Finance

This program is offered by the Department of Finance & Economics of Rutgers Business School- Newark and New Brunswick. Three research centers are associated with the Department: the Center for Research in Regulated Industries, the Whitcomb Center for Research in Financial Services, and the Blanche and Irwin Lerner Center for Pharmaceutical Management.

Students admitted usually have a GMAT score above 675, a ranking in the top 5% of the student’s graduating class, and a strong mathematical background. A master’s degree in economics, computer science or mathematics is a plus.  Students with a limited background in either economics or finance should consider the Master of Quantitative Finance.  MQF students take some of the same courses as our doctoral students.  It is also possible to take up to four of our doctoral courses as a non-degree student.  Taking our doctoral courses as non-degree or MQF students does not, however, guarantee subsequent admission into our doctoral program.

Requirements

Seminar Series 

Doctoral students in Finance who have not yet defended a dissertation proposal are expected to attend the seminar series of the Finance & Economics Department, and each semester they receive a grade on their transcript based on their attendance and participation.  Applicants and potential applicants are also welcome at the seminar.  Visitors should check the schedule and telephone the department to confirm it.

Course work, the qualifying examination, and the dissertation

The doctoral degree requires a total of 72 credits. At least 24 of these credits must be in dissertation research. An additional 6 credits must be taken to satisfy the program’s early research requirement. This leaves 42 credits, which will consist of courses, independent study, or additional dissertation research.

Students are expected to take at least three courses for degree credit each semester during the first two years. They should then take the qualifying examination at the end of their second academic year. The last two years of the program should be devoted primarily to working on a dissertation. 

Within a year after passing the qualifying examination, the student must defend a dissertation proposal.  

Foundation/methodology requirement (4 courses)

Microeconomic Theory 223:552
Operations Research Models 711:685 or Math Methods in Economics 711:561 
Introduction to Probability 960:575
Elective (e.g. Stochastic Processes, Game Theory, Macroeconomics, or Modern Statistics)

Major (5 courses)

Investments  390:571
Corporate Finance 390:572
Financial Accounting 010:651
Floating Finance Seminar (2nd year) 390:685
Floating Finance Seminar (3rd year) 390:685

Minor (3 courses)

Econometrics 223:554
Advanced Econometrics 223:655
Economics Elective (e.g. Game Theory, Macroeconomics)

First early research requirement (equivalent to one course):  Write a paper with a faculty member, to be presented to the department during the fall semester.

Second early research requirement (equivalent to one course):  Write a second paper (ideally a dissertation proposal) with a faculty member to be presented to the department during the fall semester.

Paper presentation requirement:  Upon passing the qualifying exam, students must continue to make an annual presentation of their research to the faculty.  Presenting the  proposal or early research papers satisfies this requirement for that year.

Seminar Attendance:  Students are required to attend the faculty seminar series.

Floating Finance Seminar in 4th year:  Students are required to take the floating finance seminar in their 2nd and 3rd years.  The advisor may also require them to take it in their 4th year.

Preparation to teach:  Students who enter the program with financial support may need to be ready to teach an undergraduate course in finance in order to be sure of having an employment opportunity from RBS in Summer 2010.  Those who do not already have teaching experience may want to consider the non-degree course in Effective College Teaching that is offered each spring semester.

Writing Proficiency requirement:  In late May or early June at the end of the first year, students participate in the program-wide Intensive Writing Seminar.

Other rules and requirements:  For details of rules and requirements that apply to all doctoral students in RBS, see Policies and Procedures.

Example of a PhD in Finance Curriculum for a student starting in Fall 2009