome” barbeque sometime in September. This is a way to get to know everyone and have some fun before the semester gets underway, and families/significant others are welcome.
Classes typically begin the last week of September and in the first year all students will have the same course schedule:
Courses: | Courses: | Courses: | Courses: |
ECON 500 Microeconomics I | ECON 501 Microeconomics II | ECON 508 Microeconomics III | BA 580 Business Econ |
ECON 580 Econometrics I | ECON 581 Econometrics II | FIN 585 Empirical Methods in Finance | |
ACCTG 582 Intro to Acctg Research | ACCTG 580 Positive Acctg Theory | Alternating Accounting Phd Seminar (Analytical or Experimental) | |
ACCTG 510 Financial Statement Analysis (MBA Class, case-by-case exemptions) | |||
Other: | Other: | Other: | Other: |
Workshop series | Workshop series | Workshop series | 1st Year Summer Paper and Presentation |
Second Year
Courses: | Courses: | Courses: | Courses: |
Finance Doctoral Seminars (FIN 580, FIN 591, FIN 592 (optional)) | |||
ACCTG 582 (2nd time) Intro to Acctg Research | ACCTG 580 (2nd time) Positive Acctg Theory | Alternating Accounting Phd Seminar (Analytical or Experimental) | |
ACCTG 596 Capital Markets Seminar | |||
ACCTG 579 (every other year) Empirical Research Designs and Methods | |||
Other: | Other: | Other: | Other: |
Workshop series | Workshop series | Workshop series | Comprehensive Exam 2nd year Summer Paper |
Courses: | Courses: | Courses: | Courses: |
ACCTG 579 if applicable | |||
ACCTG 596 (2nd time) Capital Mkts Acctg Seminar | |||
Register for BA 800 when you have passed your area exam and have satisfied all your course requirements. | |||
Other: | Other: | Other: | Other: |
RESEARCH (dissertation and co-authored projects)! Workshop series 2nd year Summer Paper Presentation | RESEARCH (dissertation and co-authored projects)! Workshop series | RESEARCH (dissertation and co-authored projects)! Spring Workshop Presentation (ideally your dissertation proposal) | RESEARCH (dissertation and co-authored projects)! |
Fourth Year
Other: | Other: | Other: | Other: |
RESEARCH (dissertation and co-authored projects)! Workshop series | RESEARCH (dissertation and co-authored projects)! Workshop series | RESEARCH (dissertation and co-authored projects)! Spring Workshop Presentation | RESEARCH (dissertation and co-authored projects)! |
Other: | Other: | Other: | Other: |
RESEARCH (dissertation and co-authored projects)! | JOB MARKET! | GRADUATE! | Move! |
Miami Rookie Conference (Nov deadline) |
Doctoral students minoring in accounting must meet the following requirements:
ACCTG 510 and ACCTG 511 or equivalents ACCTG 580, Introduction to Accounting Research
In addition, students minoring in accounting are required to successfully complete one of the following:
ACCTG 579 (4) | Special Topics in Accounting | Analytical accounting research |
ACCTG 579 (4) | Special Topics in Accounting | Behavioral accounting research |
ACCTG 596 (4) | Seminar in Financial Accounting | Capital markets |
*Offered every second year.
Written Area Examination After completing all coursework required for a major area in accounting, the student takes a written area examination offered each year during late July or early August. The accounting area examination tests students on coursework as well as on topics of current research. The exam consists of a closed book eight-hour exam.
General Examination It is expected that students will complete all coursework and area exam and begin working on a dissertation proposal by the end of their second year. However, students are encouraged during their third and fourth years to attend the accounting doctoral research seminar in their area of interest (ACCTG 596 for financial accounting empiricists, ACCTG 597 for behavioral or experimental researchers). When the supervisory committee believes that the dissertation proposal is well defined, a general exam is scheduled. During the general exam, the student presents the dissertation proposal and answers questions related to the proposal and/or to courses taken. Members of the supervisory committee, a representative of the Graduate School, and any other interested faculty and students, attend the general exam. The chair of the supervisory committee determines the precise format of the general exam.
Students who have passed their area examination but not their general exam are required to present an accounting research workshop on their research in progress each Spring quarter until they have passed their general exam (and thus have an approved thesis topic). Students are required to present their research paper in the research workshop before sending it out to schools to interview. This presentation should be in early October to allow time for revision before sending the paper out in early November.
