Preparing for a Doctoral Program - Revision history

Jeffrey9: /* Preparing for Coursework */

2024-12-27T19:04:25Z

‎Preparing for Coursework

Jeffrey9: /* Pros */

2024-12-27T18:07:22Z

‎Pros

Jeffrey9: /* Should I try and earn the CPA Certification? */

2024-12-27T18:02:08Z

‎Should I try and earn the CPA Certification?

JaredMoon at 18:59, 7 December 2020

2020-12-07T18:59:40Z

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JaredMoon at 06:55, 6 December 2020

2020-12-06T06:55:42Z

JaredMoon at 06:54, 6 December 2020

2020-12-06T06:54:47Z

JaredMoon at 06:53, 6 December 2020

2020-12-06T06:53:57Z

JaredMoon at 06:53, 6 December 2020

2020-12-06T06:53:19Z

JaredMoon at 06:52, 6 December 2020

2020-12-06T06:52:18Z

JaredMoon at 06:51, 6 December 2020

2020-12-06T06:51:27Z

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 * Understanding finance, psychology, or other specialty area theory.
-In addition to preparing for your "tools" courses, you can start to prepare for your accounting seminars.  Accounting seminars are courses in which you read and discuss accounting research papers.  These courses are meant to teach you about research and how to conduct research.  To prepare for these courses, it would be valuable to spend time reading accounting research.  Your goal in reading research should not be to gain a broad or even deep understanding.  Instead, reading papers is valuable to teach you how papers are structured, what they do and don't do, and what language is used and not used.  Gaining as much practice and experience reading and trying to understand accounting research will be highly beneficial.  This [http://gpae.bryant.edu/~gpae/Vol6/Reading_and_Understanding_Academic_Research.pdf paper] by [[Porter, Jason|Jason Porter]] and Teresa Gordon can be helpful in teaching someone new to academics how to read and understand academic research.  To find examples of "good" accounting research, see the [[What is accounting research?]] page.
+In addition to preparing for your "tools" courses, you can start to prepare for your accounting seminars.  Accounting seminars are courses in which you read and discuss accounting research papers.  These courses are meant to teach you about research and how to conduct research.  To prepare for these courses, it would be valuable to spend time reading accounting research.  Your goal in reading research should not be to gain a broad or even deep understanding.  Instead, reading papers is valuable to teach you how papers are structured, what they do and don't do, and what language is used and not used.  Gaining as much practice and experience reading and trying to understand accounting research will be highly beneficial.  This [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/37160422_Reading_and_Understanding_Academic_Research_in_Accounting_A_Guide_For_Students paper] by Jason Porter and Teresa Gordon can be helpful in teaching someone new to academics how to read and understand academic research.  To find examples of "good" accounting research, see the [[What is accounting research?]] page.
 ==Preparing to Conduct Research==

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 Some schools prefer Ph.D. applicants with public accounting work experience.  In 2007, the AAA surveyed the Accounting Ph.D. programs in the United States and found that 53% of programs either preferred or required some work experience.  Some schools are less willing to hire new Ph.D. graduates in auditing and tax without "meaningful" professional experience.
 Despite substantial tuition waivers and annual stipends for teaching and research, working may help you save money for living expenses during the doctoral program.
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 Working may help you decide if academia or industry is the best route for you.  If you love working in industry, there may be no reason to go back to school for 4 or 5 more years.  Also, working first may give you options to fall back on in case you start a Ph.D. program and find that you do not wish to continue.
-It is sometimes easier to pass [[The CPA Exam]] and become a CPA with work experience.  Some accounting firms provide a bonus for passing the CPA Exam during your first or second year of practice in addition to reimbursing the testing fees and paying for a review course.  However going straight into a Ph.D. program doesn't mean you can't get a CPA license, but it is debatable whether having a CPA license is desirable and/or useful as an accounting professor (see pros and cons on [[The CPA Exam]] page).
+It is sometimes easier to pass [[The CPA Exam]] with work experience.  Some accounting firms provide a bonus for passing the CPA Exam during your first or second year of practice in addition to reimbursing the testing fees and paying for a review course.  However going straight into a Ph.D. program doesn't mean you can't get a CPA license, it does mean you will have to figure a way to gain the work experience necessary for licensure. It is also debatable whether having a CPA license is desirable and/or useful as an accounting professor (see pros and cons on [[The CPA Exam]] page).
 ====Cons====

