How would you like to give an exam rather than take one? Denise Leggett Beta Alpha Psi Presentation February 5, 2013

Objective and Outline My objective is to motivate you to consider another career path - accounting professorship. –What can I do with a Masters degree? –What do professors with a PhD do? –Why should I consider this career path? –Why do we have a shortage of new PhDs? –How can I prepare to be a successful PhD program applicant? –To which schools should I apply? –I have a campus interview – now what? –I’ve been accepted – now what? –Question and (hopefully!) answer session 2

What can I do with a Masters degree? Experience and certification very helpful Typical community college or university teaching position –Adjunct or full-time –Opportunity to earn tenure is more limited –5/5 teaching load/lower division courses –Limited non-teaching responsibilities Motivation and role An excellent way to experience the teaching side of the profession! Opportunities are more limited in AACSB- accredited programs 3

What do professors with a PhD do? Teach (3/3 teaching load) Research –Develop original, publishable research –Teaching/research continuum Service –University, college, and department –Community and profession All this can’t be accomplished in a 20-hour work week! 4 Primarily Teach Primarily Research More salary, less teaching, more publishing

Why should I consider this career path? Your profession needs you! –Education is critical to ensure an adequate supply of accounting professionals –Critical shortage of accounting PhDs Aging professorate/declining number of PhD students in recent years Annually about professors retire while only about 140 new PhDs graduate Need for tax and audit professors is especially acute 5

Why should I consider this career path? Good salary and benefits More vacation time Flexible hours High job satisfaction –Influence future generations of accountants –59% rate their jobs as low stress – stressful-jobs-2013http:// stressful-jobs-2013 –Research 6

Why do we have a shortage of new PhDs? We haven’t encouraged this career path. Full-time commitment to earn a PhD Common misconceptions –Cost 80% waive tuition and offer stipends 60% pay stipends between $15,000 and $25,000 Accounting Doctoral Scholars Program –$30,000/year for 4 years to pursue Tax and Audit Health insurance –Salary of an accounting professor Simplistic calculation –Intelligence 7

How can I prepare to be a successful PhD program applicant? Take graduate coursework and gain professional experience –Helpful but not required –Age of PhD students: mid 20s - early 40s Demonstrate academic ability –Competitive GMAT score 50% of doctoral students have scores between 675 – 724 –GPAs, vita, reference letters, and interview skills Understand that a doctoral program is all about RESEARCH. Be prepared to relocate – twice! 8

To which schools should I apply? Apply early to several schools Understand that degrees from all programs are not valued equally –Online program ≠ “brick and mortar” program –Satellite campus program ≠ main campus program Choose schools that support your research interests –Archival versus behavioral –Financial, tax, audit, managerial, etc. 9

I have a campus interview – now what? Graduation ratio Average time to complete the program Placement of recent graduates Relationships to consider –Among faculty members –Among PhD students –Between PhD students and faculty 10

I’ve been accepted – now what? Full-time 4 – 5 year commitment Small classes with rigorous coursework Research, research, research!!! Some teaching responsibilities Enjoy this time because it passes very quickly! 11 Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5? Coursework Comps Dissertation

An Alternate Education Model Kennesaw State University Hybrid program/AACSB Accredited –Designed for people with a master’s degree with at least 10+ years of high-level professional experience who want/need to continue to work Average experience among current students is 25 years –3-year (year round) program –On campus 29 days per year (mostly weekends/long weekends) –Expect to work approximately hours per week on school work –Cost: $89,500 with no stipend or tuition wavier 12

Questions? Your MTSU professors will be your best resource for information should you decide to pursue a PhD Questions? These slides will be posted in my file on the S-drive Thank you! 13