phd accounting lsu

Concentrations in Finance (GFIN), Information Systems & Decision Science (ISDS), Management (GMGT), Marketing (GMKT)

Each doctoral program is individually tailored to the student as a function of previous graduate coursework and career objectives. Programs are designed to ensure thorough theoretical and methodological training in the student’s chosen discipline, but are sufficiently flexible to provide a range of major and minor field options. Doctoral study is fulfilled in a variety of ways, primarily through coursework, independent reading, and dissertation research, but also through informal “brown bag” seminars, visiting faculty colloquia, and participation in professional conferences and symposia. Doctoral students are expected to work closely with each other and with the college’s graduate faculty and are encouraged to collaborate on research of shared interest.

Although specific coursework requirements vary from concentration to concentration and student to student, all doctoral students must satisfy the following curriculum requirements:

• major field of specialization (finance; information systems and decision sciences; management; or marketing)
• minor field
• supporting field
• breadth of study in business administration (breadth of study course requirement may be satisfied by prior coursework in the business disciplines and need not count toward the Ph.D. degree)
• research methodology requirement

At a minimum, students must complete 54 hours of coursework and dissertation credit beyond the baccalaureate degree requirements.

Specializations

Doctor of philosophy (phd) in business administration with a concentration in finance (pbadm)(gfin).

The departmental-level academic course plan for each student will be developed in consultation with and approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee. The committee will include the student’s major advisor and at least two additional members of the graduate faculty such that the LSU Graduate School’s requirements for graduate committees are satisfied.

The degree is a dissertation degree requiring a dissertation. Fifty-four hours of credit at the graduate level must be earned. The curricular requirements include:

• At least 54 hours at the 7000 level or above
• A primary area consisting of a minimum of 18 hours of earned credit in Finance
• A minor area consisting of a minimum of 12 hours of Economics

The student must pass a general exam consisting of a written examination and successful defense of his/her dissertation.

Please refer to two websites for (1) additional details about the program (business.lsu.edu/finance/Pages/PhD-Finance.aspx) and (2) the typical course work completed during the four year program (business.lsu.edu/finance/Pages/PhDCurriculum.aspx).

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration with a concentration in Information Systems and Decision Sciences (PBAIS)

The PhD program (PhD in business administration with a concentration in ISDS) is designed for full-time study and involves 60 credit hours at the graduate level. The program consists of 12 hours breadth of study in the four business disciplines: accounting, finance, marketing, and management; 12 hours of major field core courses; 9 semester hours in a minor area; 12 hours of research methodology; 6 semester hours in a supporting area; and 9 hours of dissertation studies. The breadth of study course requirement may be satisfied by prior undergraduate or graduate coursework in the four business areas. Students should plan to spend two academic years (fall and spring) completing coursework and spend the summer working on independent research projects under their advisor’s supervision. The specific departmental-level academic course plan must be approved by the student’s advisory committee. The committee will include the student’s major advisor and at least two additional members of the graduate faculty such that the LSU Graduate School’s requirements for graduate committees are satisfied. Upon completion of the coursework, excluding breadth of study, the candidates must pass written and oral comprehensive examinations and design, implement, and complete an original dissertation under the supervision of an ISDS faculty member. Completion of the dissertation usually takes 12 to 18 months. Overall, the PhD program normally requires four years to finish.

Please refer to two websites for (1) additional details about the program (business.lsu.edu/Information-Systems-Decision-Sciences/Pages/PhD.aspx) and (2) the typical coursework completed during the four year program (business.lsu.edu/Information-Systems-Decision-Sciences/Pages/PhD-Curriculum.aspx).

Doctor of Philosophy PhD in Business Administration, concentration in Management (PBDM) (GMGT)

The degree is a dissertation degree requiring a dissertation. Fifty-seven hours of credit at the graduate level must be earned, including a minimum of nine hours of credit for the dissertation.

The curricular requirements include:

• At least 57 hours at the 7000 level or above including pre-dissertation/dissertation research coursework.
• Up to nine hours of breadth of study courses in an appropriate business discipline as determined by the department. This requirement can be fulfilled with prior coursework and may be (although not required to be) included in the 57 course hour total.
• A primary area consisting of a minimum of 21 hours of earned credit in a specified field of study.
• Included in the primary area of study is a minimum core requirement of 15 credit hours in management core courses required of all PhD students: MGT 7301, MGT 7600, MGT 7800, and MGT 7811.
• A supporting area with a minimum of 12 hours of graduate level courses. Although students can select their supporting area, research methods is commonly recommended.
• A research tool requirement, usually met by successfully completing a two term sequence in basic statistics.
• Must pass a general/qualifying exam consisting of a written exam and a comprehensive oral exam.
• Successful completion and defense of the dissertation.

Please refer to two websites for (1) additional details about the program (business.lsu.edu/Management/Pages/PhD-Management.aspx) and (2) the typical coursework completed during the four year program (business.lsu.edu/management/Pages/PhD-Curriculum.aspx).

