The Ph.D. Program in Business Administration with a specialization in Accountancy
is designed to prepare students to participate in expanding knowledge in the theory
and practice of accounting. The Accountancy Ph.D. program’s goals are to train students
to successfully conduct accounting research and to teach this accounting knowledge
to their future students. New entrants typically come to the Accountancy Ph.D. program
with strong technical backgrounds in the theory and practice of accounting. They
should also have recent coursework in calculus and statistics. Accountancy Ph.D.
coursework stresses the links between this background and related field areas, such
as finance and economics. Accountancy Ph.D. coursework in quantitative tool areas
such as econometrics and statistics is particularly important in helping students
develop strong research views. During the Ph.D. program, a student’s perspective
of accountancy changes from being a practitioner/observer to being a participant
in research linked to the dynamically evolving scholarly nature of the accounting
discipline.
Admission
In admitting students to the program, we consider a mix of attributes that focuses
on prior academic success, recommendations and GMAT scores. We do not observe an
absolute cut-off for GMAT scores of 650 is near the lower end of what is desirable.
We also consider past work experience and clarity of future goals in academia. Our
program is particularly suited for those interested in concentrating in the accounting
areas of audit and tax, with field areas in finance or economics. Successful Ph.D.
students have the aptitude to develop strong quantitative skills in calculus, statistics
and econometrics.
Applicants should understand that it is not possible to pursue a Ph.D. in accounting
at UNL on a part-time basis. Graduate College residency requirements, as well as
the demands of coursework and assistantships, cause the Ph.D. program to be a full
time job. Applicants should also expect that successful completion of the requirements
for a Ph.D. require residency in Lincoln for at least four years.
The program is intentionally small; this way students receive individualized attention
and have easy access to professors. Typically, prior to admitting a new Ph.D. student,
one of the current students must complete or leave the program. This means that
it is difficult to forecast admissions; however, we currently expect to admit two
or three students every other year, beginning fall 2009. Because the School of Accountancy
devotes a large amount of time and resources to each Ph.D. student, we make admission
decisions carefully.
Ph.D. students should have taken the equivalent of Calculus I – III, linear/matrix
algebra and statistics prior to enrolling in the program. It is assumed that Ph.D.
students begin the program with a knowledge of accounting equivalent to a degree
in accounting. Writing and speaking skills are essential.
Program Planning and Credit Requirements
A minimum of 90 graduate credit semester hours beyond the bachelor’s degree is required
of the Ph.D. degree. No fewer than 45 semester hours, including dissertation hours,
must be completed at UNL after the proposed program of student has been filed with
the Graduate College. Students often come to the program with a Master’s in accounting
or related area and these hours may be used to partially fulfill the graduate credit
semester hour requirement.
Core Accounting Classes
A student in the Ph.D. program in Business Administration with a specialization
in Accountancy must demonstrate a mastery of core accountancy areas by passing a
comprehensive examination. These core areas include financial accounting and managerial
accounting. Depending upon students’ Ph.D. Accountancy coursework, the comprehensive
examination may encompass the additional area of either tax or audit. Students partially
prepare for this comprehensive examination by taking four required accounting seminars
(twelve graduate credit semester hours in total).
Mathematics and Econometrics
Academic Accountancy is highly quantitative and student are required to develop
extensive quantitative skills. Ph.D. students should have taken the equivalent
of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Calculus I-III, matrix/linear algebra and
statistics prior to enrolling in the program. A typical Ph.D. student’s
program will include twelve graduate credit semester hours or four courses that
further focus quantitative skills students bring to the program. These courses,
for example, may include courses such as Statistics 880, Econometrics 957, Econometrics
958, and Econometrics 959.
Economic Theory
Ph.D. students are required to successfully complete Economics 973 (Micro-economics).
Economics 983 and 984 (Advanced Microeconomics and Macroeconomics Theory) are highly
recommended.
Field Area
Students are required to successfully complete at least one three-course (nine graduate
credit hours) sequence of courses outside of accounting but related to their chosen
accounting concentration area. This requirement may be fulfilled, for example, by
taking three Ph.D. seminars in finance.
Course Selection Direction
Course selection for entering Accounting Ph.D. students is administered by the Director
of Ph.D. Program for the School of Accountancy. Students should arrange to see the
Director of the Ph.D. Program as soon as they arrive on campus.
Supervisory Committee
Supervisory Committees should be formed as early as possible. The Ph.D. Program
Director will assist students in the initial selection of this committee, though
the committee may be changed at anytime by the student (with the consent of the
Director of the Ph.D. Program n the School of Accountancy). The committee directs
the entire course of study and is not obligated to accept any existing credits beyond
the master’s degree.
Students should select at least two graduate faculty fellows outside of the School
of Accountancy to serve on the Supervisory Committee. One of them must teach outside
the Business Interdepartmental Area.
Students must file a Supervisory Committee Appointment Form with the Chief Graduate
Adviser. The committee selections then must be confirmed by the College of Business
Administration Graduate Committee and approved by the UNL Graduate College. The
completed Program of Studies Form must be submitted to the Graduate College within
three weeks of official appointment of the supervisory committee.
Course Load
Graduate students may take no more than twelve hours per semester. The maximum course
load for students who are employed as teaching or research assistants is twelve
hours. Many Ph.D. students choose to take nine hours of coursework per semester.
