Accounting

The minimal requirements of the PhD Program in Accounting include: the successful completion of two years of course work, a comprehensive examination, a research proposal, and a dissertation documenting independent and original research. If you don’t have the academic background of our usual PhD students, you may be required to take additional courses. Your dissertation will take between one and three years to complete, depending on your eventual topic and research methods.

As noted above, complete training in research requires you to exceed these minimal requirements. In particular, you must engage actively in research during your program. Throughout the program you will also be expected to participate in seminars, workshops, and conferences at the local, national, and international levels. It will be your responsibility to push as far as your skills and aptitude can take you. Frequent interaction with faculty members and fellow students is necessary in order that you develop intellectually and professionally.

Coursework:

Your coursework plan will be developed in consultation with the Accounting Area’s PhD Program Coordinator. The courses are typically one semester long (3.0 credits), and fall into six categories:

DCAD Courses

You will be required to take the following DCAD core courses:

• DCAD 7060 3.00 INTRODUCTION TO APPLIED STATISTICS

  This course focuses on the use of univariate and multivariate statistics as applied to social and behavioural research within the fields of organizational, management, and consumer studies. It covers descriptive statistics, mean difference testing, analysis of variance and covariance, linear and logistic regression, and a priori sample size calculations, as well as power and effect size calculations.

• DCAD 7100 3.00 LOGICS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH
  This examines the major philosophical debates in the social sciences and explores the rationale of different approaches to social research. Students learn how to select and develop appropriate research strategies and how to critically examine the use of various research strategies.
• DCAD 7250 3.00 RESEARCH DESIGN
  This course introduces students to research design, strengthens their reasoning and theoretical development skills, helps them effectively apply a range of empirical methodologies to their own research and critically review empirical studies done by others. Topics include types of variables, relationships, sampling and measurement, survey and field research designs, experimental designs, and alternative designs, and research design biases and artifacts.
• DCAD 7400 3.00 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
  This course provides students with detailed exposure to the qualitative research methodologies that have begun to exert a major influence on management research over the last 10 years.

These DCAD courses are designed to ensure that all PhD students at Schulich acquire a basic competence in research methods, including quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, and the philosophy and methods used in the social sciences.

Accounting Core and Elective Courses

You will also be required to take four of the following core doctoral accounting courses:

• ACTG 7010 3.00 OVERVIEW OF ACCOUNTING RESEARCH
  This course offers Ph.D. students an introduction to the core knowledge about various research paradigms in accounting research.
• ACTG 7020 3.00 EMPIRICAL METHODS IN ACCOUNTING RESEARCH
  No course description found.
• ACTG 7030 3.00 JUDGEMENT & DECISION RESEARCH IN ACCOUNTING
  An in-depth study of research methods useful for investigating how and how well judgments and decisions are made in accounting, auditing and financial reporting contexts.
• ACTG 7040 3.00 ADVANCED TOPICS IN ACCOUNTING RESEARCH
  No course description found.
• ACTG 7050 3.00 ADVANCED TOPICS IN FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING RESEARCH II

  Explores advanced topics in financial accounting research. It provides an overview of selected topics in financial accounting and related areas, and enhances students' applied skills in analyzing financial accounting data. The course covers classic papers, methodology papers, and papers that represent some of the most recent developments in the field.

• ACTG 7950 3.00 SPECIAL TOPICS IN ACCOUNTING RESEARCH
  No course description found.

Note that ACTG 7950 3.00 is rarely offered. The other four courses are offered on a rotating basis so that you can complete them in the first two years of your program.

Unlisted elective courses may be taken for additional credit. Accounting electives are typically taken as directed studies, that is, taken by an individual student under the tutelage of an Accounting Area faculty member. Such electives focus on a specialized area of interest to the student and the faculty member, and can be helpful in filling in gaps in your knowledge in preparation for doctoral research.

Foundational Courses

You will also be required to take two courses from disciplines that are foundational to accounting research. These courses will form your minor. This requirement ensures that you lay down the theoretical foundation necessary for your doctoral research. The courses must be at the graduate level, and can include courses from economics, finance, behavioural sciences, social sciences, or other foundational disciplines. Examples of such courses are:

• ECON 5100 3.00 THE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS

  This course provides managers with an overview of the economic environment within which business must operate, and an understanding of some of the analytical tools which economists use to solve business, economic, environmental and social problems. Key concepts and ideas from microeconomics, macroeconomics, environmental and international economics are introduced. Topics relevant to real-world issues and problems are discussed.

• FINE 7400 3.00 EMPIRICAL METHODS IN FINANCE

  This course emphasis shifts from the examination of current theories to the testing of those theories. The subject matter focuses on the empirical techniques frequently used in research in finance and draws heavily on econometric methods, although other statistical procedures are discussed. Students are expected to read, discuss and criticize empirical studies presented in the literature. A key element in any empirical study is the availability of reliable data. Consequently, students are provided with access to available data bases and are required to learn how to handle these efficiently.

• ORGS 7020 3.00 ADVANCED TOPICS IN ORGANIZATION THEORY

  This course introduces students to leading paradigms and current topics in organization theory. Students obtain an intensive overview of "macro" theories in organizational behaviour and develop an ability to assess organization theory and research critically and comprehensively. Class discussions focus on the strengths, weaknesses and contributions of leading-edge theories and topics; and students are encouraged to think creatively about future directions that various topics and theories might take to advance the field's understanding of organizations. By the conclusion of the course, students: (a) are familiar with important sources and references on prevailing issues in organization theory; (b) have a solid grasp of advanced theory and research on a breadth of topics in macro organizational behaviour; (c) have a better understanding of the process of writing theoretical articles; and (d) possess the ability to evaluate critically the contributions of various research streams to the field of organization theory.

