Preliminary Exam

The preliminary examination in Economics takes the form of a thesis prospectus and an oral examination by the student's committee.

Thesis Prospectus

The thesis prospectus is a paper that discusses in detail what the student plans to present in the dissertation, including preliminary results. The prospectus should show promise of further development into the student's dissertation. The prospectus and the presentation, which is often given at a departmental workshop, is the preliminary examination as specified in the Graduate Bulletin.

Timetable for Exam

By the last day of graduate final exams in the spring semester of the third year, the student must successfully present a thesis prospectus to their supervisory committee. In the event of failure of the preliminary exam, the student may request that the thesis prospectus and preliminary examination be retaken one additional time as indicated in the Graduate Bulletin

Committee

The committee is proposed by the student to the director of graduate studies, who, in consultation with the candidate's thesis supervisor, sends the nomination to The Graduate School for approval. It is comprised of at least four faculty members who help the student define the program of research and administer the seminar. All committee members must be a full or term member of Duke Graduate Faculty. The committee chair must be a member of the Duke Economics Department faculty, and one of the committee members must be from either a field within the department that is clearly differentiated from that of the candidate or from outside the department. The student must submit the list of their committee members to the director of graduate studies for approval by the last day of graduate classes in the fall semester of the student's third year. To submit a committee for approval, or to change an already approved committee, please use the Econ Department's Committee Change form, which can be downloaded from this link: