Program Requirements

Degree Requirements

  • Attend 3-week Math Camp during the summer preceding the first year (usually begins in late July)
  • Minimum of 45 graded, graduate credits
    • Six core courses (18 credits):
      • ECON 701D Microeconomics Analysis I
      • ECON 702D Macroeconomics Analysis I
      • ECON 703D Econometrics I
      • ECON 705D Microeconomics Analysis II
      • ECON 706D Macroeconomics Analysis II
      • ECON 707D Econometrics II
    • Two semesters of ECON 704 First-Year Research Workshop (6 credits)
    • Qualify in each of the first-year core sequences in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Econometrics 
    • 3 credits of technical skills modules (ECON 890), to be completed during Summer Term II prior to the second year.
    • Two semesters of ECON 801 Writing and Presenting in Economics (6 credits), to be taken Spring Semester of the second year, and Fall Semester of the third year
    • 15 credits of field courses/modules, (typically ECON 880-888) to be completed by the end of the third year 
    • Certification in one major and one minor field, see below for details
      • Fields:
        • Applied Microeconomics
        • Econometrics
        • History of Political Economy
        • Macroeconomics and International Economics
        • Microeconomic Theory
      • Major field requirement: 6 credits (four modules OR two courses) in the field, and a field exam, to be completed by the end of the second year. Field Paper to be completed by the end of the first semester of the third year.
      • Minor field requirement: 6 credits (four modules OR two courses) in the field to be completed by the end of the third year
    • Participation in a seminar/lunch group and workshop every semester beginning in the spring semester of the third year
      • Seminar/Lunch Group course series: ECON 950-959 (1.5 credits per semester)
      • Workshop course series: ECON 900-909 (3 credits per semester)
    • Additional course credits as approved by the director of graduate studies
  • Pass the preliminary examination by the end of the third year
  • Present a preliminary job market paper each year after the third year until the job market year
  • Present a job market paper during the fall semester of the job market year
  • Dissertation
  • Pass a final examination by the end of the fifth or sixth year; required to be completed within four years of the preliminary examination 
  • Responsible Conduct of Research Training

Course Details

Core Courses: In rare circumstances, students may place out of one of these courses, but only with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies. In this case, students may register for additional courses in applied economics, statistics, business, mathematics or other fields of interest. Students qualify in the core subjects by either achieving a combined average of B+ or higher in the two semester core courses, or achieving a passing grade on the core qualifying subject exam. The student's cumulative GPA in the six core courses must be 3.0 or higher at the end of the first year.

Course Structure for the Second Year and Beyond: After the first year, many of the upper-level courses in economics are divided into half-semester modules. The purpose of this structure is to allow students to take courses along methodology lines rather than field lines and to better align coursework with their research interests. By their nature, modules only count for 1.5 credits and students must complete enough of them to fulfill their graded course requirements. Module courses are all currently listed under special topics course number ECON 881-890. Students who wish to major in an Applied Microeconomics field have some flexibility in their choice of courses, but must obtain explicit approval of their course plan from their advisor.

Students must pass all classes. A failing grade in a class results in immediate removal from the program.

Undergraduate Courses: Beginning Fall 2018, Ph.D. degree requirements are not based on credit hours, and Ph.D. students can take as many undergraduate courses as necessary to meet an educational goal defined by them or their faculty advisers. Undergraduate courses do not count toward Ph.D. student's GPA. 

Graduate students who wish to enroll in courses below the 500 level must get approval from their director of graduate studies and from The Graduate School’s associate dean for academic affairs by submitting a permission form. These courses will not count toward graduate credit or GPA.  

For International Students

International students whose first language is not English are required to take a writing and speaking exam administered by the English for International Students (EIS) program. This requirement applies to all students, and is over and above the submission of the TOEFL or IELTS score. Under certain circumstances, some students may be exempt if their undergraduate degree is from an institution in an English-speaking country. Please note that the purpose of these exams is not to measure English proficiency. Rather, they assess whether you will benefit from targeted training in academic speaking and writing in order to succeed in your academic career here and beyond, and in which English for International Students (EIS) classes you would be best placed. While required by The Graduate School, these courses will not count toward our degree programs' course requirements.

Additional information about the EIS program and courses currently offered can be found on The Graduate School's English for International Students website.