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing (PBDM)(GMKT)

The PhD program in business administration with a concentration in marketing is a year round program (fall, spring, and summer) for full-time study. The program consists of 24 semester hours of major marketing coursework, 15 semester hours of elective coursework, 12 semester hours of “common body of knowledge” coursework covering all other business disciplines (may be waived with an approved Master’s degree), and 12 semester hours of dissertation coursework for a total of 63 hours. Students spend two academic years (fall and spring) completing coursework and devote summer terms to advancing their research with fellow doctoral students and faculty members. Upon completion of major marketing coursework, students must pass a written comprehensive (qualifying) exam of major marketing coursework. Upon completion of 24 semester hours of major marketing coursework, 15 semester hours of approved elective coursework, and 12 semester hours of “common body of knowledge” coursework, students must pass an oral exam. Each PhD candidate is also required to design, implement, and complete an original dissertation under the supervision of a marketing faculty member. Overall, the PhD program normally requires four years to complete.

Please refer to two websites for (1) additional details about the program (business.lsu.edu/Marketing/Pages/PhD-Marketing.aspx) and (2) the typical coursework completed during the four year program (business.lsu.edu/marketing/Pages/PhDCurriculum.aspx).

Home > BUSINESS > ACCOUNTING > ACCOUNTING_ETD

Theses and Dissertations

Dissertations from 2023 2023.

Auditor Responses to Audit Clients’ Indirect-Effect Illegal Acts , Hilary Frances Hughes

Auditor’s Consideration of Client Cybersecurity Risk – A Machine Learning-Based Analysis , Wanying Jiang

Dissertations from 2022 2022

Deriving Auditor Quality and Manager Quality from Form 10-K , Lacey Donley

Corporate Website Disclosures and Financial Reporting Quality , Nicholas Mueller

Dissertations from 2021 2021

The Effects of a Client’s Social Media Disclosure and Audience Engagement on Auditor Judgment: A Social Penetration Theory Perspective , Laura Guichard

Do Analysts’ Coverage and Supplementary Gross Margin Forecasts Influence Managers’ Decision to Recognize Inventory Loss? , Nusrat Jahan

Dissertations from 2020 2020

Earnings Management of Leaders and Laggards , Candice Roche Boucree

Does Auditor Tenure Matter? Audit Partner Rotation and Industry Specialization in the U.S. , Danielle Sarah Lazerson

Dissertations from 2019 2019

Effective Tax Rates for Multinational and Domestic Corporations: A Closer Examination , Allen Lee Ryan

The Interplay among Tax Specialists, Corporate Tax Behavior, and Tax Accrual Quality , Pradeep Sapkota

Dissertations from 2018 2018

Unintended Consequences of the Dodd-Frank $10 Billion Asset Size Threshold , Laura Camille Alford

Selling, General, and Administrative Cost Stickiness and GDP Predictions , Russell Barber

Audit Committee Industry Specialization: An Examination of Auditor Choice, Financial Reporting Quality Implications, and Market Perception , Danny Lynn Shaw

The Relationship between Audit Quality and Competition at the Intersection of the Large and Small Audit Firm Markets , Jeanne-Claire Alyse White

Dissertations from 2017 2017

The Economic Costs to Audit Firms of Ethical Violations and the Resulting PCAOB Disciplinary Orders , Stephanie Ann Merrell

The Pricing of IPO Audit Expertise and Subsequent Issuer Underpricing , Jung Eun Park

Dissertations from 2016 2016

The Certifying Triangle of Financial Reports , Dong Li

Dissertations from 2015 2015

Does the PCAOB Inspection have an Effect on Audit Fees and Audit Quality? , Elizabeth Schwartzhoff Johnson

CEO Compensation and Tax Loss Carrybacks , Pei-Yu Sun

Dissertations from 2014 2014

The Effect of Innovation on Corporate Tax Avoidance , Peng Guo

Has the FASB and IASB's Shift toward an Asset/Liability View Enhanced the Predictive Usefulness of ROE? , Regina Cavalier Rosa

Auditor Regional Industry Specialization: Effect on Audit Pricing and Audit Quality , Andrey Alexandrovich Simonov

Dissertations from 2013 2013

Consistency between earnings forecasts and stock recommendations : the effect of political connections , Elio Alfonso

The effect of audit market concentration on audit pricing and audit quality : the role of the size of the audit market , John Daniel Eshleman

The effect on earnings persistence and the market's reaction to the alignment of employee and customer relations with competitive strategy , Robert Stephen Hogan

Income Classification Shifting and Financial Analysts’ Forecasts , Shanshan Pan

Dissertations from 2012 2012

Stock liquidity, price informativeness, and accruals-based earnings management , Jing Fang

High Strain Rate Programming Of Shape Memory Polymers , Anqi Wang

Accounting comparability, audit effort and audit outcomes , Joseph Hongbo Zhang

Experimental Study of Lean Blowout with Hydrogen Addition in a Swirl-stabilized Premixed Combustor , Shengrong Zhu

