Curriculum
The Ph.D. degree is awarded by the Graduate College of the University of Oklahoma and degree requirements are set by the University and Price College of Business, as well as the Finance Division. What follows is a brief overview of the coursework in a typical Ph.D. student's program with an emphasis on Finance and is not intended to be definitive or complete. For a complete understanding of the degree requirements, students should consult the Graduate College Bulletin and the Ph.D. Student Handbook.
Core and Background Courses
Ph.D. with an emphasis in Finance students are normally expected to enter the program with background courses at the undergraduate or graduate level in mathematics (including differential and integral calculus, and matrix algebra), statistics, and economics. In addition, the College requires at least one graduate-level course in marketing, management, and accounting. The latter courses may be taken during the program if a student does not have them already.
Finance
FIN 6603 Asset Pricing Theory
FIN 6703 Empirical Asset Pricing
FIN 6803 Corporate Finance Theory
FIN 6903 Financial Markets
FIN 6973 Financial Econometrics
FIN 6970 Topics in Finance Research
FIN 6973 Empirical Corporate Finance
A sample Finance Ph.D. curriculum is presented below. Depending upon an incoming student’s extant academic training, some courses can be waived or substituted.
Year and Semester | Course number | Course name | Hours credit |
|---|---|---|---|
Year 1-Fall | ECON 5123 | Advanced Price/Welfare Theory (Microeconomics I) | 3 |
| ECON 5213 | Advanced Econometrics (Econometrics I) | 3 |
| ECON 5153 | Mathematical Economics (unless taken already) | 3 |
| FIN 6603 | Asset Pricing Theory | 3 |
Year 1-Spring | FIN 6803 | Corporate Finance Theory | 3 |
| FIN 6703 | Empirical Asset Pricing | 3 |
| ECON 6213 | Seminar in Price and Welfare Theory (Microeconomics II) | 3 |
| ECON 5243 | Econometrics II | 3 |
Year 1-Summer | FIN 6XXX | Summer Research | 2 |
Year 2-Fall | FIN 6973 | Empirical Corporate Finance | 3 |
| FIN 6YYY | Financial Econometrics | 3 |
| FIN 6903 | Financial Markets | 3 |
| ACCT 6193 | Introduction to Accounting Research (or elective) | 3 |
Year 2-Spring | FIN 6970 | Topics in Finance Research | 3 |
| FIN 6960 | Directed Readings in Finance | 2 or 3 |
|
| Finance, Economics, Accounting elective | 2 or 3 |
|
| Finance, Economics, Accounting elective | 2 or 3 |
Year 2-Summer | FIN 6XXX | Summer Research/Finance Comprehensive Exams | 2 |
Year 3-Fall |
| Present Second-Year Paper | - |
Years 3.5-5.0 | FIN 6980 | Dissertation Research | 5/sem |
Economics and Statistics:
Ph.D. students are required to have a concentration (at least three Ph.D. level courses) in econometrics/statistics and a concentration in either economic theory or accounting. Most of the coursework in the first year of the program is normally devoted to econometrics, economic theory, and statistics. Students are generally required to take two Ph.D. level courses in microeconomics and 3-4 in econometrics.
General Examinations:
Students are required to take general or comprehensive examinations in finance, econometrics, and either economic theory or accounting. The finance comprehensive exams are taken after all coursework is completed, usually after two years of coursework.
Second-Year Paper Requirement:
Students are also required to conceive, execute, and present a sole-authored second-year paper, usually in the Fall semester of year 3, in order to qualify for admission to Ph.D. candidacy.
