Finance PhD Seminars
Formal PhD coursework in finance takes place in the PhD seminars. The objective of the seminars is to teach students the fundamental theories, analytical techniques, and empirical methods that are employed in finance research. The seminars typically involve lively discussions and debate, and are designed to enhance the students' ability to critically evaluate others' research and to develop their own research projects.
Given the small number of faculty in the finance department, it is not possible to cover in-depth all the subfields of finance. The goal of the seminars is to provide sufficient depth in training in a few areas such that students develop the facility to study and master other fields independently.
Currently, faculty expertise resides in empirical research within the areas of corporate finance and investments.
Finance PhD seminars cover the core topics of: fundamentals of valuation, utility and portfolio theory, asset pricing, options and futures, capital structure, and empirical methods. The seminars also cover such topics as corporate governance, dividends and repurchases, term structure of interest rates, fixed income securities, and financial institutions.
Training in Effective Teaching
Developing effective teaching skills is a significant part of the PhD program and increasingly important in attracting offers in the academic job market. Students participate in teacher training activities conducted by the Lundquist College and by the University's Teaching Effectiveness Program. In addition, students are encouraged to observe classes taught by faculty, to serve as teaching assistants, and to use the resources available in the University's Teaching Effectiveness Program. Students typically teach four quarter-length undergraduate courses during the second through fourth years of the program.
Recent Placements
- Jingyun Yang (2018, Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance)
- Steve Liu (2017, Missouri University of Science and Technology)
- Hai Tran (2015, Loyola Marymount University)
- Andrea Anthony (2014, Oregon State University)
- Jason Turkiela (2014, Washington State University)
- Egemen Genc (2012, Erasmus University, Netherlands)
- Nguyen Tu (2011, La Trobe University, Australia)
- Chung-Shin Liu (2011, Southwest University of Finance & Economics, China)
- Chanyoung Eom (2011, Hanyang University, Korea)