Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Applied Economics

The program information below was valid for the spring 2023 term (May 1, 2023 - August 31, 2023). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

• Admit term(s) 
  • Fall
• Delivery mode 
  • On-campus
• Length of program 
  • The program is designed to be completed within four years.
• Program type 
  • Doctoral
  • Research
• Registration option(s) 
  • Full-time
• Study option(s) 
  • Thesis

• Minimum requirements 
  • Master's degree in Economics.
  • Minimum 80%, first class average in Master of Arts (MA) Economics degree.
  • A one-page statement of Academic Interest.
  • A GRE score is not required but is recommended for all international students applying to the program.
• Application materials 
  • Supplementary information form
  • Transcript(s)
  • Writing sample
• References 
  • Number of references:  3
  • Type of references: 

    academic

• English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Thesis option:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• Students must complete the following 13 graduate level courses (8 required and 5 elective).
• The core courses are as follows:
  • ECON 600 Mathematics for Economists
  • ECON 601 Microeconomic Theory I
  • ECON 602 Macroeconomic Theory I
  • ECON 607 Data Science for Economists
  • ECON 621 Econometrics I
  • ECON 701 Micro II
  • 1 of: ECON 702 Macro II, or ECON 703 Advanced Macroeconomics: Problems and Policies, or ECON 704 Monetary Economics II
  • ECON 721 Econometrics II
  • 5 elective courses
• Students are allowed to take electives outside of the Department of Economics, with the approval of the Economics Associate Chair, Graduate Studies.

Link(s) to courses

• Economics (ECON) courses

PhD Seminar I

• Completion of the first seminar milestone requires attendance at a minimum of 50% of the Department's seminars offered during the Fall and Winter terms.

PhD Seminar II

• Students must complete 2 seminar presentations of their own work, 1 in year three and 1 in year four, which will fulfill the requirements for the second seminar milestone.

Qualifying Examination

• The qualifying examination consists of two written examinations covering microeconomic and econometric theory.
• One re-write per topic, taken in August of the first year, will be allowed. No student will be allowed a third attempt.
• Normally, three Department of Economics members will comprise the Examining Committee.

Thesis Proposal

• An oral examination covering the student’s thesis proposal.
• A committee of four people including the student's thesis supervisor, two Department of Economics faculty members, and one internal/external examiner, comprise the examining committee.
• When the student has completed the qualifying examination, the thesis proposal, and the required elective courses, they will be admitted to the research portion of the Doctoral program.
• Normally, the coursework should be completed by the end of the second year, and the thesis proposal examination should be completed by the end of the winter term of the third year.

PhD Research Paper

PhD Thesis

• 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.