There are specific requirements for the doctoral program in each concentration. The concentration can specify how certain departmental requirements are to be met and can add requirements or increase minimum standards. Note that optional courses may be taken in addition to the required courses, not instead of them. Students must consult with their field advisor to ensure that their choices make a sensible program.

1. First Stage of Coursework

The first stage of coursework consists of the common core, basic discipline, research methodology and field courses. The courseload for Ph.D. students specializing in real estate will be similar to that of students concentrating exclusively in the co-major fields of either accounting or finance. Students should bear in mind, though, that they will carry additional courseloads to accommodate the somewhat greater range of materials required for understanding and applying research to real estate problems and issues.

2. Written Examinations

All Ph.D. students in the real estate program who are following the Finance/Real Estate Course of Study are required to write both the preliminary exam in Finance, usually in the summer of their second year in the program, and the preliminary exam in Real Estate, usually in the summer of their third year in the program.

Students following the Accounting/Real Estate Course of Study are required to take both the preliminary exam in Accounting and the prequalifying exam in Real Estate following approximately the same schedule.

3. Second Stage of Coursework

After passing the written examination, each student takes advanced research seminars and studies independently under the supervision of a faculty member. All Ph.D. students in the real estate program who are following the Finance/Real Estate Course of Study will register for and attend both the Finance and Real Estate PHDBA289S research seminar courses and will attend and participate in the pre-seminars for these courses during the academic year. Students that are following the Accounting/Real Estate Course of Study will register for and attend the Accounting Seminar addition to the Real Estate Seminar.

Oral Examination

Students submit and defend their dissertation proposals in the oral exam. The objective is to determine whether students have the intellectual capacity and academic preparation to complete the program. Successful completion of prior phases of the program and a well-defined research proposal are required.

Dissertation

A dissertation is the formulation and completion of a major research project, and its written presentation. It is the last step in the program.

A faculty committee reviews the dissertation as an ongoing process. The committee is chosen by the student and must consist of three or more faculty members, one of whom must be from an outside discipline. When all members are satisfied, they sign off on the dissertation to signify their approval. Then, the student files the work with the University.

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