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Program Description
The Stern School of Business of New York University offers one of the finest PhD 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 of today’s corporations and financial markets. Our PhD students take extensive coursework in economics, finance, econometrics and statistics in addition to accounting. Students are entitled to take courses at Stern as well as other schools within the University such as the Arts and Sciences Graduate School of Economics and NYU’s famous Courant Institute of Mathematics. Our objective is to prepare students for faculty positions as researchers and teachers in top academic institutions.
Stern’s accounting faculty has a wide range of research interests and continuously publishes works in all major academic accounting research journals such as the Journal of Accounting Research, Journal of Accounting and Economics, the Accounting Review, the Review of Accounting Studies, and Contemporary Accounting Research. Furthermore, Stern’s accounting faculty has published in such major Finance journals as the Journal of Finance, the Journal of Financial Economics, and the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis.
The Department boasts a large and diverse body of PhD students, who assist faculty with research projects early on in their doctoral program and often become co-authors to papers published in prestigious accounting journals.
The quality of our PhD program (ranked 7th in the United States by U.S. News and World Report) manifests itself by, among other things, our success in placing our graduates.
Admissions
All applicants to the NYU Stern School of Business PhD Program are required to submit a complete application for admission. A complete application includes the online application, statement of purpose, optional essay, educational history and resume or CV, letters of recommendation, test scores, academic transcripts, and an application fee.
See How to Apply for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.
Program Requirements
The program requires the completion of at least 36-54 credits, comprised of the following:
Curriculum Details
Although every doctoral student must satisfy general requirements, each student designs and completes an individual program of study.
Each new doctoral student begins a program of study, which requires approval from the Area Coordinator and the Doctoral Office. Any unusual features or revisions of an approved program of study requires permission from both the department Area Coordinator and the Doctoral Office. Unless specifically approved in advance by the Area Coordinator and the Doctoral Office, MBA courses will not be eligible for tuition remission.
The general PhD degree requirement for students entering the program with a Master’s degree or equivalent is to successfully complete a minimum of 36 credits. The requirement for students entering the program with only a Bachelor’s degree is to successfully complete a minimum of 54 credits. If the Doctoral Office and the department Area Coordinator approve, a program of study may include previous graduate work at NYU or other universities. In all cases, students must complete at least 33 credits of coursework at NYU.
An approved program of study becomes part of the student’s permanent academic file and represents a formal commitment by both the student and the school. Any approved program can be modified as appropriate.
A complete program of study must include:
- Prerequisites: Every student must satisfy the prerequisites in calculus, linear algebra, basic probability and statistics, and economics before starting doctoral study. This can be accomplished by taking courses in these subjects for a grade.
- Basic Research Skills Methodology Courses: Every student must complete four research methodology courses, including three courses in probability and statistics, and one course in microeconomics.
- Major Specialization & Elective Courses: Every student must complete the prescribed program of courses in their major specialization, as well as elective courses.
Additional Program Requirements
Program of Study
Successfully complete a program of study, including completion of prerequisite coursework, basic research skills methodology courses, and major field of study and elective courses.
Comprehensive Examination
Successfully pass the comprehensive examination(s) required in the student’s area of study.
Teaching Workshop
Attend the Teaching Workshop and receive certification to teach an undergraduate course.
Teaching Preparations
Successful completion of the teaching practica as described in the PhD Handbook.
Teach an Undergraduate Course
Teach one undergraduate course or the equivalent during the 4th year of study.
Dissertation Proposal
Initiate a major piece of original research and present it for faculty approval.
Dissertation Defense
Complete a satisfactory dissertation and defend it successfully at the defense presentation. The research is the extension and completion of the research presented at the dissertation proposal.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:
- Get exposure to a wider range of faculty approach to research.
- Get exposure to, and deepen their understanding of, Banking, Financial Instruments, and Debt Contracting.
- Acquire understanding and skills in the area of machine learning.
- Strengthen their economics and finance theoretical and econometric foundations.
- Acquire a broad working knowledge of their field of study.
- Be active contributors to the research environment.
- Conduct independent research.
- Be skilled presenters of academic research.
- Be skilled teachers.
Policies
NYU Policies
University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
Stern Policies
Additional academic policies can be found on the Stern Graduate Academic Policies page.