Finance Doctoral Program

General Description

The Finance doctoral program admits four highly qualified students per year. The program prepares students for careers in research, classroom teaching, and service. The program emphasizes current research topics in Investments, Corporate Finance, and Financial Institutions and Markets. In addition, students are taught a variety of theoretical and empirical research methods and tools using statistics, econometrics, mathematical economics, and financial mathematics.

Analytical Tools and Research Area (TAR)

Students must take the following three courses:

  • ECO 5403 Introduction to Mathematical Economics
  • ECO 5416 Applied Quantitative Methods I (STA 5354 may be substituted with permission of Primary Area advisor)
  • ECO 5423 Applied Quantitative Methods II
  • Plus choose two additional quantitative courses in Statistics, Economics or Educational Research (Research and Evaluation) numbered 5000 and above with the approval of the Primary Area advisor.

Primary Area

The doctoral Primary Area in Finance covers the foundations and theories of finance.

In addition to the economics requirement in the Tools and Research Area, finance majors are expected to take a graduate course in either micro or macro-economics, plus a graduate economics or accounting elective. (Courses in other areas may be substituted here with the approval of the Primary Area Advisor.)

Doctoral Students in Finance must take the following doctoral seminars and courses:

  • xxx xxxx - One elective approved by the doctoral advisor
  • FIN 6808 - Foundations of Financial Theory I
  • FIN 5935 - Foundations of Financial Theory II
  • FIN 6842 - Empirical Research in Finance
  • FIN 6527 - Doctoral Seminar in Investments - Finance and Investments
  • FIN 6449 - Doctoral Seminar in Corporate Finance
  • FIN 6709 - Doctoral Seminar in Institutions - Financial Markets and Institutions
  • FIN xxxx - Supervised Research/Directed Individual Study in Finance
    (number of courses and topics vary)

The requirement for an elective, course chosen in consultation with the doctoral advisor, is designed to allow some minimum specialization by students. As some examples, this course could be a multinational finance course, a financial institutions course, an economics course or an additional quantitative course. In addition to these regularly scheduled seminars, the Finance Workshop meets periodically to share the results of recent research conducted by FSU faculty and doctoral students and by invited scholars from other universities. Doctoral students are required to attend the Finance Workshop seminars.

Finance majors usually choose a Support Area in econometrics, economics, accounting, quantitative methods, statistics, real estate or risk management and insurance. Normally, three to four courses are required in the Support Area. In addition, at least two of the courses required in the Support Area cannot be used to satisfy other requirements.

Suggested Course Sequence for Finance Doctoral Students

  FALL SPRING SUMMER
1st YEAR
  • ECO 5403 Math Econ (micro 1)
  • ECO 5416 Applied Quant Meth I
  • STA 5207 Applied Regression
  • FIN 6808 Financial Theory I
  • ECO 5423 Econometrics
  • STA 5440 Probability Thry
  • ECO 5427 Lim. Dep. Var.
  • Elective (ECO 5111 or 5115)
  • FIN 6946 Supervised Teaching
2nd YEAR
  • FIN 5935 Foundations Financial Theory II
  • FIN 6842 Empirical Research
  • ECO 5425 Time Series
  • FIN 6449 Corporate Finance
  • FIN 6709 Institutions
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Supervised Research
3rd YEAR
  • FIN 6527 Investments
  • Supervised Readings
  • Elective or DIS
  • Exam
  • Dissertation
4th YEAR
  • Dissertation
  • Dissertation
  • Dissertation and Defense


For more information on the Finance Ph.D. Program, please contact Dr. David Peterson.