PhD & Doctorate in Accounting Programs and Schools

What is a PhD in Accounting?

A PhD in Accounting (or doctorate in accounting degree) is considered an advanced graduate degree that prepare students for potential careers at the highest levels of the accounting field in private, public, and government accounting, as well as in education.

Graduates holding a Doctorate in Accounting are notionally prepared to make contributions to accounting research and theory as well as advance the practical applications of accounting science.

Accounting PhD programs are designed for students who wish to gain the skills and knowledge to teach, consult, or lead. If you are dedicated to continued education in accounting, or ready to potential move up the corporate ladder, earning a doctorate in accounting may prove to be a valuable choice.

Use the location tabs on GradSchools.com to find accounting PhD programs by city, state or country if this is an important factor in your decision process.

Refine this search by determining whether you prefer to study on campus or whether you are more interested in a web-based format. It is becoming more common for accredited schools to offer online PhD accounting programs, since they tend to be the most flexible way for busy professionals to earn a degree; some would say the computer is replacing the commuter!

However, studying on campus does give the most interaction with peers and professors, and may require less self-motivation than leaving study to when you have time.

Some of the listings might include Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Advanced Accounting, Accounting DBA, and PhD Program in Statistics. There are often several top schools with similar sounding programs.

The great thing about GradSchools.com is that you are able to open a few listings simultaneously to compare admission requirements, prerequisites, tuition, faculty, curriculum, and program structure.

It is not uncommon for Doctorate in Accounting degree programs follow a similar course of study, in which for the first two years students take advanced accounting courses. Students may explore such topics as:

• Data Analysis
• Capital Market Behavior
• Econometrics
• Accounting Research
• Organizational Processes
• Decision Theory
• Research
• Scholarly writing
• Ethical theory
• Global business perspective
• Accounting technology
• Systems-thinking

Broadly, a doctorate in accounting degree program permits students to focus in one core area of accounting, such as finance, taxation, economics, or math.

Students may acquire a deep understanding of how accounting practice can improve interrelated issues, processes, and functions within business organizations by cultivating an advanced knowledge and technical competency in accounting research, practice, and education.

The course segment may be followed by two to three years during which the student devotes their time to developing, researching, and writing a doctoral thesis and attending research workshops.

Many doctoral level accounting programs expect a student’s doctoral thesis to be submitted and accepted to a peer reviewed journal; and students are generally expected to defend their thesis in front of a panel of faculty and others established in the accounting and auditing fields.

What are Specializations for a Doctorate in Accounting?

Having devoted many years to the study of numbers, by the time you reach the PhD level of study in accounting you may already have a specialization, or are looking to truly excel in one area.

Some of the concentrations may include accounting, information systems, international business, management, marketing, and customized professional concentrations if the school provides this option.

What are Career Trends For PhD in Accounting Graduates?

You have reached for the terminal level degree in accounting and may thus be open to pursuing a variety of career paths in accounting. If you have a background in accounting, internal auditing or finance, and business administration, you might find a position such as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) or Financial Manager.

Chief Financial Officers are responsible for the accuracy of a company’s financial reporting, and for directing the organization’s financial goals, objectives and budgets.

FAST FACT: The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 6 percent increase in employment growth for Accountants and Auditors between 2023 and 2033, with approximately 130,800 job openings each year.

Computer and Information Research Scientists invent and desingn new approaches to computing technology, and find innovative uses for existing technology; perhaps you have worked as an information technology auditor and are ready to contribute to the field.

Graduates of PhD in Accounting degree programs have many career options. The most common path for graduates is to become faculty members of business schools to teach accounting to others.

Academia: The growth rate is faster than average for postsecondary teachers, and the PhD is widely recognized as a requirement to teach at the university level.

GradSchools.com offers 31 Graduate Schools with Accounting PhD and Finance Degree Programs