Overview
The Ph.D. program in Economics prepares the recipient for a variety of research-oriented career opportunities, including university research/teaching, government employment, and a host of employment opportunities in the private sector
Admission Requirements
The Doctoral Admissions Committee welcomes applications from individuals whose undergraduate or graduate degrees are from accredited colleges or universities. Acceptance is based upon an evaluation of all credentials presented by the applicant. Graduate degrees are not a requirement.
Applicants should read the instructions carefully before filling out the forms and should keep copies of all materials submitted during the application process. By submitting the online application, the applicant certifies the information provided in the application is complete and accurate.
Requirements for Admission
- Completed application for admission submitted through BusinessCAS
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
- Official academic transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions must be submitted directly to BusinessCAS.
- Academic transcripts from institutions outside of the United States must be verified by an approved international credentialing evaluation service such as World Education Services to confirm degree equivalency and GPA calculation.
- Write a brief essay (2-3 pages long, double spaced) on the following topics concerning you and your intended field of study: i) Your past work on relevant issues, ii) What excites you most about your chosen field of study, iii) Possible areas of research you might pursue, iv) Any research projects you have completed with faculty, and v) Any other information you would like to provide to the admissions committee. We are particularly interested in any projects that you pursued with a faculty member who is writing a letter of reference for you.
- A current resume
- Three letters of recommendation (up to three allowed) may be submitted through the BusinessCAS portal by including recommender contacts within the Program Materials section of the application.
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- An official TOEFL or IELTS score is required as proof of English proficiency for international applicants who did not receive a degree in the United States or a foreign country where English is the primary language. The following minimum score is required for admission to a graduate business degree program.
- TOEFL - 94 or above (iBT only)
- IELTS - 7.0 or above
We encourage candidates to upload unofficial transcripts and test scores with their BusinessCAS application in order to expedite the review of their file while official documents are processed.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| ECO 600 | Econometrics ** | 3 |
| ECO 601 | Graduate Macroeconomic Theory ** | 3 |
| ECO 602 | Advanced Microeconomic Theory ** | 3 |
| ECO 603 | Monetary Theory and Policy | 3 |
| ECO 612 | Economic Strategies for Firms and the Industry ** | 3 |
| ECO 620 | Advanced Econometrics ** | 3 |
| ECO 621 | Advanced Macro Analysis ** | 3 |
| ECO 625 | Applied Econometrics | 3 |
| ECO 633 | Advanced Micro Analysis ** | 3 |
| ECO 634 | Advanced Micro Analysis II | 3 |
| ECO 860 | The Theory of International Trade (Theory of International Trade) ** | 3 |
| MTH 633 | Introduction to Real Analysis I | 3 |
| Fields of Specialization | ||
| Select two of the following Areas of Concentration: | 6 | |
| Macroeconomics: | ||
| Monetary Theory and Policy | ||
| Topics in Applied Macroeconomics | ||
| Financial Economics: | ||
| Topics in Applied Macroeconomics | ||
| Applied Econometrics | ||
| Human Resource Economics: | ||
| Labor Economics (III) ** | ||
| Applied Econometrics | ||
| Environmental Economics: | ||
| Applied Econometrics | ||
| Regulations Economics ** | ||
| Cognate Areas with Departmental Approval | ||
| One Course from a Minor Field | 3 | |
| Electives | ||
| Select one Elective from the graduate offerings of the Mathematics, Business Technology, Management Science, and Finance departments | ||
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Comprehensive Examinations covering the core and the one field of specialization | 3 | |
| ECO 830 | Doctoral Dissertation | 12 |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
| * | Applicants for admission to graduate study in Economics should have an extensive background in Economic Theory and Quantitative methods. |
| ** | Counts towards Master of Arts in Economics. Student's may earn the MA in Economics while pursuing the PhD in Economics. |
Mission
The mission of the Ph.D. Program in Economics is to give students the skills, knowledge, and research training necessary to produce high-quality research needed for successful carriers in the academic, government, and private sectors and enabling them to be leaders in their respective institutions.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will be knowledgeable in the core economic fields of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory.
- Students will be able to generate original research questions, complete original empirical and/or theoretical research, and write original research papers.
- Students will be able to present and explain their research findings to a general and an academic audience. They should also be able to effectively present economic principles to undergraduate students as well as in their research in academic conferences.