Dissertations from 2011 2011

Auditor tenure and audit quality , Li Zheng Brooks

Optimization of Adult Multipotent Stromal Cell-Bioscaffold Interactions for Tissue Regeneration with Bioreactors , Lin Xie

Dissertations from 2009 2009

Accurals quality and price synchronicity , Joseph Atkins Johnston

Dissertations from 2007 2007

Rate regulation and earnings management: evidence from the U.S. electric utility industry , Joseph Ben Omonuk

Impingement Heat Transfer In The Leading Edge Cavity Of A Gas Turbine Vane , Amar Jeetendra Panchangam Nivarthi

Voluntary disclosures in mergers and acquisitions , Scott Allen Wandler

Dissertations from 2006 2006

Using the FASB's qualitative characteristics in earnings quality measures , Abhijit Barua

Do accruals exacerbate information asymmetry in the market? , Sonia Wasan

Dissertations from 2004 2004

The effect of program commitment on the degree of participative congruence and managerial performance in a budgeting setting , Kevin T. Breaux

Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998: a test of New Public Management , William Meriwether VanDenburgh

The effect of the implicit theory of integrity on an internal auditor's asessment of management fraud risk , Stephanie F. Watson

Do speculative short sellers detect earnings management? , Yan Zhang

Theses from 2003 2003

Planting rate effects on sugarcane yield trials , Albert Joseph Orgeron

Agronomic and molecular characterization of Louisiana native Spartina alterniflora accessions , Alicia Beatriz Ryan

Dissertations from 2002 2002

Markov models to estimate and describe survival time and experience in cohorts with high euthanasia frequency , Giselle Louise Hosgood

The impact of institutional stock ownership on a firm's earnings management practice: an empirical investigation , Santanu Mitra

Validation of AnnAGNPS at the field and farm-scale using an integrated AGNPS/GIS system , Glenn M. Suir

Theses/Dissertations from 1999 1999

Comprehensive Income and Its Relation to Firm Value and Transitory Earnings. , Carol Callaway Dee

Executive Compensation, Performance, Board and Ownership Structure: a Simultaneous Equations Approach. , Ayalew A. Lulseged

Executive Compensation and the Investment Opportunity Sets of Initial Public Offerings. , Tanya S. Nowlin

Theses/Dissertations from 1996 1996

The Effects of Analyst Following on Market Response to Bank Loan Announcements. , Joan Marie Brumm

An Information Integration Theory Analysis of Tax Preparers' Perceived Risk of Reporting Aggressively on Clients' Income Tax Returns. , Velmer Carlene Eddlemon

The Effects of Industry Deregulation on the Stock Market Responses to Earnings Announcements. , Wah Poon

Theses/Dissertations from 1995 1995

The Effects of Departures From Prior Return Measures on Individual Taxpayer Frame and Tax Reporting Decisions. , Phyllis V. Copeland

An Evaluation of Accounting Method Choice: A Study of the Transition Obligation Upon Adoption of SFAS 106. , Jean Elizabeth Finch

An Examination of Investor Evaluation of Corporate Social Performance. , Gisele Kay Jackson

Theses/Dissertations from 1993 1993

The Prediction of Financial Turnaround of Financially Distressed Firms. , Leslie B. Fletcher

The Impact of Budget Variance, Fiscal Stress, Political Turnover, and Employment Sector on Compliance Reporting Decisions. , Linda Achey Kidwell

Theses/Dissertations from 1992 1992

Attitudes Toward International Harmonization Efforts: A Cross-Cultural Study. , M. Aileen Smith

Theses/Dissertations from 1991 1991

An Investigation of the Determinants of the Municipal Decision to Privatize Residential Sanitation Collection. , Richard C. Brooks

An Examination of Semiotic Theories of Accounting Accruals. , Harlan Lynn Etheridge

An Examination of Auditor Changes Following Events Adversely Affecting External Auditor Credibility. , Thomas E. Wilson Jr

Theses/Dissertations from 1990 1990

An Investigation of the Effect of a Favorable External Quality Assurance Review on the Scope of the External Auditor's Examination of an Organization's Financial Statements. , Michael Charles Toerner

Theses/Dissertations from 1989 1989

The Interaction of Accountants' Involvement and Basis of Accounting on Loan Officers' Judgment When Evaluating a Loan to a Small Business. , Joe Gregory Bushong

A Training Intervention for Control of SBA Loan Defaults: A Theory Development Approach. , J. Dennis Coates

The Impact of Alternative Presentations of Cash Flows From Operations on the Relevance of Funds Flow Information. , David Walter Cornell

An Experiment to Study the Effects of Changing Format and Scaling Characteristics of Financial Statement Data. , Paul Michael Goldwater

An Empirical Investigation of the Financial Statement Characteristics of Firms Engaging in In-Substance Defeasance of Debt. , Raymond Jeffords Jr

The Impact of Options Listing on the Information Content of Annual Earnings Announcement. , Tinwah Richard Lau

Prospect Theory in Governmental Accounting: Implications for the Budgeting Process at the Local Level. , Karen Sue Mckenzie

