Requirements

All students must show competence in the core areas of microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics. This is done by taking the three-quarter required course sequences in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics, with no grade lower than a B and with a grade point average across these courses of at least 3.25. The Department may also require students to pass a written qualifying exam in one or more of the core course sequences after taking the courses.

Students take the oral candidacy examination based on their research. A student making satisfactory progress in the program will have advanced to Ph.D. candidacy before the beginning of their third year.

Students also must master two fields of economics by taking a two-course sequence (possibly including independent reading courses) and writing a research paper in each field. Students also must enroll for at least four quarters in the graduate colloquium, in which attendance at regular Economics faculty research colloquia is supplemented by discussion of the papers presented and additional reading. Students are encouraged to become conversant with areas of current economic research early in their graduate careers, in order to facilitate a timely transition from meeting course and field requirements to thinking through a dissertation research plan.

Two or three quarters before the expected completion of the dissertation, the dissertation committee will organize an oral examination of the candidate’s dissertation prospectus. Ordinarily, the prospectus will describe in detail the dissertation, and will typically be accompanied by at least one completed chapter of the dissertation.

Students are expected to complete their dissertation by the end of their fifth year. The maximum time permitted for completion of the Ph.D. is six years.
 

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Core Course Sequences

The core sequences for first-year students are composed of the following courses: 210A-B-C (Microeconomics), 210D-E-F (Macroeconomics), 220A-B-C (Econometrics). Students typically have to also take and satisfactorily pass the associated Macro (211L) and Econometrics (221A-B-C) lab courses.
 

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Qualifying Exams

Students must pass qualifying exams in Microeconomics and Macroeconomics following their first-year course work. Students who fail to pass either exam at the PhD level the first time will have a second opportunity just before the beginning of the Fall Quarter of the next academic year.
 

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Fields of Specialization

Students must show mastery of two subfields in economics by taking a two-course sequence (possibly including independent study courses) and writing a sole-authored research paper in each field. For an example of possible fields and related course requirements, click here. Each field paper must be approved by two faculty supervisors chosen by the student. In order to be judged as making normal progress in the Economics Ph.D. program, one field paper must be completed and approved by the end of the Summer Quarter of the second year and the second paper completed and approved by the end of the Summer Quarter of the third year.

You can view the Field Requirement Completion Forms: 2nd year or 3rd year.
 

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Advancement to Candidacy

Students having successfully completed the course and qualifying exam requirements as described above are eligible to take the oral candidacy exam based on one of their field papers (described above) or, in rare occasions, on a very well developed research proposal. This oral exam will typically take place before the beginning of the third year.

The exam is administered by a five-person candidacy committee consisting of four faculty members of the department and one member outside the department. The examiners shall determine whether or not the candidate has mastered the technical and expository skills necessary to complete a dissertation. As such, they may ask questions about any material covered in the core courses as well as the candidate's research paper. Questions about core material asked in the context of the research paper are to be expected. If the candidacy exam committee unanimously determines that the candidate has the necessary skills, then they will appoint a dissertation committee to guide the preparation of the dissertation. Students who fail a candidacy exam are given only one more opportunity to pass.
 

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Oral Examination of the Dissertation Prospectus

Two or three quarters before the expected completion of the dissertation, the dissertation committee will organize an oral examination of the candidate’s dissertation prospectus. Ordinarily, the prospectus will describe in detail the dissertation, and will typically be accompanied by at least one completed chapter of the dissertation. The examination committee is the candidate’s dissertation committee. This committee will also certify that the candidate has successfully completed the departmental field requirements.

The candidate must notify the Director of Graduate Studies of a planned examination at least two weeks ahead of time. Examination materials (completed elements of the proposed thesis and the field papers) must be submitted to all committee members and the Director of Graduate Studies at least one week before the examination.

The student must receive the unanimous approval of the examination committee to pass the prospectus exam.

You can view the Dissertation Prospectus Proposal Exam Form here.
 

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Colloquium

Students are required to enroll in at least four quarters of the graduate colloquium (Economics 200A-B-C), in which they hear and discuss papers presented at a regular faculty colloquia series. Whether or not they are enrolled in the course, all students are strongly urged to attend colloquia on a regular basis as an important means of learning about current research.

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A Sample Ph.D. Program

YEAR 1

 
*This course is offered in the summer before the fall quarter starts. Although not required, you are strongly encouraged to take before your first quarter.

In June, at the end of the first year, you will take Micro and Macro qualifying examinations.
 

YEAR 2

 

YEAR 3

 

YEAR 4

 

YEAR 5

 

To summarize, during the second year, students take field courses, complete one field paper, and advance to candidacy. During the third year, students may take additional field courses and complete a second field paper. During the fourth year, students work on their dissertation papers. In some cases, they may take additional elective and colloquium courses. They can take the oral examination of their dissertation prospectus if they plan to finish in the next three quarters. The fifth year is devoted to completing the dissertation.

 

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Requirements for the Master's Degree

The Master's degree is awarded only to students admitted to the Ph.D. program who have completed the following requirements:

• The nine core courses in microeconomics (210A-B-C), macroeconomics (210D-E-F), and econometrics (220A-B-C), with no grade lower than a B and with a grade point average across all graduate courses of at least 3.1.
• Pass the written preliminary exam following the first-year courses at least at the Master's-pass level.