Additional Courses for Students without Master’s Degrees

If you enter the PhD program without a Master’s degree, you will be required to take an additional two graduate-level courses (6.00 credit hours in total) in quantitative methods such as statistics, econometrics, psychometrics or similar disciplines. This requirement ensures that you acquire a sound methodological foundation. Courses satisfying this requirement include:

Additional Courses for Students without an Accounting Background:

Students admitted without a sufficient background in accounting may be required to take one or more additional prerequisite courses from the following list of existing MBA courses (before enrolling in 7000-level accounting courses):

• ACTG 6600 3.00 AUDITING STANDARDS & APPLICATIONS

  This course focuses on the standards and applications underlying the latest functions and responsibilities of external and internal auditors. The theory of audit evidence and certain basic techniques are used to provide an understanding of auditing methodology. The auditor's responsibility beyond the financial audit and current developments in auditing are also examined. Students may be expected to complete a research paper or project.

  Prerequisite: SB/ACTG 5100 3.00.

  Prerequisite: SB/ACTG 5101 3.00 for students pursuing the Schulich Diploma in Intermediate Accounting (DIAC).

• ACTG 6200 3.00 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN ACCOUNTING
  This course concentrates on the application of accounting theory to controversial issues in financial accounting. The topics vary with the changing importance of current accounting issues. Source materials include current accounting literature and the research publications of professional accounting organizations. The development of research and writing skills, along with analytical abilities, is emphasized. Prerequisite: SB/ACTG 6120.030
• ACTG 6400 3.00 STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING & ANALYSIS
  This course surveys recent innovations in management accounting with an emphasis on developing and using management accounting information for strategic decision making. This case based course focuses on developing critical competencies necessary to design and use strategic management accounting systems. Prerequisite: SB/ACTG 6350 1.50
• ACTG 6450 3.00 MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING & CONTROL SYSTEMS
  This course concentrates on accounting and related controls as part of the management process. The objective of the course is to develop a thorough understanding of planning and control systems in organizations. The behavioural implications of accounting are emphasized. Students may be expected to complete a research paper or project.
• ACTG 6700 3.00 MANAGERIAL ASPECTS OF TAXATION
  This course will review general income and commodity tax planning for individuals and corporations and discuss the major taxation issues facing managers. The presentation of the material will be less technical than ACTG 6710.03 and therefore will be suitable for MBA students who want to know the basic taxation issues without the detail. Course Credit Exclusion: SB/ACTG 6710.030 (either SB/ACTG 6700.030 or SB/ACTG 6710.030, but not both, may be taken for credit)

A typical student entering the PhD program with a Masters degree will take at least 10 courses (or 30 credit hours) comprised of four DCAD courses, four accounting core courses, two foundational courses, plus possible electives. At the rate of three courses per semester, a typical student will complete his/her coursework in four semesters (Fall / Winter / Fall / Winter).

A typical student entering the PhD program without a Masters degree will take at least 12 courses (or 36 credit hours) comprised of the above course plus the two required quantitative methods courses. At the rate of three courses per semester, such a student will complete his/her coursework in four semesters (Fall / Winter / Fall / Winter).

Comprehensive Examination:

You will be scheduled to write a comprehensive examination after successfully completing all your coursework. This examination is designed to demonstrate your knowledge of the accounting field, your chosen foundation field, and research methodologies. The comprehensive examination will be set and administered by Accounting Area faculty members. It will normally be administered within 24 months of your entry into the PhD program. A second and final attempt at this examination will be allowed if you are unsuccessful in your first attempt. These requirements are standard across all fields offered in the PhD in Administration at the Schulich School of Business.

You will be strongly encouraged to reach a mutual agreement for doctoral supervision with an Accounting Area supervisor before attempting the comprehensive exam. This will help you approach the comprehensive exam with confidence, and with a sense of direction for your doctoral research. Regardless, your supervisor and supervisory committee must be named prior to enrolling in the third year of your program.

Research Proposal:

After passing your comprehensive exam, you will be required to submit a formal proposal outlining your research topic and your plan for completing the research. The proposal has to be defended before (i.e., presented to and approved by) your supervisory committee, normally within 36 months of entering the PhD program. A research proposal generally consists of a well-researched statement of your intended research topic, an appropriate literature review, a clear description of your data and methodology, and some preliminary results. Approval by the dissertation committee will be based on whether the proposed research will produce results of sufficient significance to merit the degree, and whether the plan to implement the research is feasible within a realistic timeframe given the available resources. An acceptable proposal will demonstrate that your research proposal will likely lead to an acceptable dissertation, and that you have a clear understanding of the research question, the research methodology, and the relevant literature. This requirement is standard across all fields offered in the PhD Program in Administration at the Schulich School of Business.

Dissertation:

The dissertation is the written document that embodies the results of your original research. The dissertation is the core of the PhD program, and will be judged by its originality and contribution to the accounting field. The dissertation will be guided and examined by your dissertation committee in accordance with the rules of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. These evaluation procedures ensure that graduates have achieved the kind and level of preparation appropriate to the objectives and requirements of the PhD Program in Accounting.

We recommend further consultation with your area Ph.D. rep concerning any impending changes to the program requirements and guidance on selecting appropriate optional courses.