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WVU Morgantown

Economics, Ph.D.

  • Overview
  • Areas of Emphasis
  • Learning Outcomes

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

Course List
Code Title Hours
A program GPA of 3.0 is required by the Chambers College.
Core Courses
ECON 701Advanced Micro-Economic Theory 14
ECON 702Advanced Macro-Economic Theory 13
ECON 709Research Design and Methodology1
ECON 711Advanced Micro-Economic Theory 24
ECON 712Advanced Macro-Economic Theory 23
ECON 721Mathematical Economics3
ECON 725Econometrics 13
ECON 726Econometrics 23
ECON 727Econometrics 33
Complete two required Area of Emphasis12
700-level ECON electives (minimum grade of B- required)6
Dissertation
Total Hours45

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 present a dissertation proposal to the graduate director after approval by at least three members of his or her dissertation committee including the chairperson. This proposal will include a statement of the problem (topic summary), a preliminary survey of the literature, a description of the research methodology, and other pertinent material. With the approval of the graduate director, the student is then required to present the proposal in a faculty-student seminar. 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
FallHoursSpringHours
ECON 7014ECON 7114
ECON 7023ECON 7123
ECON 7213ECON 7253
 10 10
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ECON 7263ECON 7273
AOE 1 Course 1*3AOE 1 Course 2*3
AOE 2 Course 1*3AOE 2 Course 2*3
 9 9
Third Year
FallHours 
ECON 7091 
Elective Course 1**3 
Elective Course 23 
 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

Course List
Code Title Hours
ECON 765Health Economics 13
ECON 766Health Economics 23
Total Hours6

International Economics Area of Emphasis Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Select 2 of the following6
ECON 751
International Trade
ECON 752
International Macro-Economics
ECON 754
Comparative Economic Systems
ECON 755
Development Economics
Total Hours6

Monetary Economics Area of Emphasis Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
ECON 731Monetary Economics 13
ECON 732Monetary Economics 23
Total Hours6

 

Public Economics Area of Emphasis Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Select 2 of the following6
ECON 741
Public Economics 1
ECON 742
Public Economics 2
ECON 743
State and Local Public Economics
Total Hours6

Regional and Urban Economics Area of Emphasis Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
ECON 761Advanced Regional Economics3
ECON 762Advanced Urban Economics3
Total Hours6

Resource Economics Area of Emphasis Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
ARE 703Advanced Natural Resource Economic Theory3
ARE 710Advanced Environmental Economics3
Total Hours6

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.

  • 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.

  • Students will produce research papers that lead to refereed publications in economics journals.

  • Students will apply modern economic theory and modern econometric methods to evaluate economic problems, develop policy evaluations, and make policy recommendations.

  • 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.

  • Students will compose, communicate and disseminate knowledge of economics effectively both within and outside academia.

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WVU Morgantown

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Phone: 304-293-5355

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