Doctoral Program in Accounting
Rigorous and research-focused, the Ph.D. in Accounting program offers a select group of students the opportunity to study and conduct research at a top-ranked research university with some of the finest teachers and scholars in the field.
The program will prepare graduates to succeed as faculty members at leading management schools and conduct groundbreaking, relevant research.
In addition to a thorough grounding in fundamental economic principles, rigorous statistical skills, and fluency in accounting research, the program will provide students with a robust background in econometrics, contracting, and capital markets theory. Dedicated faculty mentors will guide and encourage students to be entrepreneurial in their search for novel, compelling research ideas and mentor them in the process of publishing in the field’s leading journals and in their academic job searches.
Accounting Ph.D. students become part of a thriving research community at Boston College, an active professional network, and a program that offers the balance of independence and mentorship necessary to conduct significant research that will pave the way toward rewarding careers.
Mark Piorkowski, Ph.D. ’22
Assistant Professor of Accounting, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University
“I chose to pursue a Ph.D. in Accounting to deepen my understanding of how capital market participants prepare and use financial information. My primary research interests include the economic forces influencing analysts’ information production and related capital market consequences.
Having attended Boston College as an undergrad, I knew BC was a special place. The opportunity to work with the incredibly supportive faculty, while being on an amazing campus, were the main reasons I chose to return to the Heights for my Ph.D.
My post-degree goal was to place at a top-tier university, and BC helped me achieve that. The faculty and my peers were incredibly supportive in helping me develop and improve my research generation, execution, and presentation skills.”
Ph.D. in Accounting Program Requirements
Accounting Ph.D. students complete a program of study grounded in fundamental accounting principles and develop competencies in quantitative methods, economics, and finance. Doctoral seminar courses expose students to the field’s literature, methods, and academic publication process. Ph.D. students will also take courses in the Finance and Economics Departments and explore interdepartmental research opportunities. Prior graduate coursework may be considered toward the fulfillment of some requirements.
Dissertation
c omprehensive e xamination
A comprehensive examination will be administered at the end of the second year. Students are expected to demonstrate substantial knowledge of literature and theory. Satisfactory performance on the exam marks the transition from coursework to full-time thesis research.
r esearch paper and d issertation
Doctoral students begin engaging in the research process as early in the program as possible. A firstyear summer paper, which can be a replication or an extension of an existing study, provides early handson experience in research design, programming, data management, and statistical analysis.
Students must then complete a second-year paper based on an original research idea and present this research in early December of their third year to qualify as a Ph.D. candidate.
In the spring of their fourth year, students submit and present their dissertation proposal, which should make a substantial, significant, and original contribution to the field. Input from faculty during the proposal process outlines the work that students need to complete over the summer for their dissertation proposals to become their job market papers for the fall of their fifth year.
f inancial s upport
The Carroll School of Management provides financial support for doctoral students in the form of a stipend and tuition remission. Students in good academic standing receive this support for up to five years. In return, they serve as research assistants and teaching assistants.
p h. d . placement
The Ph.D. in Accounting program prepares students to launch successful academic careers at well-regarded research universities. The Accounting Department will take an active role in placing students in attractive academic positions and help them present their own work and collaborate with faculty and peers—both at BC and in other top doctoral programs in accounting—so they are optimally prepared for the academic job market.
Mark Bradshaw Professor & Chairperson, Accounting Department
“I mainly study information intermediaries. They’re the professionals who interpret information for financial statements and help communicate that to investors, increasing the overall efficiency of capital markets.
I am fortunate to do a lot of presentations at universities and conferences, and my colleagues outside of Boston College often tell me: ‘I can’t believe what you have at the Carroll School!’ They’re talking about the extent of support for research activities and the overall collegiality of this place.
It’s a research culture that connects to other disciplines at the school, especially finance—and to the accounting research community worldwide. Boston College is represented at just about every research event in our discipline. That’s going to be instrumental in helping our Ph.D. students land good jobs.
We place an extraordinary importance on our doctoral students. What they’ll get is a terrific amount of individual attention, and the experience of working each day with a prolific group of researchers.”
Faculty
Natalie Berfeld
Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mark Bradshaw
Joseph F. Cotter Professor and Chairperson of the Department; CPA; Ph.D., University of Michigan
Mary Ellen Carter
Professor and Joseph L. Sweeney Chair; CPA; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ki-Soon Choi
Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jeffrey Cohen Professor; CMA; Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Amherst
Dianne Feldman
Senior Lecturer and Director of the Carroll School Undergraduate Assurance of Learning; CPA; MBA, Bentley University
Amy Hutton
Professor and Ernst & Young Fellow; Ph.D., University of Rochester
Lian Fen Lee
Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Michigan
Miao Liu
Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of Chicago
Alvis Lo
Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of British Columbia
Gil Manzon
Associate Professor; DBA, Boston University
Liz Quinn
Senior Lecturer; CPA; MST, Northeastern University
Susan Shu
Professor and Ph.D. Program Director; Ph.D., University of Rochester
Douglas (DJ) Stockbridge
Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of Michigan
Edward Taylor
Senior Lecturer and Assistant Chairperson; CPA; MST, Bentley University
Benjamin Yost
Associate Professor and Clark
Family Faculty Fellow; CPA; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Admission
Boston College’s Ph.D. in Accounting program seeks students with outstanding potential for leadership and academic excellence. While notable for their individual achievements, competitive candidates will demonstrate a consistent record of taking initiative in their academic and professional pursuits, an aptitude for conducting research at its highest levels, and a desire to make an impact in the world.
how to apply
Each candidate must complete an application for admission, which includes transcripts of all academic work, essays, and two letters of recommendation. Prior academic and work experience are significant criteria in the admissions process.
All applicants are required to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
Applicants whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Pearson Test of English (PTE), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). All candidates must be graduates of accredited colleges or universities.
Boston College Carroll School of Management publications contain current information regarding the University calendar, admissions, degree requirements, fees, regulations, and course offerings. They are not intended to be and should not be relied upon as a statement of the University’s contractual undertakings. accreditation
Produced by the Office of University Communications August 2024