Department of Economics
PhD in Applied Economics

PhD in Applied Economics Degree Requirements

To earn a PhD degree and remain in good academic standing, a student must complete the following requirements.

• General Requirements
  • Complete a minimum of 60 credit hours of course work, including required courses in micro and macroeconomic theory, econometrics and four field courses.
  • Maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA.
  • Write and defend an acceptable dissertation.
• Before beginning the second year
  • Pass comprehensive exams in micro and macroeconomic theory.
• Before beginning spring semester of second year
  • Pass comprehensive exams in econometrics
• Before entering the fourth year
  • Complete at least two fields of specialization (four field courses).
  • Complete a research paper that has to be approved by your faculty advisor.
• Before entering the fourth year
  • Form a dissertation committee. This must be done before the general oral (candidacy/proposal defense) examination.
• Before entering the fifth year
  • Pass the general Oral Examination (candidacy/proposal defense) preferably by the end of the fourth year and definitely before applying for jobs.  

Required Core Courses

Doctoral students must complete the following nine core courses and one field course (a total of 30 credit hours) in the first three semesters. Transferring credit hours from other peer institutions is allowed only in exceptional cases.

First Semester (fall)

1. Econ 7110 Microeconomic Theory I
2. Econ 7210 Macroeconomic Theory I
3. Econ 7310 Econometrics I
4. Econ 7130 Mathematical Economics  

Second Semester (spring)

1. Econ 7120 Microeconomic Theory II
2. Econ 7220 Macroeconomic Theory II
3. Econ 7320 Econometrics II

Third Semester (fall)

1. Econ 7330 Microeconometrics
2. Econ 7340 Macroeconometrics
3. One of the Field Courses (elective)