PhD in Accountancy
Degree Requirements
The University requires 72 total hours beyond a baccalaureate degree for a PhD. To meet this requirement, the School of Accountancy requires the following program of course work and dissertation research:
| Doctoral-level Accounting Research courses | 18 | |
| Course work in supporting theoretical fields (e.g. economics, finance, organizational theory and behavior) | 15 | |
| Course work in research tools (e.g. statistics, econometrics, research methods) | 18 | |
| Weekly Research Seminar (one credit hour per semester for four years) | 8 | |
| Dissertation Research | 13 | |
| Total Credits | 72 | |
Course work is designed to be completed in five semesters (two and one-half years). Written and oral comprehensive examinations are then taken after completion of course work, and the remainder of years three and four is devoted to the completion of the research dissertation. Specializations are available in areas of faculty research interests.
Admissions
Prerequisites for the Doctoral Degree in Accountancy
International students should note that we rarely admit a student directly from outside the United States unless they have studied/worked in an English-language setting.
Prerequisites to undertaking doctoral course work include one, and preferably two, semesters of calculus; an introductory statistics course; and intermediate-level microeconomic theory. An undergraduate accounting major (or equivalent) is desirable but required. Prior graduate work is not required for admission to the program, but most successful applicants do have a master’s degree.
Admission Criteria
Fall deadline: February 1 (Note: Applications received after the deadline may be considered)
- Minimum TOEFL scores:
| Internet-based test (iBT) | Paper-based test (PBT) |
|---|---|
| 100 | 600 |
- Competitive GMAT score that is considered heavily in admission
- A prior record of outstanding academic performance
- Strong letters of recommendation
Required Application Materials
To the Graduate School
All required Graduate School documents
To the Accountancy PhD Program
Departmental Application
*3 Recommendation letters
*Statement of Purpose
*Résumé
*Official GMAT scores
*Upload electronically through the Graduate School application
Admission Contact Information
School of Accountancy
Columbia, MO 65211
573-882-4463
accountancy@missouri.edu
Financial Aid from the Program
Some programs require an extra form or statement from those who wish to be considered for internal assistantships, fellowships or other funding packages. Check the program website or ask the program contact for details.
More Information
For information about the doctoral degree in accountancy, visit our website or write to:
Dr. Kenneth Shaw, Director of the Doctoral Program in Accountancy
School of Accountancy
Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business
303 Cornell Hall
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211