Doctor of Philosophy
The Ph.D. degree is not awarded for the mere accumulation of course credits nor for the completion of the specified residence requirements. At least four years of full-time graduate work beyond the baccalaureate degree are usually required to complete the doctorate. A minimum of two consecutive semesters in actual residence as a full-time graduate student is required.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A program GPA of 3.0 is required by the Chambers College. | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| ECON 701 | Advanced Micro-Economic Theory 1 | 4 |
| ECON 702 | Advanced Macro-Economic Theory 1 | 3 |
| ECON 709 | Research Design and Methodology | 1 |
| ECON 711 | Advanced Micro-Economic Theory 2 | 4 |
| ECON 712 | Advanced Macro-Economic Theory 2 | 3 |
| ECON 721 | Mathematical Economics | 3 |
| ECON 725 | Econometrics 1 | 3 |
| ECON 726 | Econometrics 2 | 3 |
| ECON 727 | Econometrics 3 | 3 |
| Complete two required Area of Emphasis | 12 | |
| 700-level ECON electives (minimum grade of B- required) | 6 | |
| Dissertation | ||
| Total Hours | 45 | |
Comprehensive Examinations
Students must pass written comprehensive examinations in microeconomic theory and macroeconomic theory. For detailed rules, see the Rules and Regulations page on our website.
Dissertation Initial Progress Report
By the end of the first semester of their third year in the Program each student must file a completed Dissertation Initial Progress Report, signed by the student’s faculty dissertation advisor and the Economics Graduate Coordinator. The Dissertation Initial Progress Report must contain evidence that the student has performed substantial initial work on his or her dissertation research. Such evidence should include a title, an outline of the proposed dissertation, a review of relevant literature, a description of the sources, availability, and characteristics of any data the student plans to analyze in the dissertation, and a discussion of empirical and analytical methods the student plans to employ. It should also include drafts of completed chapters, if any, and any other materials deemed relevant by the student’s faculty advisor. The faculty advisor’s signature will signify that the advisor has reviewed the material and consulted with the student, and believes the student’s dissertation research project is sufficiently detailed, concrete, and significant as to show promise of ultimate success. The Graduate Coordinator’s signature will attest that the Dissertation Initial Progress Report is complete and satisfactory.
Candidacy and Dissertation
When an applicant has passed the written comprehensive examinations and submits a Dissertation Initial Progress Report approved by the Economics Graduate Coordinator, the applicant will be formally promoted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. The candidate must submit a dissertation pursued under the supervision of a member of the graduate faculty in economics on some problem in the area of the candidate’s major interest. The dissertation must present the results of the candidate’s individual investigation and must embody a definite contribution to knowledge. It must be approved by a committee of the graduate faculty in economics. After approval of the candidate’s dissertation and satisfactory completion of other graduate requirements, a final oral examination on the dissertation is required.
Each Ph.D. candidate is required to defend a dissertation proposal. The dissertation proposal defense normally should occur by the start of the of the student’s 4th year. The dissertation proposal typically consists of three concept papers that include a summary statement of the research topic, a preliminary survey of the literature, a description of the research methodology, and other pertinent material as deemed appropriate by the student’s advisor.
At an agreed-upon time between the student and the student’s advisor, the Ph.D. candidate is required to present the proposal at a proposal defense before at least three members of his or her dissertation committee, including the chairperson. Following the defense, the committee members present will decide whether to approve or disapprove the topic. If approved, the committee members will sign the Chambers College Dissertation Proposal form. The student is required to bring a copy to the proposal defense or to circulate the form for electronic signature following a successful defense.
Credit for dissertation research and writing is available under ECON 797, but only if the student has a dissertation chairperson and an approved topic.
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ECON 701 | 4 | ECON 711 | 4 |
| ECON 702 | 3 | ECON 712 | 3 |
| ECON 721 | 3 | ECON 725 | 3 |
| 10 | 10 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ECON 726 | 3 | ECON 727 | 3 |
| AOE 1 Course 1* | 3 | AOE 1 Course 2* | 3 |
| AOE 2 Course 1* | 3 | AOE 2 Course 2* | 3 |
| 9 | 9 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | ||
| ECON 709 | 1 | ||
| Elective Course 1** | 3 | ||
| Elective Course 2 | 3 | ||
| 7 | |||
| Total credit hours: 45 | |||
- *
Six semester hours (or the equivalent) must be taken in each of the student’s two Areas of Emphasis. The Areas of Emphasis offered by the Department are Health Economics, International Economics, Monetary Economics, Public Economics, Regional and Urban Economics, and Resource Economics. Other fields, conducted in cooperation with other units on campus, may possibly be approved in unusual cases. Only one of the Areas of Emphasis may be in an outside area; selection must be approved by the graduate economics faculty.
- **
Students must complete two additional three-hour 700-level elective courses in Economics in addition to their core courses, field courses, ECON 795, and ECON 797.
Areas of Emphasis Offered:
- Health Economics
- International Economics
- Monetary Economics
- Public Economics
- Regional and Urban Economics
- Resource Economics
Health Economics Area of Emphasis Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 765 | Health Economics 1 | 3 |
| ECON 766 | Health Economics 2 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
International Economics Area of Emphasis Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 2 of the following | 6 | |
| International Trade | ||
| International Macro-Economics | ||
| Comparative Economic Systems | ||
| Development Economics | ||
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Monetary Economics Area of Emphasis Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 731 | Monetary Economics 1 | 3 |
| ECON 732 | Monetary Economics 2 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Public Economics Area of Emphasis Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 2 of the following | 6 | |
| Public Economics 1 | ||
| Public Economics 2 | ||
| State and Local Public Economics | ||
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Regional and Urban Economics Area of Emphasis Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 761 | Advanced Regional Economics | 3 |
| ECON 762 | Advanced Urban Economics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Resource Economics Area of Emphasis Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARE 703 | Advanced Natural Resource Economic Theory | 3 |
| ARE 710 | Advanced Environmental Economics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Major Learning Outcomes
Doctor of Philosophy in Economics
The doctoral program in economics trains students to 1) conduct independent and original research in economics of publishable quality; 2) analyze questions of interest to economists and policymakers, employing tools and methods of theoretical and empirical economics in a manner that meets or exceeds the expectations of the economics profession for a doctorate in economics; and 3) effectively communicate both what economists in general know and the fruits of the student's own research.
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Students will demonstrate the ability to teach, at any undergraduate level or beyond, core courses in economics and courses in at least two areas of specialization within economics.
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Students will produce research papers that lead to refereed publications in economics journals.
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Students will apply modern economic theory and modern econometric methods to evaluate economic problems, develop policy evaluations, and make policy recommendations.
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Students will demonstrate the ability to formulate original economic research questions, develop an appropriate research design to explore these questions, and conduct appropriate statistical analyses. This includes the ability to create, use and manipulate data that are appropriate for the research question.
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Students will compose, communicate and disseminate knowledge of economics effectively both within and outside academia.