Finance Ph.D. track

The Wayne State finance Ph.D. track prepares students to become faculty members at major research universities.

Our finance doctoral program has a 100 percent success rate in placing our graduates in tenure-track positions. We are also proud that our finance doctoral graduates have papers accepted for publication in top journals, such as The Accounting ReviewFinancial Management and The Journal of Banking and Finance, within the first year of graduation.

The finance track focuses heavily on corporate finance and asset pricing with a special emphasis on empirical research in the investigation of topics in these areas.

Below are the curriculum and graduation requirements for the finance track of the Ph.D. program. If you need more information, please contact the program advisor.

Finance track class profile

Our finance students began the program with a 691 average GMAT score.

Program advisor

Mbodja Mougoue
Professor of Finance 
313-577-4539
ad4906@wayne.edu

Curriculum requirements

The Ph.D. in Business Administration requires a minimum of 90 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. The division of these credits is as follows:

Master's level courses (7000 level)

These courses form the business core of the program and provide a cross-section of business operations, ethics and strategy.

All courses are three credits. Details are available by clicking each course link. At least 15 credits are required.

Students can transfer 15 master's level credits to their doctoral academic plan.

Finance courses

The courses below form the doctoral core for the finance track. These courses establish the high-level knowledge base required of Ph.D. students. 

Each course is three credits unless noted.  Course details are available by clicking each course link. At least 13 credits are required.

Quantitative methods

The courses below form the quantitative emphasis of the finance track. These courses establish the high-level quantitative base required of Ph.D. students. 

Each course is four credits unless noted.  Course details are available by clicking each course link. At least 11 credits are required.

Minor and elective courses

To satisfy the minor requirement, students must enroll in the following courses outside the Mike Ilitch School of Business that support their Ph.D. track and area of interest.

Dissertation research and preparation

The Ph.D. program requires the submission and defense of a dissertation, based on the student's original research.

During its preparation, the student registers for BA 9991 - BA 9994  Dissertation Research and Direction I IV (7.5 credits each semester, 30 credits total).

Graduation requirements

All coursework must be completed in accordance with the regulations of the Graduate School and the Mike Ilitch School of Business.

Students enroll on a full-time basis and must complete the program within seven years of admission.

Learn more

Our Ph.D. program is a member of DocNet-Consortium of Business Doctoral Programs and the Ph.D. Project.