An Examination of the Effect of Financial Risk on the Manager's Choice of Accounting Methods. , Linda Marie Nichols

An Experimental Research Study on the Effect of Accrual of Nonpension Postretirement Benefit Costs on Loan Officers' Decisions. , Joyce Ann Strawser

Theses/Dissertations from 1988 1988

An Investigation of Internal Auditor Judgment on the Importance of Indicators of Potential Financial Fraud: An Analytic Hierarchy Process Approach. , Barbara Ann Apostolou

A Comparison of the Effectiveness of the Operating Funds Flow Measures of Cash, Net Quick Assets, and Working Capital in Predicting Future Cash Flow. , Catherine Innes green Gaharan

The Effects of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 on the Real Estate Capital Markets and Its Differential Effects on Entity and Functional Forms: An Empirical Investigation. , Evelyn C. Hume

Information Acquisition and Decision-Making in Creditors' Decision Environment. , Pao-chuan Lin

A Study to Investigate the Effects of State Taxation and Plan Type on Small Employer Retirement Plan Cost. , W. Robert Smith

Theses/Dissertations from 1987 1987

The Impact of Comprehensive Allocation and Flow-Through Method of Accounting for the Income Taxes on the Investment Decision: A Field Experiment. , Zafar Ullah Khan

An Empirical Investigation of the Usefulness of Current Cost Information in Merger Prediction. , Robert Kuaterng Su

An Experimental Research Study on the Effect of Recognition and Disclosure of Corporate Pension Plan Assets and Obligations on Investment Decisions. , Mary Jeanne Welsh

Theses/Dissertations from 1986 1986

An Empirical Investigation of the Comparability of Reported Earnings Per Share Under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 15. , Suzanne Resi Pinac-ward

Theses/Dissertations from 1985 1985

An Experimental Research Study on the Effects of the Type of Accounting Service on a Bank Lending Decision for Nonpublic Businesses (Audit, Compilation, Review). , Jeffrey Reed Miller

A Field Test of the Perceptions of the Qualitative Characteristics of Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts No. 2 by Practicing Cpas (Multitrait-Multimethod, Mtmm, Analytic Hierarchy Process, Ahp). , Larry G. Singleton

Theses/Dissertations from 1984 1984

A Comparison of Sfas 33 Disclosures and Historical Cost Information in Predicting Stock Prices (Inflation, Changing Prices). , Heibatollah Sami

Theses/Dissertations from 1983 1983

Toward the Development of a Model to Evaluate the Effect of the Accelerated Cost Recovery System of Depreciation as Enacted by the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 on State of Florida Corporate Tax Revenues. , Chula Greenwell Ensley

An Empirical Investigation of the Extent of Disclosure in Municipal Annual Reports. , Franklin James Plewa Jr

Theses/Dissertations from 1982 1982

An Empirical Investigation of the Differential Market Response to Quarterly Earnings Announcements. , Salem Mohamed Bengharbia

An Empirical Study of Usefulness and Communicative Ability of Segment Disclosures Among Sophisticated Users of Corporate Financial Statements. , James Harold Honea

The Prediction of Small Business Instability--Loan Noncompliance: a Discriminant Analysis Approach. , Charles Thomas Moores

A Study of Moral Development of Selected Employees in Certain Public Accounting Firms. , Guy L. Tull Jr

A Comparison of the Predictive Ability of Historical Cost and Current Cost Accounting With Regard to the Prediction of Operating Cash Flow. , Ralph Edward Welton Jr

Theses/Dissertations from 1981 1981

An Empirical Study of the Characteristics of the Governmental Budgetary Process in Rich and Uncertain Environments: the Case of Saudi Arabia. , Abdulrhman I. Alhumaid

Theses/Dissertations from 1980 1980

The Reaction of the Security Market to the Quality of Segmental Disclosures: an Empirical Investigation. , Jacob Olakayode Balogun

Perceptions of the Role of Corporate Audit Committees - Now and in the Future. , Brenda Stewart Birkett

Theses/Dissertations from 1979 1979

Behavioral and Attitudinal Implications of Different Styles of Performance Evaluation: an Empirical Study. , Paul Joseph Carruth

A Test of Alternative Prior Probability Elicitation Methods in Assessing the Reliability of Internal Control Systems for Audit Decisions. , Johng Yul Lee

Municipal Bond Ratings: a Multiple Discriminant Analysis. , Kenneth Edward Peacock

Esops and Tax Policy: an Empirical Investigation of the Impact of Esops on Company Operating Performance. , Randy Gene Swad

Accounting Ratios as Measures of Benefits to Companies Initiating Pension Plans. , Charles Bruce Swindle

Theses/Dissertations from 1978 1978

An Inquiry Concerning the Selection, Rotation, and Retention of Independent Auditors. , Sarah Elisabeth tourne crais Dawkins

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Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)

Bachelor of science (b.s.).

Earn your bachelor's degree in accounting from Louisiana State University Shreveport. You can also add a second major (Financial Analysis, Financial Services, Marketing, or Management and Administration).

Earn a top accounting degree from   LSU Shreveport’s AACSB accredited program.   LSUS’   degree in account ing is a four-year program that   provides a flexible education for all types of students.  

Why LSUS’  accounting   degree p rogram?

Accounting majors at LSUS can choose between two tracks, general accounting and public accounting. The general accounting courses cover a vast majority of topics relevant to the CPA exam, while the public accounting track helps students complete the general business and accounting requirements to sit for the CPA exam in Louisiana. 

Experiential learning to prepare for real-world careers  

Our location in Shreveport, Louisiana, provides ample opportunities for internships, networking and full-time positions following graduation. Not only do we have connections in the surrounding communities, but many alumni have gone on to work at nationally-recognized firms such as :  

• Ernst & Young  
• Cole, Evans & Peterson  
• Heard, McElroy & Vestal  
• Carr, Riggs & Ingram  
• KPMG  

Accounting majors from LSUS have also secured jobs with the Louisiana state legislature and served as president of the local Louisiana Society of CPAs chapter.

• Degree Type Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
• Program Length Estimated four years for first-time freshmen
• Availability In person
• Concentrations Accounting Public Accounting

Accountants provide an important foundation for all types of businesses and organizations. See how LSUS’ bachelor’s degree in accounting will prepare you for your career.   

Hands-on experience  

As an accounting major, you could have opportunities to intern with well-known firms throughout Louisiana. Although not a requirement, accounting internships frequently lead to employment.   

Student life  

Join the LSUS Accounting Club to get an in-depth look at the accounting profession. Professionals from public accounting firms and area businesses often visit LSUS to meet with talented accounting majors looking to start their career.     

Set up for success  

LSUS’ AACSB accreditation puts our business programs in the top 5 percent of business schools in the world. You’ll be guided and encouraged by some of the best professors in the area, and LSUS accounting faculty are on the cutting-edge of trends in the accounting and business world. You’ll learn about international accounting, how technology impacts the profession, data security and more.    

Financial Aid for Accounting Majors  

Over $12.4 million in scholarship money is given to LSUS students every year. Of that, there are a handful of scholarships exclusively for accounting majors.  Take some time to explore the types of financial aid you could qualify for .  

The Accounting curriculum is an excellent foundation for advanced study in fields such as Business Administration, Management, Law, Public Administration, Taxation, Banks/Financial Institutions, Nonprofit Organizations, Healthcare Industries, Service/Manufacturing Companies, and Consulting Practices.

Public Accounting

Students choosing a major in Accounting may pursue a concentration in Public Accounting that aligns with the State of Louisiana CPA requirements and serves as the educational foundation as preparation to sit for the Certified Public Accountant examination.

“I vividly remember the accessibility of the professors and their willingness to help students succeed. Students were not nameless faces in a crowd, and there was a genuine desire to share knowledge and the joy of learning.” Michael Gould Partner at Carr, Riggs & Ingram CPAs and Advisors

As an LSUS accounting major, you can take a two-week course studying ‘Issues in European Business’ in   Lüneburg, Germany!

In order to become a CPA, an individual must pass the Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Examination. The LSUS School of Business offers the courses required to sit for the CPA exam. In order to meet the 150 credit hours requirement, many students consider completing both a Bachelor's degree and an MBA. For additional requirements beyond graduation, visit  http://cpaboard.state.la.us/. 

The CMA exam is administered by the Institute of Management Accountants. One step to becoming a CMA is to obtain a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university. A Bachelor of Science degree from the LSUS College of Business can fulfill this requirement. For additional information about the CMA, visit  https://www.imanet.org/cma.

An undergraduate degree in Accounting from LSUS provides a good start toward obtaining a CFE designation. In addition to a Bachelor's degree, a candidate must sit for the exam and be a member in good standing of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. For additional requirements beyond graduation, visit   http://www.acfe.com/.

As an LSUS Accounting major, you can also add a second major to enhance your studies:  

• Financial analysis  
• Financial services  
• Management and administration  
• Marketing  

  Learn more about course requirements.  

Thinking about an accounting degree at LSUS? These are other bachelor’s degree programs you might like to learn more about.     

• Finance  
• General Business Administration  

Accounting Faculty

Yannan shen, phd, fabio ambrosio, llm, yu bai, phd.

Rebecca Bogie, DBA

Jesu Childge, DBA

Xiang gao, phd, kyle post, llm, qifeng wu, phd, ting-tsen yeh, phd.

Syed Zaidi, PhD

Starting a successful career is closer than you think. With exceptional academics and generous financial aid, LSUS allows you to get your degree close to home while launching you to new heights.

LSU star Hailey Van Lith is in transfer portal, source says

Andraya Carter breaks down LSU's defensive strategy on Caitlin Clark and how Iowa was able to capitalize in its win. (1:30)

• Covers women's college basketball and the WNBA
• Previously covered UConn and the WNBA Connecticut Sun for the Hartford Courant
• Stanford graduate and Baltimore native with further experience at the Dallas Morning News, Seattle Times and Cincinnati Enquirer

LSU Tigers star Hailey Van Lith is in the transfer portal, a source confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.

Van Lith averaged 11.6 points and 3.6 assists per game in her first and only season with the reigning champion Tigers, who ended their postseason run Monday with a loss to Iowa in the Elite Eight.

She was eligible to declare for the WNBA draft this past week but also has a fifth season of collegiate eligibility, granted to student-athletes by the NCAA during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 5-foot-7 guard -- a two-time first-team all-ACC selection during her three years at Louisville -- was one of LSU's big-name transfers this past offseason that catapulted the Tigers into the conversation as the No. 1 preseason team in the country.

After guiding the Cardinals to the Final Four in 2022, Van Lith went to Baton Rouge looking to learn to play point guard from coach Kim Mulkey, a former point guard herself, on a team with fellow stars Angel Reese , Aneesah Morrow , Flau'jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams . Van Lith left Louisville, where she was also an honorable mention All-American, as a graduate transfer, having already earned her degree in accounting.

This season Van Lith took on a less prominent role offensively, averaging 9.9 field goal attempts per game, the second-lowest mark of her career. As the primary scorer playing off the ball at Louisville, she posted a career-best mark as a junior of 19.7 points per game.

"A lot of people have a lot to say about how this year went for me," Van Lith told reporters before LSU's Sweet 16 matchup against UCLA , "but one thing that they can't argue with is that at this point, I know how to fend for Hailey and I know how to fight for Hailey and that's going to help me the next level."

Van Lith's season at LSU came under scrutiny from some onlookers -- including Monday when she was tasked with guarding Caitlin Clark , who scored 41 points in the matchup -- but she said she has learned to tune out the critics.

"If I'm really stressed about how these people are talking about me, that means I care a lot about it," Van Lith said. "And I probably think it's half-ass true because I'm so worried about it. So I feel like this year has really taught me if I'm that bothered by something, that means that I kind of believe it's true and that I need to do some self work. So I've been enjoying my life this year. I'm off the media. I'm not reading what everyone is saying about us or me or whatever they're even doing. This has been a good year for me to just learn how to enjoy life and play basketball at the same time."

ESPN's Michael Voepel and Andrea Adelson contributed to this report.

LSU star Angel Reese declares for WNBA draft, says she's already 'done everything' at college level

NCAA women’s basketball star Angel Reese declared for the 2024 WNBA draft Wednesday, proclaiming she had accomplished everything she can at the collegiate level.

Reese, 21, a 6-foot-3 forward at Louisiana State University, told Vogue she didn’t want to be “basic” and drew inspiration from tennis legend Serena Williams, who announced her retirement in the September, 2022, issue of the same magazine.

“I’ve done everything I wanted to in college,” Reese said. “I’ve won a national championship, I’ve gotten [Southeastern Conference] Player of the Year, I’ve been an All-American. My ultimate goal is to be a pro — and to be one of the greatest basketball players to play, ever. I feel like I’m ready.”

Reese's representatives could not be immediately reached by NBC News on Wednesday for additional comment.

Reese’s last college game was Monday, when her LSU Tigers lost to the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Elite Eight of the women’s tournament 94-87. Reese had 17 points and 20 rebounds.

Monday's highly-anticipated rematch of last year’s title game, that time won by LSU, drew histo r ic r atings and featured Iowa star guard Caitlin Clark along with Reese. The rematch drew 12.3 million viewers, the most in women’s college basketball history, according to ESPN.

FanDuel told CNBC on Tuesday that Iowa-LSU was also its  biggest betting event of all time for women’s sports .

Reese averaged more than 18 points and 13 rebounds during the 2023-2024 season.

In an emotional press conference after this week's exit from the NCAA tournament, Reese tearfully shared that she had been receiving death threats after LSU beat Iowa last year for the championship.

That backlash started when, near the end of that game, she approached Clark and waved an open hand across her face, a move popularized by WWE star John Cena to mean “You can’t see me.” Reese then pointed to her ring finger in a gesture that indicated she would  earn a championship ring .

After that, Reese said she's been hit with a tidal wave of abuse that lasted for a year.

“I’ve been through so much,” she told reporters. “I’ve seen so much. I’ve been attacked so many times, death threats. I’ve been sexualized. I’ve been threatened. I’ve been so many things, and I’ve stood strong every single time.”

“All this has happened since I won the national championship,” Reese said Monday. “And it sucks, but I still wouldn’t change anything, and I would still sit here and say I’m unapologetically me. I’m going to always leave that mark and be who I am and stand on that.”

Reese still had a year of college eligibility left. She told Vogue she's fine with adjusting to life in the WNBA, where she might not have as many resources as she did at the powerhouse LSU women's basketball program.

“I want to start at the bottom again,” she said. “I want to be a rookie again and build myself back up; I want to be knocked down and learn and grow at the next level.”

Antonio Planas is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. 

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Department of Physics & Astronomy

LSU PhD Candidate with LVK Collaboration Detects a Remarkable Gravitational-wave Signal

Shania nichols' research at ligo livingston contributes to gw230529 discovery.

In May 2023, shortly after the start of the fourth LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA observing run, the LIGO Livingston detector observed a gravitational-wave signal from the collision of what is most likely a neutron star with a compact object that is 2.5 to 4.5 times the mass of our Sun. Neutron stars and black holes are both compact objects, the dense remnants of massive stellar explosions. What makes this signal, called GW230529, intriguing is the mass of the heavier object. It falls within a possible mass-gap between the heaviest known neutron stars and the lightest black holes. The gravitational-wave signal alone cannot reveal the nature of this object. Future detections of similar events, especially those accompanied by bursts of electromagnetic radiation, could hold the key to solving this cosmic mystery.

"This detection, the first of our exciting results from the fourth LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA observing run, reveals that there may be a higher rate of similar collisions between neutron stars and low mass black holes than we previously thought," says Dr. Jess McIver, Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia and Deputy Spokesperson of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration.

The mass gap between neutron stars and black holes

Before the detection of gravitational waves in 2015, the masses of stellar-mass black holes were primarily found using x-ray observations while the masses of neutron stars were found using radio observations. The resulting measurements fell into two distinct ranges with a gap between them from about 2 to 5 times the mass of our Sun. Over the years, a small number of measurements have encroached on the mass-gap, which remains highly debated among astrophysicists. 

Analysis of the signal GW230529 shows that it came from the merger of two compact objects, one with a mass between 1.2 to 2.0 times that of our Sun and the other slightly more than twice as massive. While the gravitational-wave signal does not provide enough information to determine with certainty whether these compact objects are neutron stars or black holes, it seems likely that the lighter object is a neutron star and the heavier object a black hole. Scientists in the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration are confident that the heavier object is within the mass gap.  

“As a member of the GW230529 Editorial Team, my role was to describe the LIGO Livingston Observatory instrumental upgrades preceding Observation Run 4, discuss the observatory status and data quality at the time of the detection,” said Louisiana State University PhD candidate Shania Nichols . “At LIGO Livingston, my research involves characterizing loud transient noise (loud glitches) in the instrument and investigating their origins. GW230529 is an exciting discovery, as it provides insight into the mass gap between neutron stars and black holes from electromagnetic observations.”

Gravitational-wave observations have now provided almost 200 measurements of compact-object masses. Of these, only one other merger may have involved a mass-gap compact object – the signal GW190814 came from the merger of a black hole with a compact object exceeding the mass of the heaviest known neutron stars and possibly within the mass gap. 

The LIGO Livingston observatory is located on LSU property, and LSU faculty, students and research staff are major contributors to the international LIGO Scientific Collaboration , or LSC. Gabriela González , LSU Boyd professor of physics, is Shania’s advisor and a former LSC elected spokesperson. She led the collaboration during the initial detection; and with other leaders and founders of the LIGO effort, she made the official statements about the historic detection on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., before gathered international science press. 

LSU’s investment in gravitational-wave detection spans more than four decades, and is among the longest of the institutions contributing to the present discovery. LSU faculty, students and scholars have had leading roles in the development of several generations of gravitational wave detectors, in their commissioning and operation as well as the collaborations formed. 

“While previous evidence for mass-gap objects has been reported both in gravitational and electromagnetic waves, this system is especially exciting because it’s the first gravitational-wave detection of a mass-gap object paired with a neutron star,” says Dr. Sylvia Biscoveanu from Northwestern University. “The observation of this system has important implications for both theories of binary evolution and electromagnetic counterparts to compact-object mergers.”

The fourth observing run with more sensitive detectors

The highly successful third observing run of the gravitational-wave detectors ended in spring 2020, bringing the number of known gravitational-wave detections to 90. Before the start of the fourth observing run O4 on May 24, 2023, the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA researchers made improvements to the detectors, the cyberinfrastructure, and the analysis software that allow them to detect signals from further away and to extract more information about the extreme events in which the waves are generated. 

Just five days after the launch of O4, things got really exciting. On May 29, 2023, the gravitational-wave signal GW230529 passed by the LIGO Livingston detector. Within minutes, the data from the detector was analyzed and an alert (designated S230529ay) was released publicly announcing the signal. Astronomers receiving the alert were informed that a neutron star and a black hole most likely merged about 650 million light-years from Earth. Unfortunately, the direction to the source could not be determined because only one gravitational-wave detector was observing at the time of the signal.

The fourth observing run is planned to last for 20 months including a couple of months break to carry out maintenance of the detectors and make a number of necessary improvements. By January 16, 2024, when the commissioning break started, a total of 81 significant signal candidates had been identified. GW230529 is the first of these to be published after detailed investigation.

Resuming the observing run

The fourth observing run will resume on April 10, 2024 with the LIGO Hanford, LIGO Livingston, and Virgo detectors operating together. The run will continue until February 2025 with no further planned breaks in observing. The sensitivity of the detectors should be slightly increased after the break. 

While the observing run continues, LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA researchers are analyzing the data from the first half of the run and checking the remaining 80 significant signal candidates that have already been identified. By the end of the fourth observing run in February 2025, the total number of observed gravitational-wave signals should exceed 200.

Gravitational-wave observatories

LIGO is funded by the NSF, and operated by Caltech and MIT, which conceived and built the project. Financial support for the Advanced LIGO project was led by NSF with Germany (Max Planck Society), the U.K. (Science and Technology Facilities Council) and Australia (Australian Research Council) making significant commitments and contributions to the project. More than 1,600 scientists from around the world participate in the effort through the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, which includes the GEO Collaboration. Additional partners are listed at https://my.ligo.org/census.php .

The Virgo Collaboration is currently composed of approximately 880 members from 152 institutions in 17 different (mainly European) countries. The European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) hosts the Virgo detector near Pisa in Italy, and is funded by Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France, the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) in Italy, and the National Institute for Subatomic Physics (Nikhef) in the Netherlands. A list of the Virgo Collaboration groups can be found at: https://www.virgo-gw.eu/about/scientific-collaboration/ . More information is available on the Virgo website at https://www.virgo-gw.eu .

KAGRA is the laser interferometer with 3 km arm-length in Kamioka, Gifu, Japan. The host institute is Institute for Cosmic Ray Research (ICRR), the University of Tokyo, and the project is co-hosted by National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) and High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK). KAGRA collaboration is composed of over 400 members from 128 institutes in 17 countries/regions. KAGRA’s information for general audiences is at the website https://gwcenter.icrr.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/ . Resources for researchers are accessible from http://gwwiki.icrr.u-tokyo.ac.jp/JGWwiki/KAGRA .

Media Contacts: 

Mimi LaValle LSU Physics & Astronomy 225-439-5633 [email protected]

LIGO-Virgo-Kagra Collaboration

LVK Communications Group Lead

Susanne Milde

+49 172 3931349

[email protected]

Whitney Clavin

[email protected]

626-390-9601

Abigail Abazorius

[email protected]

617-253-2709

LSU’s Hailey Van Lith hits transfer portal after getting roasted by Caitlin Clark

L SU women’s basketball guard Hailey Van Lith decided against declaring for the 2024 WNBA Draft following the Tigers’ heartbreaking loss to Iowa in the Elite Eight tournament Monday and has entered the transfer portal .

On Thursday, an official roster of college athletes ending their current season and thereby eligible for the draft was revealed, but Van Lith’s name was not on it , as reported by Andrew Graham of On3.

While Van Lith has been silent on her next steps, she does have an additional year of college eligibility left thanks to the COVID-19 waiver and has reportedly entered the transfer portal sources told Talia Goodman of The Next Hoops.

She struggled Monday against Clark in the Elite Eight matchup. The guard was assigned the defensive role against Clark who, despite Van Lith and LSU’s efforts, dominated the game, scoring 41 points, including nine 3-pointers and making 13 out of 29 field-goal attempts, defeating LSU 94-87 and leading the Hawkeyes into the Final Four.

Hailey Van Lith finds personal growth at LSU

Hailey Van Lith originally started her college basketball journey at Louisville, where she played for three seasons before entering the transfer portal and transferring to LSU last season. The 5-foot-7 guard, celebrated for her two-time first-team all-ACC achievements during her tenure at Louisville boosted the Tigers’ prospects as the preseason’s No. 1 team. Having led the Cardinals to the Final Four in 2022, she transferred to LSU to sharpen her skills as a point guard under the guidance of coach Kim Mulkey, joining forces with notable talents like Angel Reese, Aneesah Morrow, Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams. Van Lith, who graduated with a degree in accounting from Louisville, sought this new chapter as a graduate transfer.

In her LSU season, Van Lith embraced a different offensive role , with her field goal attempts dropping to an average of 9.9 per game. Despite a less central scoring role compared to her junior year high of 19.7 points per game at Louisville, Van Lith’s experience at LSU was about personal and professional growth.

“A lot of people have a lot to say about how this year went for me,” Van Lith said before LSU’s Sweet 16 matchup against UCLA on March 30, as reported by Alexa Philippou of ESPN, “but one thing that they can’t argue with is that at this point, I know how to fend for Hailey and I know how to fight for Hailey and that’s going to help me the next level.”

Addressing criticism, especially after a challenging game guarding Clark, Van Lith has a newfound focus on personal well-being over public opinion.

“If I’m really stressed about how these people are talking about me, that means I care a lot about it,” Van Lith said. “And I probably think it’s half-ass true because I’m so worried about it. So I feel like this year has really taught me if I’m that bothered by something, that means that I kind of believe it’s true and that I need to do some self work. So I’ve been enjoying my life this year. I’m off the media. I’m not reading what everyone is saying about us or me or whatever they’re even doing. This has been a good year for me to just learn how to enjoy life and play basketball at the same time.”

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