PhD In accounting Whats the point

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PhD? In accounting? Whats the point?

• University of Saskatchewan
• MPAcc
• May 2006

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Overview

• Why do a PhD in accounting?
• Where is the best place?
• at the University of _?
• at the University of Alberta?
• The realities of completing your PhD

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Why do a PhD in accounting?

• Freedom of thought
• Great lifestyle, flexibility
• Great atmosphere interesting students,
  interesting faculty
• Lots of room for innovation research and
  teaching

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Why NOT to do a PhD in accounting

• NOT teaching development, teaching certificate
• NOT designed for students that are not committed
  and sure about their choice
• NOT for students that cannot work independently

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What does a PhD program look like?
Course work
Usually 2 years of course work Stats, econ,
finance, accounting research, psych?
Comprehensive exam (3 or 4 days) Tests breadth
and depth of accounting research knowledge
Comprehensive Exam
Dissertation
2-3 years for a dissertation Original research
publishable? Network, training (research and
teaching), some teaching required?
Dissertation Defense
Get a job!
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Which school?

• This question is probably the most important you
  will ever ask yourself!
• Well, OK maybe not as important as
• Should I ask Mary/Joe to get married?
• Should I buy or rent?
• Should I buy that new Model 2000 FX confabulator?
• Should I have Cheerios or Raisin Bran for
  breakfast?

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Canada Doctoral programs

• University of Toronto
• University of UBC
• University of Waterloo
• University of Alberta
• Queens University
• Also York, Western, Montreal consortium
  (HEC/McGill/Concordia)

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US Doctoral programs

• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Chicago
• Stanford University
• University of Michigan
• University of Illinois  
• Also U of Pennsylvania, NYU, U of Washington,
  UofC Berkley

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Choosing the right PhD program

• Two main streams of research
• Capital markets stats, econ, finance
• Judgement and decision making psych
• Most PhD programs are good in one of those
• Key advantage of MPAcc is that youre aware of
  the different streams

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Choosing the right PhD program

• Good faculty strong research, constructive
  helpful faculty
• Historical student success (reputation)
• Infrastructure data, computer support, library
• Minors finance, econ, psych
• Cohort size (gt1 is good)
• Funding
• Family, personal reasons

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Why U of Alberta?

• Some very strong faculty, overall very solid
• Past student placement
• Extremely good data and computer support
• Strong finance and supporting areas
• We attempt to have at least 2 students in each
  area every year
• 23,000

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Pay? Are there really jobs?

• Ontario public salary disclosure 2004
• US business schools estimate that demand will
  exceed supply by 15 for the next 3 years worse
  for accounting and finance
• Canadian situation next page

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Canadian Demand and Supply of Accounting PhDs
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So should I do it?

• Its not right for every one
• If you enjoy the research aspect of MPAcc, the
  PhD is probably right
• Key factor in success perseverance
• I love it!

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Some links

• Harvard Business School Setting your own
  agenda
• University of Alabama Outline of the Phd
  program
• University of Waterloo Tips for incoming
  students
• University of Kansas What can a PhD in
  accounting do for you?