Ph.D. Accounting Specialization

Overview

The accounting Ph.D. program at the University of Rhode Island offers intensive training in core accounting disciplines—including accounting information systems, management accounting, and financial accounting—alongside rigorous research methods coursework. The program provides curricular flexibility, enabling students to tailor their studies to their specific research interests. Faculty research spans accounting information systems, emergent technologies, investors’ decision-making, management accounting, and related areas.

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Overall expectations:

The accounting Ph.D. program at the University of Rhode Island aims to develop scholars who will contribute meaningfully to business education in higher institutions. We prepare students for academic careers by providing intensive, closely monitored research and classroom teaching experience. Through a rigorous curriculum that incorporates both pedagogical and research skills, graduates will be equipped to produce high-quality research, evidenced through conference presentations and published papers, and to create significant learning experiences in the classroom.

Ph.D. students are expected to exert persistent effort both in and out of the classroom, throughout academic semesters and intervening summers, and to complete program requirements in a timely manner. Strong English communication skills are essential.

A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to maintain student status.
A minimum of 80 credits is required (30 credits may be counted from a Master’s degree program; a minimum of 42 credits must be completed at URI).

Milestone in Brief (For illustration purposes only; courses and sequencing are subject to change based on program requirements, available offerings, and faculty recommendation.)

Year 1 – Fall

  • BUS 601: Practicum in Business Teaching (1 credit)
  • STA 502: Applied Regression Analysis (3 credits)
  • STAT/PSY 532: Experimental Design (3 credits)
  • ACC 609: Management Accounting Research (3 credits)

Year 1 – Spring

  • BUS 602: Doctoral Colloquium in Business Research (1 credit)
  • ACC 609: Accounting Information Systems Research (3 credits)
  • BUS 611: Doctoral Research Seminar (3 credits)
  • STAT/PSY 533: Advanced Quantitative Methods in Psychology (3 credits)
  • Or another elective (3 credits)

Year 2 – Fall

  • ACC 609: Financial Accounting Research (3 credits)
  • Elective/Independent Study (3 credits)
  • Elective/Independent Study (3 credits)

Year 2 – Spring

  • Elective (3 credits)
  • Elective/Independent Study (3 credits)
  • Elective/Independent Study (3 credits)

Year 3

  • Doctoral Dissertation Research (9 credits)

Year 4

  • Doctoral Dissertation Research (1–9 credits)
  • Required: Written and Oral Comprehensive exam