Doctoral

The Wayne State finance Ph.D. program fosters academic careers and equips students with the skills needed to excel in academia and beyond. 

• Shriya Shekhar, 2023, Gonzaga University, Assistant professor of finance, Dissertation title: Essays on bank certification of initial public offerings, Dissertation committee: Dr. Sudip Datta (chair), Dr. Mai-Iskandar Datta, Dr. Francesca Toscano, and Dr. Young-Ro Yoon
   
• Min-Jeong Kwon, 2023, Mars Hill University, Assistant professor, Dissertation title: Essays on the Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on Financial Decisions, Dissertation committee: Dr. Anand Jha (co-chair), Dr. Manoj Kulchania (co-chair), Dr. Mbodja Mougoue, Dr. Francesca Toscano, and Dr. Ashrafee Hossain
   
• Trang Doan, 2018, Eastern Illinois University, Assistant professor of finance, Dissertation title: Gender in the C-Suite: Evidence from the CFO hiring decision, Dissertation committee: Dr. Mai-Iskandar Datta (chair), Dr. Sudip Datta, Dr. Manoj Kulchania, and Dr. Li Way Lee
   
• Norkeith Smith, 2015, California State University - Chico, Assistant professor, Dissertation title: Essays on Horizontal Divestiture and Product Market Relationships, Dissertation committee: Dr. Ranjan D'Mello, Dr. Margaret Smoller, Dr. Atif Ikram and Dr. Li Way Lee
   
• Matt Ross, 2014, Western Michigan University, Assistant professor, Dissertation title: Elections and Asset Pricing: The Politically Sensitive Equity of US Military Contractors, Dissertation committee: Dr. Mbodja Mougoué (chair)
   
• Chenguang Shang, 2014, Bentley University, Assistant professor, Dissertation title: Deal Innovations in Mergers and Acquisitions: Do Go-Shop Provisions Create Real Benefits? Dissertation committee: Dr. Sudip Datta (chair), Dr. Mai Iskandar-Datta, Dr. Scott Julian and Dr. Robert Rossana
   
• Xinghua Gao, 2012, Governor State University, Assistant professor, Dissertation title: Economic Deregulation and Corporate Dividend Policy Dissertation committee: Dr. Ranjan D'Mello (chair), Dr. Mbodja Mougoue, Dr. Margaret Smoller and Dr. Li Way Lee
   
• Yonghong Jia, 2012, Iowa State University, Assistant professor, Dissertation title: Essays on International Cash Holdings, Dissertation committee: Dr. Mai Iskandar-Datta (chair), Dr. Sudip Datta, Dr. Mbodja Mougoué and Dr. Kevin Cotter
   
• Mark Gruskin, 2011, Penn State Lehigh Valley, Assistant professor, Dissertation title: Essays on Reverse Leveraged Buyouts, Dissertation committee: Dr. Sudip Datta (chair), Dr. Ranjan D'Mello, Dr. Mai Iskandar-Datta, Dr. Robert Rossana

The Ph.D. in Business Administration requires a minimum of 90 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. The division of these credits is as follows:

Master's level courses (7000 level)

These courses form the business core of the program and provide a cross-section of business operations, ethics and strategy.

All courses are three credits. Details are available by clicking each course link. At least 15 credits are required.

Students can transfer 15 master's level credits to their doctoral academic plan.

• BA 7000  Managerial Accounting (3 credits)
• BA 7020  Corporate Financial Management (3 credits)
• ECO 7020 Fundamentals of Economic Analysis (3 credits)
• FIN 7220  Advanced Managerial Finance (3 credits)
• FIN 7230  Investment Policies (4 credits)

Finance courses

The courses below form the doctoral core for the finance track. These courses establish the high-level knowledge base required of Ph.D. students. 

Each course is three credits unless noted.  Course details are available by clicking each course link. At least 13 credits are required.

• BA 8777  Professional Development (1-3 credits)
• BA 8120  Theory of Finance
• BA 8121  Seminar in Corporate Finance
• BA 8122  Empirical Methods in Finance
• BA 8123  Seminar in Corporate Governance
• BA 8124  Seminar in Asset Pricing

Quantitative methods

The courses below form the quantitative emphasis of the finance track. These courses establish the high-level quantitative base required of Ph.D. students. 

Each course is four credits unless noted.  Course details are available by clicking each course link. At least 11 credits are required.

• ECO 6100  Introduction to Econometrics
• ECO 7020  Fundamentals of Economic Analysis
• ECO 7100  Econometrics I
• ECO 7110  Econometrics II

Minor and elective courses

To satisfy the minor requirement, students must enroll in the following courses outside the Mike Ilitch School of Business that support their Ph.D. track and area of interest.

• ECO 7000  Microeconomics Theory I
• ECO 7050  Macroeconomic Theory I

Dissertation research and preparation

The Ph.D. program requires the submission and defense of a dissertation, based on the student's original research.

During its preparation, the student registers for BA 9991 - BA 9994  Dissertation Research and Direction I IV (7.5 credits each semester, 30 credits total).

All coursework must be completed in accordance with the regulations of the Graduate School and the Mike Ilitch School of Business.

Students enroll on a full-time basis and must complete the program within seven years of admission.