A Ph.D. gives you the highest level of research-based academic preparation. We offer three complementary concentration areas; FHCE faculty can help you decide which is right for you.
Careers
View career opportunities and placement of our recent graduates.
Consumer Economics
This concentration develops your expertise in:
- Consumer decision making
- Households' interactions with markets
- Consumer literacy and behavior
- Poverty and material hardship
- Government interventions and policies
- Methods used by research analysts
- Applied consumer analytics
Upon completion you will have a refined understanding of the challenges and opportunities that face consumers in increasingly complex economic and political environments.
Financial Planning
This concentration develops your expertise in:
- Creating, managing, transferring wealth
- Tax matters
- Teaching personal finance
- Investment principles
- Research methods
Upon completion of this concentration you will be prepared to sit for the Certified Financial Planner™ examination.
The University of Georgia does not certify individuals to use the CFP®, Certified Financial Planner™ and marks. CFP® certification is granted solely by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. to individuals who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP Board-Registered Program, have met ethics, experience and examination requirements.
Housing Management and Policy
This concentration develops your expertise in various aspects of:
- Affordable housing
- Community development
- Housing insecurity & homelessness
- Government programs & policy
- Mortgage finance
- Residential mobility
- Residential property management
Upon completion you will have a comprehensive understanding of housing as a product, an environment, a service, and a process to shelter a diverse and changing population.
Timetable
You may complete your Ph.D. requirements in 3-4 years by following this timetable.
- Form your advisory committee (2nd term)
- Develop a preliminary Program of Study (2nd term)
- Notify the graduate coordinator that you are ready for comprehensive exams (3rd term)
- Finalize your official Program of Study (4th term)
- Pass your written comprehensive exam (4th term)
- Pass your oral comprehensive exam (5th term)
- Apply for admission to candidacy (5th term)
- Apply for graduation (6th term)
- Have your dissertation proposal approved by your major professor (7th term)
- Have your dissertation proposal approved by your advisory committee (7th term)
- Complete/document your research, training and service requirements (7th term)
- Obtain signatures on your dissertation approval form (7th term)
- Defend your dissertation (7th term)
- Obtain final approval of your dissertation from major professor (7th term)
- Submit the abstract of your dissertation to the Department (8th term)
- Provide a final bound copy of your dissertation to the Department (8th term)