Dissertation After passing the general exam, students complete the proposed research and write the dissertation guided by a reading committee. The reading committee may consist entirely of members of the supervisory committee or may include one or more members not previously on the supervisory committee. When formation of the reading committee introduces new members, a new chair of the reading committee would ordinarily become chair of the supervisory committee and new members of the reading committee would ordinarily be placed on the supervisory committee.
Final Examination The supervisory committee administers the final defense of the dissertation.
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The Wisconsin PhD Program in accounting and information systems prepares individuals for careers in research, teaching, and service at the university level.
The program stresses high-quality research at the frontiers of knowledge. A majority of the student’s time in the program is dedicated to developing, refining, and applying their research skills.
The accounting and information systems specialization has a strong track record of producing high-quality researchers and teachers. Our approach values collegiality; students work closely with faculty in an apprenticeship-type approach.
Student research is supported by faculty in four core areas and include archival and experimental research:
Financial accounting
Managerial accounting
Our faculty members contribute to significant advancements in the field, as evidenced by our recently published journal articles .
The admissions process is highly competitive. Ideal candidates possess a strong academic background including prior study of accounting at the undergraduate or graduate level. Work experience is also valued.
All students must meet the general PhD requirements of both the UW–Madison Graduate School and the Wisconsin School of Business. Prospective students should have:
Ideally, students complete the following courses prior to entering the program. (In some cases, these courses can be completed early in the program.)
Students are required to complete three seminars in accounting research:
Introduction to Accounting Research
Behavioral Accounting Research
Archival Accounting Research
Students in our program develop a basic research background in both archival and behavioral empirical research. The program is one of the most balanced programs in the country in terms of support for different research methodologies and topics. Most students ultimately specialize in the research area and methodology that best suits their skills and research interests. Both behavioral (including experimental economics) and archival methods are strongly supported. Students also develop specialization in a related field such as economics, psychology, or sociology. Finally, students build a foundation in statistics that supports their research interests. Methodology courses in economics, agricultural economics, or psychology will generally provide a strong foundation.
Students present to the faculty an original research project—often co-authored with a faculty member or with another student—after their first year in the program and again by the end of their third year in the program.
See Guide for all course requirements
We encourage you to contact our doctoral students in accounting and information systems to hear their perspectives on the Wisconsin PhD Program.
View current student profile
Graduates of our PhD specialization in accounting and information systems have accepted tenure-track positions at top research universities.
View recent placements
Whichever direction you want to go, we’ve got you covered. The Ivy College of Business at Iowa State University launched the Master of Accounting in 2000. The MAcc is designed to meet the needs of accountants in public or private accounting focusing on interpreting and analyzing accounting information for decision-making. This program allows undergraduate accounting majors to complete an advanced degree while pursuing the additional hours needed to meet the 150 hour requirement in most states to become a Certified Public Accountant. Graduates comply with the Iowa Standards for Certification upon passing the Uniform Certified Public Accounting Examination. The MAcc faculty are respected nationally and have been making a difference as editors and co-editors of the top journals in their area of expertise. The accounting faculty host annual training conferences for continuing education credits and provide external consulting. These external experiences provide a link for our students from the classroom to real-world practice. We are absolutely committed to providing you with a rewarding and valuable educational experience.
Degrees Offered:
Area(s) of Specialization: (may appear on ISU transcripts after graduation)
How long does it take to earn a degree?
Learning goals.
Graduate College Requirements:
Program Specific Requirements:
International Requirements:
TOEFL Paper (PBT) | 600 |
TOEFL Internet (iBT) | 100 |
IELTS | 7.5 |
PTE | 68 |
Duolingo (approved through spring 2025) | 120 |
Application Deadlines:
Fall term - June 15, Spring term - Nov 15, Summer term - March 15. International students should apply at least three months before the start of term they are applying.
Application Details:
This program is open to domestic and international students.
Application Instructions
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By Robbie Gould on 08/08/2024
If you're contemplating whether a bachelor's degree in accounting will offer better long-term prospects than an associate degree, you're considering a pivotal decision for your future.
Both degrees potentially serve as valuable and effective pathways to opportunities in the financial sector. An associate degree offers a solid foundation, preparing you for entry-level roles and providing practical skills that are immediately applicable in the workforce.
On the other hand, a bachelor's degree builds on that foundation, offering a deeper understanding and a broader scope of opportunities for specialization.
