Accordingly, the program's primary focus is on research. Over the first two years in the program students develop their conceptual and empirical tool kits by taking a series of graduate level courses in Economics, Statistics, Econometrics and four semesters of doctoral seminars in Finance. Students are also required to write research papers after their first and second year in the program, in addition to the dissertation. They are also provided the opportunity to teach at least three courses during the program. Thus the program aims to prepare them for the research and teaching missions of their academic career.