Accounting Requirements: PhD Program: Stanford GSB

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PhD Students

Accounting Requirements 2009-2010

I. Preparation in Quantitative Methods

All students are required to have, or to obtain in the first year, skill in the use of the following mathematical methods:

Topic	Course
Linear Algebra	MATH 113: Linear Algebra and Matrix Theory
Analysis	MATH 115: Fundamental Concepts of Analysis
Probability	MS&E 220: Probabilistic Analysis or STATS 116: Theory of Probability
Optimization	MS&E 211: Linear and Non-linear Optimization
Statistics	STATS 200: Introduction to Statistical Inference

Note: MS&E 220 or STATS 116 may be taken concurrently with MGTECON 270 (Econometric Methods I)

Students are expected to have adequate computer programming skills. Knowledge of a computer language such as FORTRAN, PASCAL, or APL is sufficient. If students do not have adequate computer programming skills, they may learn this material on their own or take the Stanford Computer Science course 106 "Introduction to Software Engineering'' (PASCAL) at the latest by the summer following the first academic year.

II. General Program Requirement (GPR)*

All students are encouraged to fulfill the general program requirement during their first year of study. Each course must be passed with a grade of P or B- or better. Interpretation of the LP grade will be determined on a case by case basis.

Note: Any changes to the General Program Requirement (GPR) or Field Course Requirement (FCR) will be "grandfathered." Students are responsible for fulfilling the requirements in place at the time they entered the program.

Course No.	Course Title
MGTECON 600 / ECON 202	Microeconomic Analysis I / Core Economics: Modules 1 and 2
MGTECON 603 / ECON 270	Econometric Methods / Intermediate Econometrics I
GSBGEN 698 /	Practicum in Teaching
GSBGEN 699 /	Practicum in Research
Possible Higher Level Substitutes**
Course No.	Course Title
MGTECON 601 / ECON 203	Microeconomic Analysis II / Core Economics: Modules 5 and 6
MGTECON 604 / ECON 271	Econometric Methods II / Intermediate Econometrics II
MGTECON 605 / ECON 272	Econometric Methods III / Intermediate Econometrics III
Plus one of: (revised April 2003)
OB 672	Organizations and Environment or
OB 676	Social and Political Processes in Organizations or
GSBGEN 646 (added Apr 02-03)	Behavioral Decision Making

*In rare cases, the Director of the PhD Program may waive a general program requirement for a student based on similar PhD-level coursework completed elsewhere.

**Substitutions as shown can be arranged through the doctoral liaison, in some cases, for students with prior background in the indicated topic.

III. Field Course Requirements—First Year Students

The following tables contain the field course requirements schedule for first year students. General program requirements are included. Each course must be passed with a grade of P or B- or better. Interpretation of the LP grade will be determined on a case by case basis.

Autumn Quarter

Required
Department	Course Title and Number	Units
[GPR] Business	MGTECON 600: Microeconomic Analysis I	4
[GPR] -or- Economics	ECON 202N: Core Economics: Modules 1 and 2 for Non-Economics PhD Students	5
[GPR] Business	MGTECON 603: Econometric Methods I	4
[GPR] -or- Economics	ECON 270: Intermediate Econometrics I	5
Generally Advised
Department	Course Title and Number	Units
Statistics	STATS 116: Theory of Probability	3-5
Statistics	STATS 202: Data Analysis	3
Mathematics	MATH 113: Linear Algebra	3
Mathematics	MATH 115: Functions of a Real Variable	3
Mathematics	MATH 171: Fund Concept of Analysis	3
Mgmt Science & Engineering	MS&E 211: Linear & Nonlinear Optimization	4

Winter Quarter

Required
Department	Course Title and Number	Units
Business	FINANCE 620: Introduction to Financial Economics	4
Business	ACCT 609: Financial Reporting and Management Control	4
Generally Advised
Department	Course Title and Number	Units
Business	MGTECON 601: Microeconomic Analysis II	5
-or- Economics	ECON 203N: Core Economics: Modules 5 and 6	4
Business	MGTECON 604: Econometric Methods II	4
-or- Economics	ECON 271: Intermediate Econometrics II	5

Spring Quarter

Required
Department	Course Title and Number	Units
Business	ACCT 610: Seminar in Accounting Research	4
Advised for students with an analytical orientation
Department	Course Title and Number	Units
Business	MGTECON 602: Auctions, Bargaining & Pricing	4
Business	MGTECON 608: Multiperson Decision Theory	4
Advised for students with empirical orientation
Department	Course Title and Number	Units
Business	GSBGEN 640: Multivariate Analysis	4
Business	MGTECON 605: Econometric Methods III	4
Economics	ECON 272: Intermediate Econometrics III	4
Statistics	STATS 218: Intro to Stochastic Process	3

