Potential Curriculum in PhD in Finance Programs
Generally, doctorate in finance programs focus on empirical research, scholarly writing and financial theories as they affect global business, investment and capital markets. They seek to advance research in business and finance. PhD Finance programs are often interdisciplinary and touch on areas including economics, sociology, psychology, systems engineering, and mathematics. Some of the topics students might explore are listed below.
- Ethics
- Financial risks
- Financial mathematics
- Corporate finance
- Advanced macro and micro economics
- Financial models
- Financial institutions, banking and monetary systems
- Financial markets
- International (Global) finance
- Portfolio management
- Financial asset prices
Potential Career Paths For Graduates With Doctorate in Finance Degrees
Finance PhD graduates could be prepared for a variety of positions in workplaces that range from colleges and universities, to government, consulting firms, corporations and nonprofit organizations.
Is your goal is to become a postsecondary educator? A PhD in Finance program may prepare you to teach in business schools and colleges. At the post secondary level, work experience and a doctoral degree in the field you intend to teach are typically requisites for employment.
For leadership minded management graduates, earning a doctorate in finance could be great preparation for the pursuit of top executive roles such as Chief Financial Officer. As a CFO, you might oversee the investment of funds or prepare budgets and direct an organization’s financial reporting. While a bachelors degree is considered the entry level education for many top executive positions, a doctorate degree could help you stand out and enhance your career.
Is finance, accounting, economics or business administration where your talents lie? If so, you might choose to pursue a career as a Financial Manager. As a Financial Manager, you may take on a role as a Controller for a business or government agency. You might also become a Financial Analyst if you are someone who enjoys helping others make investment decisions. Each of these positions require at least a bachelors degree for entry level positions, with advanced study potentially helping you jumpstart your career.
Always look into certifications, licenses and regulations as some securities related industries are regulated.
How To Choose a PhD In Finance Program: Campus, Hybrid or Online?
In addition to considering the type of doctorate in finance you'd like to earn, it's important to decide how you'll study. You will want to spend some time reflecting on whether you are looking for a campus or Online PhD Finance program.
Campus-based PhD Finance programs certainly offer face-to-face interactions with other students and your professors. PhD in Finance schools may also provide an opportunity to enrich your networks and take advantage of campus resources. This may be a good option for graduates with academic teaching or research aspirations.
Distance learning has the potential benefit of being flexible. You typically can log into your courses when it is convenient, and these tend to be more self paced. This might work for busy working professionals who cannot quit their jobs to advance their studies.
Some Online PhD Finance programs may also have a component that involves taking some courses on campus. This blended learning approach might work for someone who lives near enough to a campus but could not afford the time to be there full time. These are known as hybrid programs.
Every school designs their PhD in Finance programs differently and may have distinct potential benefit. Therefore, its best to review a few programs before applying. To compare curriculum, admissions requirements, faculty, tuition and other details, request info from each school and keep the details on a list.
Take the Next Step with our List of 33 Finance Doctorate Graduate Programs
