PhD in Economics

The required coursework for the PhD includes: a choice of five core theory courses (organized into different tracks), five “tools of research” courses in four different areas, four field courses in two fields of specialization, and two research seminars. Each student must pass two written theory comprehensives (a common preliminary exam and an advanced exam that depends on the chosen track) and one written field comprehensive. Each student must pass an oral defense of the dissertation proposal, which counts as the fourth comprehensive exam, and write a dissertation on an original research topic. There is also an oral defense of the dissertation. 

Degree Requirements

• 72 credit hours of approved graduate work: 48 credit hours must be taken in designated courses; no more than 40 percent of course work and no more than 6 hours of independent study or reading courses (exclusive of dissertation hours) may be taken with any one professor. Credit may be given for previous graduate work in accordance with university academic regulations. 
• Tools of research. The following courses must be completed with grades of B- or better: 

• ECON-619 U.S. Economic History or ECON-618 Economic History of Europe and the World 
• ECON-620 Economic Thought 
• ECON-705 Mathematical Economic Analysis 
• ECON-723 Econometric Methods 
• ECON-724 Advanced Econometric Methods 

• Field Requirement: Students must take a major field and minor field. Completing a major field requires a grades of B- or better in two designated field courses from the list below and the satisfactory completion of a comprehensive exam. Completing a minor field requires a B- or better in two designated field courses from the list below or two other related courses approved by the PhD Advisor. No course may be applied to two different fields, to satisfy both a field and a tool of research, or to satisfy both a field and a required seminar course.
  
• Four comprehensive examinations: 

• Preliminary theory: ECON-702 and ECON-703 must be completed before taking the examination 
• Advanced theory (one of the following): 
• Microeconomics: ECON-710 and ECON-713 must be completed before taking the examination 
• Macroeconomics: ECON-711 and ECON-712 must be completed before taking the examination 
• Heterodox: ECON-710 and ECON-711 must be completed before taking the examination 
• One field comprehensive 

• Defense of dissertation proposal 
• Dissertation and oral comprehensive. Students must attend the dissertation seminar in their third year, or when they are working on their dissertation proposals. Between 6 and 24 credit hours of ECON-799 Doctoral Dissertation Seminar, which must be taken pass/fail, are taken while students complete their proposals and prepare dissertations. The student obtains approval for the dissertation topic from an interested faculty member in the field who then becomes chair of the dissertation committee. Committees are appointed following the successful oral defense of the dissertation proposal. When the actual dissertation is nearly finished, an oral defense of the complete draft dissertation is held. Final approval of the dissertation depends on satisfactory completion of any changes required by the committee members following the oral defense. Dissertations are subject to all applicable university regulations. 

Tracks

Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, or  Heterodox Economics 

Course Requirements

Theory (15 credit hours)

The following courses must be completed with grades of B- or better: 

• ECON-702 Macroeconomic Analysis I (3) 
• ECON-703 Microeconomic Analysis I (3) 

Microeconomics Track 

• ECON-710 Micro Political Economy I (3) 
• ECON-711 Macro Political Economy II (3) or ECON-712 Macroeconomic Analysis II (3) 
• ECON-713 Microeconomic Analysis II (3 

Macroeconomics Track 

• ECON-710 Micro Political Economy I (3) or ECON-713 Microeconomic Analysis II (3 
• ECON-711 Macro Political Economy II (3) 
• ECON-712 Macroeconomic Analysis II (3) 

Heterodox Economics Track 

• ECON-710 Micro Political Economy I (3) 
• ECON-711 Macro Political Economy II (3) 
• ECON-713 Microeconomic Analysis II (3) or ECON-712 Macroeconomic Analysis II (3) 

Fields (12 credit hours)

• 6 credit hours must be completed with grades of B- or better in one of the fields below, followed by successful completion of a comprehensive exam; 6 additional credit hours must be completed with grades of B- or better in another of these fields or in an additional field approved by the PhD Advisor. These additional fields may include comparative economic systems, econometrics, industrial organization, and public finance. No course may be applied to two different fields, to satisfy both a field and a tool of research, or to satisfy both a field and a required seminar course.
  

Development Economics 

•  ECON-662 Development Microeconomics (3) 
•  ECON-663 Development Macroeconomics (3) 

Economic History 

• ECON-618 Economic History of Europe and the World (3) or ECON-619 U.S. Economic History (3) 
• ECON-778 Seminar in Economic History (3) 
• For the Economic History field, students must take two courses in addition to the one (either ECON-618 or ECON-619) used to fulfill the Tool of Research requirement.

Gender Economics 

• ECON-674 Gender Perspectives on Economic Analysis: Microeconomics (3) 
• ECON-675 Gender Perspectives on Economic Analysis: Macroeconomics (3) 

International Economics 

•  ECON-671 International Economics: Trade (3) 
•  ECON-672 International Economics: Finance (3) 

Labor Economics 

•  ECON-673 Labor Economics (3) 
•  ECON-789 Seminar in Labor Economics (3) 

Monetary Economics 

•  ECON-630 Monetary Economics (3) 
•  ECON-633 Financial Economics (3) 

Tools of Research (15 credit hours)

The following courses must be completed with grades of B- or better: 

•  ECON-618 Economic History of Europe and the World (3) or ECON-619 U.S. Economic History (3) 
•  ECON-620 Economic Thought (3) 
•  ECON-705 Mathematical Economic Analysis (3) 
•  ECON-723 Econometric Methods (3) 
•  ECON-724 Advanced Econometric Methods (3) 

Research Seminars (6 credit hours)

• ECON-782 Seminar in Empirical Macroeconomics (3) (for students who have taken ECON-711 and ECON-712) or ECON-783 Seminar in Empirical Microeconomics (3) (for students who have taken ECON-710 and ECON-713) 
• One other seminar approved by department