IV. Field Course Requirement—Second Year Students

Autumn Quarter

Required
Department	Course Title and Number	Units
Business	ACCT 612: Seminar in Accounting Research	4
Advised for students with an analytical orientation
Department	Course Title and Number	Units
Economics	ECON 286: Game Theory and Economic Application	5
Economics	ECON 257: The Economics of Industry, Regulation and Firm Organizations I	5
Mathematics	MATH 205A: Real Analysis	3
Advised for students with empirical orientation
Department	Course Title and Number	Units
Business	FINANCE 621: Empirical Issues in Finance	4
Economics	ECON 273A: Advanced Econometrics I	5
Statistics	STATS 305: Linear Models	3-4

Winter Quarter

Required
Department	Course Title and Number	Units
Business	ACCT 611: Seminar in Accounting Research	4
Advised for students with an analytical orientation
Department	Course Title and Number	Units
Economics	ECON 282: Contract Theory	5
Business	MGTECON 613: Game Theory	4
Business	FINANCE 623: Market Microstructure	4
Advised for students with empirical orientation
Department	Course Title and Number	Units
Economics	ECON 258: The Economics of Industry, Regulation and Firm Organizations II	5
Statistics	STATS 208: Introduction to the Bootstrap	3

Spring Quarter

Advised for students with an analytical orientation
Department	Course Title and Number	Units
Economics	ECON 283: Advanced Topics in Contracts and Organizations	5
Business	FINANCE 624: Corporate Finance Theory	4
Advised for students with empirical orientation
Department	Course Title and Number	Units
Business	MGTECON 609: Applied Econometrics & Economic Research	4
Economics	ECON 275: Time Series and Simultaneous Equation	5

V. Breadth Requirements and Possible Summer Courses(added fall 2003)

Breadth Requirement (At least one of these to be taken in the first three years of study)
Department	Course Title and Number	Units
Business	MKTG 643: Quantitative Research in Marketing I	4
Business	FINANCE 629: Tax and Finance Seminar	4
Business	FINANCE 631: Empirical and Behavioral Corporate Finance	4
Business	GSBGEN 646: Behavioral Decision Making	4
Business	OIT 670: Applied Dynamic Optimization	4
Business	POLECON 681: Economic Analysis of Political Institutions	4
Business	POLECON 682: Applied Formal Models: Governmental Decision Making	4
Business	STRAMGT 630: Economics of Strategy and Organization	4

Possible Summer Courses:
Department	Course Title and Number	Units
Statistics	STATS 217: Intro to Stochastic Processes	3
Statistics	STATS 218: Intro to Stochastic Processes	3
Statistics	STATS 207: Intro to Time Series Analysis	3
Statistics	STATS 200: Intro to Statistical Inference	3-4
Statistics	STATS 203: Intro to Regression Models and Analysis of Variance	3
Statistics	STATS 205: Intro to Nonparametric Statistics	3
Statistics	STATS 206: Applied Multivariate Analysis	3
Mathematics	MATH 113: Linear Algebra	3
Mathematics	MATH 115: Functions of a Real Variable	3
Mathematics	MATH 171: Fundamental Concept of Analysis	3

VI. First-Year Summer Research Paper Requirement

At the end of the summer after the first year, each student is required to submit a research paper and to present it orally at the Accounting Workshop. The faculty advisor can give guidelines on the nature of the paper.

VII. Second Year Field Examination

This is a comprehensive written examination on the theory and applications of accounting and its related areas in finance and economics. This examination covers approximately the same subject matter as M.B.A.-level elective accounting courses; Bus A610, A611, A612; and the work presented in the Accounting Workshops (including summer camp). The examination is usually given in June. It is normally taken at the end of the student's second year in residence.

VIII. Admission to Candidacy

Students who have completed the general program requirement, the field course requirement, the first-year research paper requirement, and the field examination are considered for admission to candidacy.

IX. Dissertation Research

Students are expected to present a seminar in the accounting workshop on a proposal of possible dissertation topic, in the fall quarter of the third year. A reading committee should be formed and a research design developed in the winter quarter of the third year. A dissertation proposal should be submitted and approved by the student's faculty advisor by spring of the third year.

X. Supplementary Requirements

During the first and second years of residence, each student is required to complete a reading course or a research assistantship during each quarter. Normally this activity will be the precursor of the student's summer research paper.

Each student is expected to participate regularly in the Accounting Workshops organized by the field faculty. Students should be familiar with the institutional material contained in Bus A210-A211 and Bus A311.

There are many other courses taken by PhD Students that are offered in departments outside the GSB, such as Computer Science, Economics, Management Science and Engineering, Mathematics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Statistics. Descriptions of these course offerings can be found in the Stanford Bulletin, published by the Registrar's Office (650-725-1879).