Accounting, PhD

Return to: Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business

The Katz Accounting Doctoral Program discipline prepares graduates to succeed as accounting scholars and educators at top business schools in the United States and abroad. The program features rigorous coursework, thorough research training and close working relationships between doctoral students and faculty to prepare students to be leading accounting academics. Our graduates have an excellent track record of placements at research-oriented business schools and in succeeding in those environments.

Accounting students must complete a total of 15 seminars/courses (17 courses if they do not exempt the MBA course requirement).  This includes eight courses in their major area of study within accounting, at least four courses in research methodology, and at least three courses in a minor area of study.  Students may instead choose to complete eight courses in their major area and seven total courses in research methodology for a research methodology minor. Students should choose individually approved seminars and courses from the enclosed list of Katz seminars and courses, as well as from approved University of Pittsburgh seminars and courses.  Finally, on a limited basis students may also cross-register into approved seminars and courses at other institutions to support their overall program of study.  Each program of study must be approved by the student’s faculty advisor and the Director of the Katz Doctoral Program.  Any subsequent seminar/course changes must also be approved.

To achieve the fifteen course total, accounting doctoral students typically complete Katz accounting doctoral seminars (BACC 3000 and above) that may include the courses listed below. Students will take additional coursework in areas such as Finance, Econometrics, Game Theory, Cognitive Psychology, Experimental Design and other areas as appropriate. These remaining courses toward the student’s program of study must be approved in advance by the Accounting faculty and the Katz Doctoral Program Director.  Students are also required to register for independent study courses and independent dissertation work/credits to complete the degree requirements.

Accounting doctoral students are provided with up to five years (14 terms) of financial support in the form of Graduate Student Assistantship, Teaching Assistant or Teaching Fellow. Typically students provide research assistance to their faculty mentors for approximately four years and provide teaching and teaching assistance for up to one year. The financial assistance is awarded one year at a time.