Finance
The Ph.D. program in finance prepares students for careers as researchers and teachers in finance and provides training in related academic areas. KU faculty members have scholarly expertise in areas such as corporate finance, investments, financial institutions, derivatives, risk management, corporate governance, international finance, market microstructure, and entrepreneurial finance. Faculty members are widely published in prestigious academic journals including the Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, Review of Financial Studies, Journal of Financial & Quantitative Analysis, Journal of Business, and Financial Management. Several faculty members serve on the editorial boards of such journals.
Students attend core doctoral seminars on corporate finance, investments, financial institutions, and other topics in finance. Student-to-faculty ratios in such seminars are typically 4-to-1. Students also complete graduate coursework in statistics, economics, econometrics, and research in financial accounting. Students enjoy access to a variety of statistical packages and research databases, including the Wharton Research Database Services (WRDS) interface for accessing data from the University of Chicago’s Center for Research in Security Prices (CRSP) and from Standard & Poor’s Compustat database.
Students in finance receive up to five years of financial support contingent on satisfactory progress toward degree requirements. Support includes appointment as a research or teaching assistant with an annual stipend of at least $25,000, paid tuition, and a portion of subsidized student health insurance.
The program is small but intensive with a goal to admit up to four students each year. This gives the students an opportunity to work closely with faculty.
Our emphasis is on rigorous economic theory and research methodology which encourages collaborative and interdisciplinary research. Industry opportunities include market research, security valuation, risk management, derivatives modeling and valuation, and arbitrage.
Program Requirements and Information:Required Coursework
Area of Concentration
Most students admitted in finance 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 that is a combination of the traditional business disciplines of decision sciences, accounting, information systems, marketing, human resource management, decision sciences, organizational behavior, and strategic management. An aspirant may also propose an interdisciplinary area of concentration that includes emphases such as international business, law, and economics. 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.
Supporting Areas
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.
Research Methodology
For successful qualifier assessment, the student's program of study should include adequate preparation in research methodology.
Degree Completion Timeline Years 1-2: Coursework*
Year 3: Comprehensive Exams
Year 4: Dissertation Proposal
Year 5: Dissertation Defense
*A minimum of 15 courses, plus 901 and BUS 902 are required for completion of the degree
Some students can complete the program in four years.
PlacementsRecent KU Ph.D. graduates have been placed at schools such as the University of Wyoming, East Carolina University, Missouri State University, University of New Mexico, and Western Carolina University. For Complete listing, see the
Finance Alumni Page.
