Graduate Bulletin

Business Administration/Finance, Ph.D.

FOX SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: January 15

All Ph.D. applications are evaluated together after the deadline date.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 2

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from evaluators, typically college/university faculty or an immediate work supervisor, who can provide insight into your abilities and talents, as well as comment on your aptitude for graduate study.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

A year of college-level calculus is a prerequisite for the Ph.D. program in Finance.

Master's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

A degree in business, economics, or a related area is expected.  An alternative is an equivalent research and teaching background.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

No.

Statement of Goals:

The Statement of Goals should be approximately 500-1,000 words in length and should include the following elements: your specific interest in Temple's program; your research goals; your future career goals; and your academic and research achievements.

Standardized Test Scores:

The GMAT/GRE is required. Applicants should submit their scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). In some cases, scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) may be substituted. In general, scores above the 80th percentile are expected on each portion of the exam.

Minimum TOEFL score needed to be accepted: 600 paper-based, 250 computer-based, or 100 internet-based.

Resume:

A resume is required.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:

Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Master's: 36

Required Courses:

5 courses in core business areas (ECON 601, 616; STA 501, 502, 533)

4 courses in finance (FIN 701, 702, 703, 704)

3 elective courses with the approval of the Finance Ph.D. advisor

Internship: No internship is required.

Language Examination: No language examination is required.

Additional Requirements:

Statistics Competency Examination:

An assessment of proficiency in statistical theory and methodology will be made at the end of the first year in the program. The examination is offered in June. Students who fail the statistics competency exam on the first attempt must sit for reexamination prior to the fall semester of their second year. A second failure will result in dismissal from the university. No third attempt is permitted.

Culminating Events:

Preliminary Examination:

The preliminary examination should be completed no more than one semester after the student completes the coursework component of the program. Students who are preparing to write their preliminary examinations should confirm a date and time with their departmental advisor. The exam is designed to demonstrate the student's critical and interpretive knowledge of current research. The subject areas will be determined, in advance, by the faculty of the student's department, who will write the questions for the exam.

The department committee will evaluate the examination. The student must answer every question on the examination in order to be evaluated. The evaluators look for a breadth and depth of understanding of specific research areas; a critical application of that knowledge to specific phenomena; and an ability to write technical prose. Each committee member votes to pass or fail the student. In order to pass, a majority of the committee members must agree that the exam has been satisfactorily completed.

Dissertation:

The dissertation proposal demonstrates the student's knowledge of and ability to conduct the proposed research. The proposal should consist of the following: the context and background surrounding a particular research problem; an exhaustive survey and review of literature related to the problem; and a detailed methodological plan for investigating the problem. The proposal should be completed and approved no more than one year after completing coursework. Upon approval, a timeline for completing the investigation and writing process will be established.

The doctoral dissertation is an original empirical study that makes a significant contribution to the field. It should expand the existing knowledge and demonstrate the student's knowledge of research methods and a mastery of his/her primary area of interest. Dissertations should be rigorously investigated; uphold the ethics and standards of the field; demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the primary area of interest and the broader field of business; and be prepared for publication in an academic journal.

The Doctoral Advising Committee (DAC) is formed to oversee the student's doctoral research and is composed of at least three graduate faculty members. Two members, including the chair, must be from the student's department. The chair is responsible for overseeing and guiding the student's progress, coordinating the responses of the Committee members, and informing the student of his/her academic progress.

The Doctoral Examining Committee (DEC) evaluates the student's dissertation and oral defense. This committee is composed of the DAC and at least one additional faculty member from outside the department. The DEC will evaluate the student's ability to express verbally his/her research question, methodological approach, primary findings, and implications. It will vote to pass or fail the dissertation and the defense at the conclusion of the public presentation.

If any member of the committee decides to withdraw from committee membership, the student shall notify the chair of the DAC and the Program Director. The student, in consultation with the chair, is responsible to find a replacement. Inability to find a replacement shall constitute evidence that the student is unable to complete the dissertation. In such a case, the student may petition the Program Director for a review. Once review of the facts and circumstances is completed, the Director will rule on the student's progress. If the Director rules that the student is incapable of completing the dissertation, s/he will be dismissed from the program. This decision may be appealed to the Senior Associate Dean of the Fox School of Business and Management. If the student is dismissed, s/he may appeal to the Graduate School.

Students who are preparing to defend their dissertation should confirm a date and time with their DAC and register with the graduate secretary at least 15 days before the defense. The graduate secretary will arrange the date, time, and room within two working days and forward the appropriate forms to the student. After the graduate secretary has made the appropriate arrangements for the defense, the student must send a completed "Announcement of Dissertation Defense" form to the Graduate School at least 10 days before the defense. The Department will post fliers announcing the defense.

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

www.sbm.temple.edu/~findept/

Department Information:

Fox School of Business and Management
LL5 Speakman Hall

1810 North 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122

elyas@temple.edu
215-204-8451

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

Natale Butto
Director of Graduate Admissions
masters@sbm.temple.edu
215-204-8732

Program Coordinator:

Elyas Elyasiani

elyas@temple.edu

215-204-5881

Graduate Chairperson:

Elyas Elyasiani

elyas@temple.edu

215-204-5881

Chairperson:

Kenneth J. Kopecky
kkopecky@temple.edu
215-204-8279

About the Program

The Finance Ph.D. program is a specialization within the Ph.D. program in Business Administration. The Finance program prepares students for careers in teaching and research.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 7 years

Campus Location:

Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered before 4:30 p.m.

Department Information:

Fox School of Business and Management
LL5 Speakman Hall

1810 North 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122

elyas@temple.edu
215-204-8451

Interdisciplinary Study:

Students seeking a Ph.D. in Business Administration/Finance are required to take courses in economics and statistics in addition to their coursework in finance.  Three electives are also permitted.

Affiliation(s):

Research is supported by the Fox School of Business and Management's Advanta Center for Financial Services Studies, the Center for e-Marketing, the Center for Healthcare Research and Management, the Ethics Resource Center, the Irwin L. Gross eBusiness Institute, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute, the Institute of Global Management Studies, the Safeguard Scientific Center for Economics Education, and the Small Business Development Center. Research interests of the Fox School faculty are also supported by numerous centers and institutes throughout Temple University.

Study Abroad:

Not applicable.

Ranking:

The Fox School of Business and Management is currently ranked in the top 75 business schools by Forbes and in the top 50 programs for our Executive M.B.A. The Fox School has also been ranked 14th for technology M.B.A. programs by Computerworld and holds a specialty ranking of 26th in the nation for healthcare management programs. The Fox School has been recognized for research in numerous departments and is in the top 1% of citings of university research.

Accreditation:

Not applicable.

Areas of Specialization:

The primary foci of the finance faculty are corporate finance, financial institutions, derivatives, and international finance.

Job Placement:

The program is primarily dedicated to producing well-trained researchers who will work in academic positions.

Licensure:

Yes.

Non-Degree Student Policy:

Non-matriculated students are not permitted to take doctoral courses.

Financing Opportunities

Assistantships, which offer a stipend and tuition remission, are the centerpiece of the program's mentorship philosophy. Assistants provide 20 hours of service per week, which can include teaching and supervised research.