Graduating with a bachelor's degree from an accounting program could open exciting and challenging career opportunities. This degree equips you with the knowledge and skills needed for various roles within the financial sector. Below are some of the key positions an accounting major could pursue with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
Rasmussen University’s Accounting Certificate, Accounting Associate’s degree and Accounting Bachelor’s degree programs are not designed to prepare graduates for any state-issued professional license or certification. Rasmussen University’s Accounting Associate’s degree and Accounting Bachelor’s degree programs do not meet all educational prerequisites for licensure as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in any state. For further information on professional licensing requirements, please contact the appropriate board or agency in your state of residence.
Financial analysts evaluate financial data, prepare reports, and develop investment strategies. They work with organizations to analyze financial performance, project future revenues and expenses, and advise on budgeting and investment decisions.
Their role is crucial in helping businesses make informed financial decisions and optimize their financial operations.
This position may require additional or different education beyond an Accounting Bachelor’s degree, additional work experience or certification.
Auditors examine and verify financial statements and records to ensure accuracy and compliance with laws and regulations. They can work internally within a company or externally for auditing firms.
Auditors identify financial discrepancies, assess risk management processes, and provide recommendations to improve financial accuracy.
Tax accountants focus on managing and preparing tax filings for both individuals and businesses. They ensure that their clients adhere to all relevant tax laws, while also identifying potential tax-saving strategies.
Their role involves staying informed about the latest tax regulations to offer accurate and timely advice. By leveraging their expertise, tax accountants help clients reduce their tax obligations and effectively plan for future financial decisions, ensuring compliance and maximizing financial benefits.
Management accountants, sometimes called cost accountants, specialize in overseeing and improving internal financial processes. They play a key role in helping management make informed strategic decisions by analyzing financial data, preparing budgets, and controlling costs.
Their work includes evaluating financial performance and providing insights that are crucial for enhancing operational efficiency and supporting long-term business planning. Management accountants ensure that financial resources are used effectively to meet the organization’s objectives.
Forensic accountants specialize in uncovering financial discrepancies and fraud through detailed examination of financial records and transactions. Combining expertise in accounting, auditing, and investigative techniques, they meticulously analyze data to identify irregularities and fraudulent activities.
These professionals often collaborate with law enforcement agencies or legal teams, playing a crucial role in litigation support. Their findings are instrumental in uncovering financial crimes, and they frequently provide expert testimony in court, offering critical evidence and insights that aid in legal proceedings. Forensic accountants help ensure financial transparency and accountability, making them invaluable in the fight against financial misconduct.
Corporate controllers are responsible for managing a company’s accounting operations. Their duties include preparing financial reports, maintaining accurate accounting records, and implementing robust internal controls.
They ensure that financial statements are accurate and comply with regulations, while also overseeing the management of financial resources. Corporate controllers are important to financial planning and strategy development, providing insights and direction that help shape the company’s financial future.
Budget analysts play an essential role in helping organizations manage their finances effectively. They are responsible for creating detailed budget reports, meticulously monitoring spending, and recommending necessary adjustments to ensure that financial targets are achieved. By thoroughly analyzing budget proposals and assessing the financial needs of the organization, budget analysts identify areas where costs can be reduced and resources can be allocated more efficiently.
Their expertise ensures that the organization's financial resources are utilized optimally, supporting both short-term and long-term financial goals.
Financial managers lead teams of financial professionals, guiding them in executing the organization’s financial plans. They make high-level financial decisions, ensuring that all financial activities align with the organization’s objectives and regulatory requirements.
Handling sensitive financial documents and financial reporting make discretion and integrity important in this role.
By balancing risk and profitability, financial managers steer the organization toward long-term financial success and stability. Their strategic insight and leadership are indispensable for navigating financial challenges and capitalizing on opportunities for growth.
Internal auditors work within an organization to assess the effectiveness of internal controls, risk management processes, and governance. They conduct audits to ensure compliance with policies, identify areas for improvement, and recommend corrective actions. Internal auditors help to enhance operational efficiency and safeguard organizational assets.
When deciding your career path, it is crucial to understand the differences between an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
Think of an associate degree as the first step. It typically takes about two years to complete and gives you a solid grounding in basic accounting principles, making it a great option if you want to enter the workforce quickly.
You’ll learn essential skills that prepare you for entry-level positions like a bookkeeper, accounting clerk, or payroll assistant. It’s practical, time-efficient, and can be a smart choice if you're eager to start working and earning sooner.
A bachelor’s degree is more comprehensive and takes about four years to complete. These programs go beyond the basics, diving deeper into complex topics like financial analysis, auditing, and strategic management. With a bachelor’s degree, you’re not just limited to entry-level jobs. Accounting majors with a bachelor's have the potential to aim for more advanced positions such as a financial analyst, personal financial advisor, or even a managerial role.
Plus, it opens up opportunities to pursue a master's degree or professional certifications like Certified Management Accountant ® (CMA), which can enhance your professional credibility and expand your career opportunities.
Deciding whether an accounting degree is worth the investment of time, effort and money is a significant consideration. Here are some key points to help you evaluate the value of a degree in accounting:
Professional certifications
Depending upon the specific type of bachelor’s degree in accounting, you might be able to pursue professional certifications to enhance your career prospects. It is important to check the specific education and work experience requirements that are needed to sit for professional certifications.
Versatility and flexibility
An accounting degree provides a versatile skill set that is applicable across various sectors. Whether you choose to work in public accounting, corporate finance, government, or non-profit organizations, your skills will be in welcomed and leveraged. This flexibility allows you to explore different career paths and industries throughout your career.
Explore your options, weigh the benefits, and choose the path that aligns best with your professional ambitions by checking out Rasmussen’s Bachelor’s in Accounting Degree page .
Rasmussen University’s Accounting Certificate, Accounting Associate’s degree and Accounting Bachelor’s degree programs are not designed to prepare graduates for any state-issued professional license or certification. Rasmussen University’s Accounting Associate’s degree and Accounting Bachelor’s degree programs do not meet all educational prerequisites for licensure as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in any state. For further information on professional licensing requirements, please contact the appropriate board or agency in your state of residence
Certified Management Accountant® is a registered trademark of Institute of Certified Management Accountants
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Robbie Gould
Robbie is a content writer for Rasmussen University. He researches and writes on a variety of topics and is passionate about storytelling, learning and empowering the next generation of students.
Posted in Accounting
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Hope Rothenberg | 11.09.2023
Kalie Debelak | 10.31.2022
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This piece of ad content was created by Rasmussen University to support its educational programs. Rasmussen University may not prepare students for all positions featured within this content. Please visit www.rasmussen.edu/degrees for a list of programs offered. External links provided on rasmussen.edu are for reference only. Rasmussen University does not guarantee, approve, control, or specifically endorse the information or products available on websites linked to, and is not endorsed by website owners, authors and/or organizations referenced. Rasmussen University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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Accounting. Our doctoral program in the accounting field offers broadly based, interdisciplinary training that develops the student's skills in conducting both analytical and empirical research. Emphasis is placed on developing a conceptual framework and set of skills for addressing questions broadly related to accounting information.
The doctoral program in Accounting and Management, which falls under the PhD in Business Administration, focuses on understanding the role of information and measurement systems for: allocating resources among firms in the economy and between departments or divisions of individual firms; rewarding and monitoring the performance of managers; formulating, executing and evaluating strategy by ...
Ph.D. Overview. The Stern School of Business of New York University offers one of the finest Ph.D. programs in accounting in the world. The curriculum is designed to provide a thorough understanding of current accounting theory, practice and research, taught within the framework of modern economic and finance theories as applied to the behavior ...
Learn about the benefits, requirements, and career paths of earning a Ph.D. in accounting. Compare programs, concentrations, and accreditation for doctoral programs in accounting.
Learn how to become a successful academic researcher in accounting at Wharton. The program offers rigorous coursework, mentoring and research projects with faculty members.
Yale SOM's specialization in accounting is designed to develop strong theoretical and empirical skills. There is a heavy emphasis on original research to form a base for sustained scholarship. Co-authored research, with both faculty and fellow PhD students, is encouraged and supported. Yale's accounting program is small (matriculating one ...
Learn about the PhD accounting program at Chicago Booth, one of the preeminent accounting research centers in the world. Explore the curriculum, faculty, alumni, and research opportunities in accounting.
Learn how to do rigorous research in accounting, a specialized area of financial economics, at Wharton's doctoral program. The program is highly analytical and quantitative, and requires strong undergraduate preparation in microeconomics and mathematics.
The Accounting PhD program is designed to produce great scholars and educators by providing a solid foundation in both the theoretical and empirical tools of accounting research. Your program of study will be personalized to leverage your background and research interests. Through coursework, research seminars, and individual original research ...
A traditional accounting background such as CPA is not required. II. Course Requirements. All required courses must be taken for a grade (not pass/fail or credit/no credit). Exceptions are made if the required course is offered pass/fail or credit/no credit only. Each course must be passed with a grade of P or B- or better.
Both U.S. News & World Report and Public Accounting Report rank the Texas McCombs Accounting PhD program number one in the nation, reflecting the program's diversity and excellence across education and scholarship. Our distinguished faculty members research various specializations, including financial reporting, management accounting ...
