Mar 28, 2024  
2015-2016 Graduate Catalog 
    
2015-2016 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Economics Major, PhD


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Admission to the PhD program is based on promise of outstanding scholarship as demonstrated by previous academic performance, by scores achieved on the general portion of the GRE, and by recommendations. A master’s degree in economics or a related field is not required for admission.

Requirements

The program requires a minimum of 48 hours of graduate course work beyond the bachelor’s degree or 24 graduate hours beyond the master’s degree, plus at least 24 hours of ECON 600 Doctoral Research and Dissertation. Specific department requirements for the PhD include the following.

Economic Theory

Satisfactory performance on microeconomic theory and macroeconomic theory qualifying examinations. Exams are administered twice during the summer following the first year of PhD coursework, and a student needs to pass the qualifying examinations to remain in the program.

Quantitative Methods

Completion of ECON 581  with a grade of B or better and completion of ECON 582  and ECON 583  with GPA of 3.0 or better, or by qualifying examination.

Research Paper

Satisfactory completion of a second-year research paper submitted to the faculty. A student needs to pass the requirement by the end of the fall semester of their third year to remain in the PhD program.

Dissertation

Students are required to complete a doctoral dissertation and to defend it successfully before the faculty.

Other Requirements

Students demonstrate competence in at least two fields of specialization in economics by completion of a two-course sequence with a GPA of 3.25 or better in each field, including grades of B or better in each field course.

Students are required to complete (with a grade of B or better) two elective courses in economics at the 500 level or above. The two elective courses must be outside the core subject areas and outside the fields of specialization.

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