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:02, 27 December 2024
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	===Should I try and earn the CPA Certification?===		===Should I try and earn the CPA Certification?===
−	~~Here is a list of some questions that you might want to think about when applying to programs:~~
	In the business world, the CPA designation adds potential for career growth and entitles the CPA to receiving extra trust in serving in advisory roles for clients. For academics, there are different benefits for having the CPA designation. One benefit of earning your CPA is enhanced credibility in the classroom. If you do not attain much professional experience, students may doubt your credentials for teaching a course. Having earned the CPA designation can help you earn credibility. In addition to credibility, some schools want you to have professional certifications, in particular, schools that are more teaching oriented. Also, receiving the CPA designation is probably more important for those with research and teaching interests in audit and/or tax. An additional benefit is that academics with the CPA certification may be able to better secure consulting opportunities in the profession than academics without the certification. Having a CPA will also give you credibility with practitioners. Additionally, if you ever decide to leave academia, this is a helpful certification for employment.		In the business world, the CPA designation adds potential for career growth and entitles the CPA to receiving extra trust in serving in advisory roles for clients. For academics, there are different benefits for having the CPA designation. One benefit of earning your CPA is enhanced credibility in the classroom. If you do not attain much professional experience, students may doubt your credentials for teaching a course. Having earned the CPA designation can help you earn credibility. In addition to credibility, some schools want you to have professional certifications, in particular, schools that are more teaching oriented. Also, receiving the CPA designation is probably more important for those with research and teaching interests in audit and/or tax. An additional benefit is that academics with the CPA certification may be able to better secure consulting opportunities in the profession than academics without the certification. Having a CPA will also give you credibility with practitioners. Additionally, if you ever decide to leave academia, this is a helpful certification for employment.

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 You might never go back to get a Ph.D.  Once you have begun to live off a normal salary, it makes it harder to take a pay cut upon entering a Ph.D. program. In other words, the longer you work, the greater the opportunity cost of returning to school.  You are delaying earning a relatively high salary (hopefully) 4 to 5 years in the future for a relatively small salary now.  This may not be a positive net present value decision.
-==Should I try and earn the CPA Certification?==
+===Should I try and earn the CPA Certification?===
 Here is a list of some questions that you might want to think about when applying to programs:
 In the business world, the CPA designation adds potential for career growth and entitles the CPA to receiving extra trust in serving in advisory roles for clients.  For academics, there are different benefits for having the CPA designation.  One benefit of earning your CPA is enhanced credibility in the classroom.  If you do not attain much professional experience, students may doubt your credentials for teaching a course.  Having earned the CPA can help you earn credibility.  In addition to credibility, some schools want you to have professional certifications, in particular, schools that are more teaching oriented.  Also, receiving the CPA designation is probably more important for those with research and teaching interests in audit and/or tax. An additional benefit is that academics with the CPA certification may be able to better secure consulting opportunities in the profession than academics without the certification.  Having a CPA will also give you credibility with practitioners.  Additionally, if you ever decide to leave academia, this is a helpful certification for employment.

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:54, 6 December 2020
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	==Special Suggestions for Candidates without Prior Work Experience==		==Special Suggestions for Candidates without Prior Work Experience==
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	===Should I work in industry before getting a Ph.D.?===		===Should I work in industry before getting a Ph.D.?===

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 ==Special Suggestions for Candidates without Prior Work Experience==
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 ===Should I work in industry before getting a Ph.D.?===
 ====Pros====
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 You might never go back to get a Ph.D.  Once you have begun to live off a normal salary, it makes it harder to take a pay cut upon entering a Ph.D. program. In other words, the longer you work, the greater the opportunity cost of returning to school.  You are delaying earning a relatively high salary (hopefully) 4 to 5 years in the future for a relatively small salary now.  This may not be a positive net present value decision.
 ==Should I try and earn the CPA Certification?==
 Here is a list of some questions that you might want to think about when applying to programs: