Ph.D. Program

Through a series of forward-looking initiatives, Duke Economics has transformed itself into a department that focuses on a distinctive intellectual vision of our discipline, a vision that combines methodological rigor with intellectual breadth and diversity — and an insistence on real-world relevance. As a student of our Ph.D. program, you are joining a community of economists that aspires to transform conventional assumptions and venture into areas of inquiry that transcend the traditional boundaries within the field of economics and between disciplines. There are many opportunities for interaction with related disciplines, including environmental economics in conjunction with the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, finance and regulation through the Fuqua School of Business, law and economics through the School of Law, public policy through the Sanford Institute of Public Policy, and statistics through the Statistical Sciences.

We strongly believe our graduate students will go on to become the next generation of intellectual leaders. To that end, most graduate-level classes — with the exception of the core courses — are sufficiently small so that each student gets individual faculty attention, and we offer countless opportunities for interaction with leading scholars from around the world. 

Our Program

two PhD grads

Duke University offers a world-class doctoral program in economics, featuring a vibrant faculty of exceptional scholars and teachers along with superior research facilities. The faculty is dedicated to anchoring all teaching and research firmly in the core disciplines of microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics. The first year of the program lays the critical foundation necessary for later work in field courses and dissertation-level research.

See Requirements

Fields of Study

The Department of Economics requires doctoral candidates to acquire certification in one major field and one minor field:

  • Applied Microeconomics
  • Econometrics
  • History of Political Economy
  • Macroeconomics and International Economics
  • Microeconomic Theory

Learn More

For Prospective Students

For those interested in our program, learn more about our degree, our university, and our community. We'll explain the application process, financial support, and more.

Learn More

For Current Students

We've compiled resources to assist you while working toward your master's – from requirements and processes, to advising and EcoTeach services, useful Duke links, and more.

Learn More

Apply Now!

Learn more about the application process, deadlines and other resources for our candidates.

Application Information