Request Information
Deadline to Apply!
Begin your application today by entering the Graduate Admissions Portal. Submit your application by:
December 1 – Priority deadline. Application review begins and will continue until positions are filled. Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their applications by this date for priority consideration.
March 1 – Final deadline for remaining applicants. All supporting materials must be received by March 15.
Contact Us
- Contact Dr. Irena Hutton, doctoral coordinator, for more information on the Finance major, its content and curriculum.
- Email Elizabeth Kistner for more information about the admissions process.
Graduate Programs Office
850-644-6458
877-587-5540 (toll free)
gradprograms@wertheim.fsu.edu
Finance is one of seven majors offered through the Herbert Wertheim College of Business’ Ph.D. in Business Administration. The major admits three or four candidates each fall, and the program takes five years to complete.
- Emphasizes investments, corporate finance, financial institutions and markets
- Includes primary seminars in corporate finance, investments, financial theory
- Encourages support area courses in econometrics
- Includes research courses in statistics, econometrics, mathematical economics and financial mathematics, comprehensive exams and dissertation.
Student Accomplishments
Placements
Bentley University; Brigham Young University; California State University – Fullerton; Cornerstone Research; Hofstra University; Lehigh University; Ohio University; Stetson University; Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology; University of Missouri – Kansas City; University of New Hampshire; University of North Alabama; University of San Diego; University of South Alabama; University of South Carolina; University of South Florida; University of Tulsa; University of West Florida; University of Texas – El Paso; University of Texas – San Antonio; University of Wyoming; Utah State University; Wake Forest University; Wharton Research Data Service; Xavier University; Xiamen University, etc.
Awards
Kelly Bergsma, Outstanding Teaching Assistant; selected to attend the Yale Summer School in Behavioral Finance, American Finance Association (AFA) travel award
Nick Clarke, College of Business Teaching Assistant Award
Inger Daniels, McKnight Fellowship
Brandon Mendez, McKnight Fellowship
Yuting Meng, American Finance Association (AFA) travel award
Andrew Schrowang, nominated for the University Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award
Kelsey Syvrud, prestigious fifth year of College of Business doctoral funding for further research; selected for summer International Finance Program at George Washington University
Mark Buckwalter, McKnight Fellowship
Aaron Brock, Legacy Award
Presentations
Spencer Barnes, presented at Florida Finance Conference, Academy of Economics and Southern Finance Association Conference
Kelly Bergsma, selected to present dissertation essay at the Financial Management Association Europe Doctoral Student Consortium
Defended Dissertations
"Media Bias and Political Connections: Their Impact on Financial Decisions and Environmental Transparency” by Glades McKenzie; Dr. Sergey Mityakov, major professor
“Two Essays on Informational Inefficiencies in Corporate Finance” by Shane Parent; Dr. James Ang, major professor
“The Economics of Effective Punishment” by Rodney Ndum; Dr. Casey Dougal, major professor
“13D Filings: Corporate Activism and Firm Skewness” by Caitlyn Witt; Dr. Donald Autore, major professor
“Exploring the Dark Side of Corporate Political Connections” by Cayman Seagraves; Dr. April Knill, major professor
"Two Essays on the Implications of Judge Stock Ownership" by Joseph Kindelsperger; Dr. April Knill, major professor
"Two Essays on Corporate Finance" by Jingfang Wang; Dr. James Ang, major professor
"Two Essays on Corporate Culture" by Spencer Barnes; Dr. Yingmei Cheng, major professor
"Two Essays on Labor in Corporate Finance" by Brandon Mendez; Dr. Yingmei Cheng, major professor
"Two Essays on Managerial Learning in Corporate Acquisitions" by Andrew Schrowang; Drs. Yingmei Cheng and Tony Liu, major professors
"Two Chapters on Corporate Share Repurchases" by Nicholas Clarke; Dr. Donald Autore, major professor
Program Requirements
Prerequisites
All Finance doctoral students must complete graduate level courses in Investments, Econometrics, and Statistics, and undergraduate level courses in Calculus I, Calculus II, Linear Algebra, and Mathematical Economics. The Finance doctoral adviser and the Associate Dean must approve course selections to meet the above requirements.
Major Requirements
All Finance doctoral students must complete courses in three areas: Tools for Analytical Research (TAR), Primary Finance and Support.
I. Primary Finance Coursework
The primary area courses and seminars provide opportunities for in-depth study. In addition to the Economics requirement in the TAR area, Finance students are required to take graduate courses in micro- or macro-economics. The selection of these courses is subject to the approval of the primary area adviser.
The doctoral primary area in Finance covers the foundations and theories of finance. Finance students must take the following doctoral seminars and courses:
- FIN 6449 Doctoral Seminar in Corporate Finance
- FIN 6527 Doctoral Seminar in Investments - Finance and Investments
- FIN 6804 Foundations of Financial Theory I
- FIN 5935 Foundations of Financial Theory II
- FIN 6842 Empirical Research in Finance
- FIN TBD - Supervised Research/Directed Individual Study in Finance (number of courses and topics vary)
- TBD - One elective approved by the doctoral adviser
The requirement for an elective course, chosen in consultation with the Finance program director, 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. Finance Doctoral students are required to attend the Finance Workshop seminars.
II. Tools for Analytical Research (TAR) Area
Students typically take a selection of analytical-tool courses that provide the tools and skills necessary to understand and conduct research in finance.
Students must take the following three TAR courses:
- ECO 5403 Static Optimization
- GEB 6897 Applied Econometrics Bus Res I
- GEB 6### Applied Econometrics Bus Res II
Plus, two additional quantitative courses in Statistics, or Economics numbered 5000 and above with the approval of the primary area advisor.
In addition to these courses, first- and second-year students will participate in a professional development series that will be an additional registered course in each semester of the first two years of the program. The development series is designed to introduce doctoral students to the roles and responsibilities of faculty members, including research ethics, communication with faculty at other universities, the research review process, balancing research, teaching and service, among other topics.
There is also a requirement that each student complete a research paper. This paper is based on independent research by the student, primarily during the second year of the program, and under the supervision of two faculty members. The research project is undertaken in the student’s area of interest to facilitate development toward his/her dissertation. The project culminates with the student presenting the research results to the finance faculty. Students must complete their research paper prior to taking the finance preliminary examination.
III. Support Area Coursework
Finance doctoral students typically choose a Support Area in econometrics. Normally, 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.
Sample Course Sequence
|
FALL |
SPRING |
SUMMER |
|
|
Year 1 |
|
|
OR
|
|
Year 2 |
|
|
|
|
Year 3 |
|
|
|
|
Year 4 |
|
|
|
|
Year 5 |
|
|
|