Accounting and Management students are required to take seven additional doctoral courses. Management Control and Performance Measures (HBS 4403) Empirical Research in Financial Reporting and Analysis (HBS 4250) + MBA Courses (2 courses) All students without an MBA degree are required to complete two case-based HBS MBA courses.
Learn how to succeed in academia with a PhD from the world's most productive accountancy program at Gies Business. Explore the curriculum, research opportunities, faculty mentorship, and alumni network of this prestigious program.
The main goal of the accounting doctoral program is to train students to do high-quality research, and become influential scholars in top academic institutions. The accounting group has world-class senior faculty and young, talented scholars with considerable expertise in the above topics and a vibrant research environment. In addition, the ...
Comprehensive written examination which covers all of the Accounting courses you take in your first two years of the PhD Program. Third, Fourth and Fifth Year Curriculum. Secure an advisor prior to your third year. Historically, students and advisors have gravitated towards one another naturally as we ensure students and faculty frequently ...
The doctoral program at the KU School of Business prepares students for research and teaching careers at major universities. As a doctoral student in accounting, you will have the opportunity to work with internationally known faculty members on a variety of research projects. The program includes a combination of coursework, faculty mentoring ...
The accounting department is nationally recognized for excellence. The Ph.D. in Business Administration - Accounting program is designed to produce scholars capable of publishing in the top journals from the moment they graduate. Our doctoral program combines rigorous, thought-provoking coursework with independent and guided research opportunities.
The accounting Ph.D. program is designed to prepare students to publish research in top-tier accounting journals including The Accounting Review, Journal of Accounting and Economics, and Journal of Accounting Research and to take positions at leading research-based universities. ... Accounting Doctoral Student Planned Courses (as of July 2022)
About the Program. The Wisconsin PhD Program in accounting and information systems prepares individuals for careers in research, teaching, and service at the university level. The program stresses high-quality research at the frontiers of knowledge. A majority of the student's time in the program is dedicated to developing, refining, and ...
PhD Program Highlights. Accounting: Emphasizes rigorous research and analytical skills, preparing students to contribute significantly to the academic and professional fields of accounting.; Decision, Risk, & Operations (DRO): Focuses on the mathematical and analytical foundations of decision-making, risk management, and operations, ideal for candidates with a strong background in mathematics.
The MAcc is designed to meet the needs of accountants in public or private accounting focusing on interpreting and analyzing accounting information for decision-making. This program allows undergraduate accounting majors to complete an advanced degree while pursuing the additional hours needed to meet the 150 hour requirement in most states to ...
The University of South Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctoral degrees. The University of South Florida also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels.
The Faculty of Business offers programs leading to the degrees of Master of Business Administration, Master of Financial Management, Master of Accounting, and Doctor of Philosophy. In addition to the standard MBA program, specializations are available in International Business, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Natural Resources, Energy and the ...
ABOUT THE PROGRAM. For the 1st time in Russia St. Petersburg state university offers a unique doctoral program in management (Academic major - 5.2.6. Management) which is based on international educational standards. It is an English-language program. You can apply for a program by submitting "Application". 10 Qs to GSOM SPbU Doctoral ...
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To acquaint students with the accounting profession. To develop fundamental skills that will allow students to be conversant in accounting. Course Requirements (18 semester hours) The program of study for a minor in Accounting consists of a minimum of 18 semester hours. To satisfy the minor requirement a grade of "C-" or better is required in:
Five Reasons to Get a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration at UNLV. Ethical Leadership: Develop a strong foundation in ethical leadership, enabling you to navigate complex business landscapes with integrity and responsibility.; Diverse Collaboration: Experience the fusion of backgrounds as you work with students from vastly different industries participating in the program.
The Master of Commerce (Advanced) offers a pathway to PhD study specialising in accounting. Students with little background in accounting can still reach an advanced level of academic study. The program provides an advanced level of study in one or more accounting disciplines and requires the completion of research preparation coursework, and a research thesis in an accounting discipline.</p ...
The Accounting program, located within the School of Business at Stockton University, accepts applications from qualified adjunct (part-time) instructors. Opportunities may exist to teach an undergraduate or graduate course during the day or evening at our campuses in Galloway, Atlantic City or Manahawkin.
Graduate. Undergraduate; Graduate; Doctoral; Clinical Residency Programmes; ... Accounting, Analysis, Audit Master. Advanced Mathematics Master. Advanced Mechanics and Modeling Master. ... Software and Administration of Information Systems Master. Software Engineering Master. Soil Science Master.