Objectives and Admission Criteria

General: The purpose of the Ph.D. program is to train and prepare students for an academic career at institutions having both teaching and research missions. The program can be completed in four years. Our goal is to admit two students per year to the program. The School of Accountancy's Ph.D. Policy Committee makes admission decisions. Admissions are made for the fall semester each year. Completed applications must be received no later than the prior February 1, and admission decisions are made by April 15.

All applicants must submit a GMAT score. We do not accept the GRE. Criteria for admission include a record of outstanding academic performance, a minimum GMAT score of 600, and strong letters of reference. Prior graduate study and accounting-related work experience are highly desirable. Students admitted to the program normally have an accounting background and work experience; however, we do consider applications from highly qualified applicants with backgrounds in other fields such as economics, computer science, or finance. The Ph.D. Policy Committee encourages a campus visit by applicants to ensure a good match between our program and the applicant's background and career goals.

International Students: Non-U.S. students must have completed a master's degree (or other post-undergraduate education), have some practical business experience, and achieve a minimum TOEFL score of 600 where English is not the language of instruction in primary and secondary schools. Students from non-English speaking countries are unlikely to be admitted unless they have lived or worked in an English speaking environment. If admitted to the program, international students are required to achieve Level 4 on a language-screening test administered at the end of their second year in the program. This language proficiency is required by the University of Missouri to work as a teaching assistant. Failure to achieve Level 4 results in the loss of the financial support package from the School of Accountancy (including tuition waiver).