In addition to the required courses, all Accounting Ph.D. students must attend the
accounting research workshops while on campus. Students are expected to study the
research paper prior to the presentation and make useful contributions during seminar
discussions. Research presentations are most often held on Friday afternoons. It
is important that scheduled classes do not conflict with this time.
Investigating Ph.D. Program Courses
The Graduate Studies Bulletin lists all graduate courses (Masters and Ph.D. level)
offered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Graduate courses in Accountancy appear
in the Graduate Studies Bulletin under the heading of Business. Not all the graduate
courses are offered every year. A tentative list of required accountancy courses
includes:
- ACCT 916 Introductory Ph.D. Seminar
- ACCT 99x Financial Accounting Research
- ACCT 99x Managerial Accounting Research
- ACCT 995 Selected Topic
Summer Paper and Presentation
Students are required to complete an individual research paper by the end of their
second summer in the program. By the end of the second year of coursework, each
student must prepare a summer paper proposal. By May 1 of the second year, a member
of the accounting faculty who has agreed to be a reader, must approve this summer
paper proposal. A copy of the approved proposal must be provided to the Director
of the Ph.D. Program in the School of Accountancy. Copies of the completed paper
must be turned in by October 1 to the faculty reader and the director. Failure to
meet the May and October 1 deadlines may result in an immediate recommendation that
the student be dismissed. Students will be required to present their paper in one
of the Accounting research workshops. Following the research presentation, the faculty
will evaluate the paper, decide if the student is making satisfactory progress,
and the Director of the Program will advise the student accordingly.
Timing of Comprehensive Examination
When the student has substantially completed all the courses specified in their
proposed program, they will be required to pass a written comprehensive examination
in accounting. The examination is scheduled no more than twice a year. Students
may sit for the exam twice. Students who do not pass on their second try will be
asked to leave the program.
Dissertation
The Dissertation is to be original research performed by the Ph.D. Candidate. The
first official step in completing the dissertation is developing a proposal. Students
work with their Supervisory Committee, the proposal is presented to the Accounting
faculty and Ph.D. students in one of the Accounting Research Workshops. Students
should schedule the presentation as soon as the Supervisory Committee has indicated
sufficient progress has been made. Following the defense of the proposal, the Supervisory
Committee consults with the Candidate as to what must be accomplished in order to
complete the dissertation. The student’s Supervisory Committee has the final authority
on the acceptance or rejections of the dissertation.
Assistantship and Fellowship Support
All offers of acceptance include an offer for a graduate assistantship unless the
applicant declines an assistantship in advance of the offer. A graduate assistantship
compensates students for teaching and/or research appointments. The compensation
includes a waiver of tuition, partial payment of the cost of health insurance and
a monthly cash stipend. The work requirement involves 19-20 hours per week and no
other outside employment is allowed during the assistantship commitment.
All assistantships are contingent upon available funding but the policy of the School
of Accountancy has been to fund students with assistantships while pursuing the
Ph.D. degree in residence. The Director of the School of Accountancy provides a
written annual review for each student with input from the faculty. Assistantships
are awarded on a year-to-year basis contingent upon satisfactory progress toward
degree completion and satisfactory work performance. However, assistantships may
be terminated during the academic year with a 30-day notice for unsatisfactory performance.
Research assistants are assigned to one or two faculty members to work on research
projects. Part of the experiential learning in the Ph.D. program involves hands-on
research. The student will assist faculty with research that may result in joint
authorship of research publications.
Teaching assistants are assigned no more than one section of an accounting course
per semester to teach. Students teach their own sections under the direction of
a course coordinator who is a member of the faculty. Students do not teach during
their first semester on campus and many often do not teach until their second year
in the program. Students who have undeveloped teaching skills will be required to
complete the teaching methods course, ECON 852. Any student may elect to take ECON
852 to enhance teaching abilities. Teaching one course is a half-time assistantship;
therefore, students on teaching assistantships will fulfill their assistantship
requirements with half-time research duties.
In addition to assistantships, high ability students (high GMAT scores and high
achievement in prior academic studies) may receive graduate fellowships. Graduate
fellowships are competitively awarded by the Graduate College. The School of Accountancy
applies for these on behalf of applicants. No action is required by Ph.D. applicants.
Health Insurance
All graduate students with appointments that qualify for full tuition remission
may purchase basic coverage under the university’s student health insurance plan.
Dependent plans are also available on an optional basis.
Deadline
We start reviewing files for fall semester admissions in early February. We do not
admit Ph.D. candidates to start course work at mid-academic year (January). Since
the university’s Office of Graduate Studies has to verify and approve all transcripts
and other application material before forwarding it to us, it is important to apply
as early as possible. Our recommended date for receiving all application materials
is January 1. Applicants are carefully considered during the review process to identify
students that are good matches for our program and who we believe have the potential
to make meaningful contributions to accounting knowledge. If we have your completed
file by early February, it gives us the best chance to review it.
When your file is complete in all respects, it will be reviewed by the School of
Accountancy faculty for their decision. Applicants, who are of substantial interest
to the faculty, are invited to spend a day with us on campus, if possible. Final
decisions on admission are normally made in mid-April.
Application Information
Click to find out more about the application process.
Additional Information
If you would like more information regarding the Ph.D. Program in the School of
Accountancy, contact:
Dr. David Smith
Ph.D. Program Director
School of Accountancy
College of Business Administration
University of Nebraska−Lincoln
Lincoln, NE 68588-0488
Phone: (402) 472-2927
Email:
