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Olin Business School
Washington University in St. Louis | Olin Business School
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​Finance Curriculum

Prior to the first year – mandatory attendance at math camp (offered through the Economics department)
First Year

Required Courses

MEC 610 Microeconomics I (3 credits)
MEC 611 Microeconomics II (3 credits)
L11 511 Quantitative Methods I (3 credits)
L11 5161 Applied Econometrics (3 credits)
B52 620 Empirical Methods in Finance (if available first year; if not, required in the second year)
B52 652 Introduction to Asset Pricing
B52 655 Introduction to Corporate Finance

Pre-requisites for FIN 642

B62 538 Stochastic Foundations for Finance
B62 539 Mathematical Finance


Olin PhD Finance Courses – you will take one of the following groups of courses:
  • B52 FIN 643 Info Econ & Corp Finance Theory (3 credits) – Prof. Anjan Thakor
  • B52 FIN 642 Advanced Continuous Finance (1.5 credits) – Prof. Phil Dybvig (Pre requisite: B62 539 Mathematical Finance and B62 538 Stochastic Foundations for Finance)
  • B52 651 Topics in Finance (1.5 credits)
  • B52 654 Empirical Methods in Asset Pricing (1.5 credits) – Prof. Asaf Manela

Research

  • Compulsory attendance in all finance brown bag lunches and Friday Seminars
  • First-year summer paper – papers are due by end of September after the first year

Milestones/Hurdles

  • In the summer of the first year, students must meet with the faculty coordinator to discuss progress and complete a progress report to be submitted to the PhD Office by September 1st after the first year.
  • Micro Prelim Exam (Offered in August, students must receive a “Distinction/Honors” or “PhD pass” to continue in the PhD program. One retake of the exam is permitted.)
  • In August after the first year, students must attend an RA/TA orientation offered by The Teaching Center.
Second Year

Required Courses

B52 FIN 615A and B Research in Finance (both semesters)
B52 620 Empirical Methods in Finance (if not taken during the first year)
Directed readings and/or Independent studies


Olin PhD Finance Courses – you will take one of the following groups of courses:
  • B52 FIN 643 Info Econ & Corp Finance Theory (3 credits) – Prof. Anjan Thakor
  • B52 FIN 642 Advanced Continuous Finance (1.5 credits) – Prof. Phil Dybvig (Pre requisite: B62 539 Mathematical Finance and B62 538 Stochastic Foundations for Finance)
  • B52 651 Topics in Finance (1.5 credits)
  • B52 654 Empirical Methods in Asset Pricing (1.5 credits) – Prof. Asaf Manela


Other Electives (see below for some choices)

  • B50 665 Applied Empirical Research in Accounting
  • B53 620 Empirical Methods in Business
  • B50 664 Doctoral Seminar in Financial Accounting
  • B55 675 Empirical Methods in Structural Modeling
  • B62 539 Mathematical Finance
  • B62 500R Topics in Quantitative Finance
  • B62 538 Stochastic Foundations for Finance
  • E35 516 Optimization in Function Space
  • L11 501 Macroeconomics I
  • L11 518B Seminar in Applied Econometrics II: Time Series Analysis and Macroeconomics
  • B54 661 Analysis of Time Series Data

Research

  • Compulsory attendance in all finance brown bag lunches and department seminars
  • Second-year summer paper - papers are due by the end of September after the second year.

Milestones/Hurdles

  • Second-year paper - students must have paper approved by faculty to continue in the PhD program. Papers will be presented to faculty in fall of the third year.
  • Field exam, given in June after the second year. Students must pass the field exam to continue in the PhD program.
  • In the summer, students must meet with the faculty coordinator to discuss progress and complete a progress report to be submitted to the PhD Office by September 1st.
Third Year

Courses

B25 615 A and B Research in Finance (both semesters)
B53 660 Seminar in Presentation Skills (fall semester, required)
Improvisation Course

Research

  • Compulsory attendance in all finance brown bag lunches and Friday seminars
  • Second year paper (due in September of third year) must be presented during a brown bag seminar before October 30th and must be approved by the faculty to continue in the PhD program.
  • Dissertation Research

Milestones/Hurdles

  • In the summer, students must meet with the faculty coordinator to discuss progress and complete a progress report to be submitted to the PhD Office by September 1st.
Fourth Year

Courses

B25 615 A and B Research in Finance (both semesters)

Research

  • Compulsory attendance in all finance brown bag lunches and Friday seminars
  • Paper Presentations (brown bag seminars and conferences)
  • Dissertation Research

Milestones/Hurdles

  • Dissertation Proposal – students must be able to assemble a Research Advisory Committee for the proposal of their dissertation and must submit a Title, Scope and Procedure Form as the committee’s approval of the proposed dissertation by September 30th of the fifth year.
  • In the summer, students must meet with the faculty coordinator to discuss progress and complete a progress report to be submitted to the PhD Office by September 1st.
Fifth Year

Research

  • Compulsory attendance in all finance brown bag lunches and Friday Seminars
  • Paper Presentations (job market paper presentations with faculty and at conferences)
  • Dissertation Research

Milestones/Hurdles

  • In the summer, students must meet with the faculty coordinator to discuss progress and complete a progress report to be submitted to the PhD Office by September 1st.
  • Intent to Graduate (complete form online)
  • Job Market and Placement
  • Oral Defense of Dissertation
  • Submission of Examination Approval Form which signifies committee’s approval
  • Upload of Final, Approved Dissertation to Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
  • Submission of Documented Teaching Requirements to PhD Office
Download Finance PhD course descriptions