The Department of Economics at the University of Waterloo offers a Ph.D. program in Applied Economics. Entry into the program may be achieved either by completing satisfactorily the M.A. in economics at the University of Waterloo, or by attaining an M.A. in economics with suitable marks elsewhere.
This Ph.D. in Applied Economics is designed to satisfy a growing demand for Doctorates in government service, private industry and in the universities. To reflect this, the two major areas of specialization will be Public Economics and The Economics of Technology and Management. The first specialization encompasses the whole breadth of public policy concerns, including public expenditure, finance, health economics, education economics, natural resource economics and environmental economics, and will equip students very well for a high-level, policy-making career in the public sector. The second specialization will focus students on training for leading managerial positions in the private sector and will emphasize the importance of the internet, technological change and intellectual property in the digital world. However, the Ph.D. program will also allow students to become faculty members in universities if they favour this career option. Applied economics is becoming more important everywhere in the world and universities in Canada, the United States, Europe and elsewhere are increasingly seeking professors with these skills. For those students interested in remaining in higher education, the Department of Economics at the University of Waterloo will provide a range of teaching experience that will advantage them in the academic job market.
The Ph.D. in Applied Economics can be taken only in co-op form, where academic terms of study are complimented with work terms in government departments, crown corporations, private industry, or in university teaching. As with the M.A. program, the Department of Co-operative Education and Career Services has a large network of relations with employers throughout Canada and they assist students in finding suitable work term employment, or employment may be organized through the Department of Economics itself. Students who already have employment and are seconded by their employers for Ph.D. studies will be able to return to their jobs during work terms.
Applicants for the Applied Economics Ph.D. must meet the following conditions:
- hold a master’s degree in economics, or a master’s degree in a related field, with a minimum 80% average in course work. Students who have been admitted to the Economics Department’s own Master’s Degree Program may apply for admission to the Applied Ph.D. Program after their first term if they receive an average of 80% or more in the core Master’s courses (Microeconomic Theory I, Macroeconomic Theory I, and Econometrics I).
- submit three letters of reference, at least two of which must be from academic sources.
- submit a one-page Statement of Academic Interest.
- provide proof of competency in English (if applicable). The usual means of proving competency is by taking one of the following examinations and achieving the minimum score listed:CAEL 70, IELTS 7.5, MELAB 90, TOEFL 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), 100 (internet-based). See the Graduate Studies Calendar - Academic Regulations for details on acceptable tests of English.
- a GRE score is not required but is recommended for all international applicants.
The application deadline is February 1.
The Ph.D. program is designed to be completed within three or four years, depending on the co-op work experience selected.
Degree Requirements
The core courses are Economics 701 (Microeconomic Theory II), Economics 702 (Macroeconomic Theory II), and Economics 721 (Econometrics II).
The specialization Public Economics includes courses in Public expenditure policy, Health economics, Fiscal federalism, Taxation, Natural resource economics and policy, Environmental economics and policy, Trade and development, and Labour economics.
The specialization Technology and Management includes courses in Forecasting, Managerial economics, Industrial organization, Internet economics and electronic commerce, Economics and management of intellectual property, Marketing economics, Economics of technology and technological change, and Corporate finance and management of financial assets.
The Ph.D. in Applied Economics can be taken only in co-op form, where academic terms of study are complemented with work terms in government departments, crown corporations, private industry, or in university teaching. As with the M.A. program, employment can be arranged by the Department of Co-ordination and Placement on an individual basis, or may be organized through the Department of Economics itself. Students who already have employment and are seconded by their employers for Ph.D. studies will be able to return to their jobs during work terms.
The work-term experience in the Ph.D. program is designed to be as flexible as possible to accommodate project completion, employer requirements, and the students’ own career goals. It will normally be for a total of eight months. However, two four-month placements that are non sequential, as well as a one-year placement, are possible.
It is expected that students will work for an organization such as a federal, provincial or local government agency, a consulting or research firm, a financial institution, a university, or a hospital, in a position that offers work experience in applied economics. The student is required to maintain contact with his or her thesis supervisor and to prepare a report on the work experience at the end of the work term.
The co-op placement comes at a time in the program when students have completed their core courses in economic theory and econometric methods, as well as many of their chosen field courses, and so it is expected that relevant work experience will enhance the students’ ability to produce valuable research in their theses.
The comprehensive examinations are a two-part examination process, consisting of:
Part 1 - Written Comprehensive Exams
A written examination covering microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory and econometrics. Normally, students will not attempt this examination before passing Econ 701, 702 and 721. One re-write per topic, usually to be completed in the first year, will be allowed. No student will be granted a third attempt.
A minimum of three Economics Department members will comprise the examining committee.
Part 2 - Oral Thesis Prospectus
An oral examination covering the candidate's thesis prospectus.
A committee of four people including the student's thesis supervisor, two others from the Department of Economics, and one other member of the Graduate Faculty, comprise the examining committee.
When the student has passed both the written and oral comprehensive examinations and completes a minimum of four additional courses in his/her selected area of specialization, the department will admit the candidate to the research portion of the doctoral program. The course work as well as the comprehensive examinations should be completed within the first two to three years of the program
Two doctoral seminar credits, to be taken in the fourth year of the program, will complete the course requirements for the Ph.D. in Applied Economics. These credits require attendance at Departmental seminars and workshops and a presentation of the student's own work.
At the conclusion of the thesis research, a final oral examination will be taken. The thesis defence will consist of a public seminar (at which the candidate presents the thesis) and a meeting between the candidate and the appointed examining committee.
The co-op placement and workterm report, comprehensive examinations, doctoral seminar credits, and thesis dissertation are "milestones" which make up part of the Ph.D. degree requirements. These milestones are automatically added to each student's record during the first term of their program. The milestones remain "in progress" until completed.
All successful applicants will be automatically considered for financial assistance in the form of scholarships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships for their academic terms on campus. The minimum current rate of support is 22,000 per year which includes teaching/research assistantships and scholarships. International students are eligible to receive an International Doctoral Student Award valued at $2,912 per term. The Department of Economics will also assist in application for scholarships provided by the Federal and Provincial governments. Remuneration while on co-op placements is expected to be at least equal to that for students in the co-op option of the Master's program, which currently averages $2,700 a month.