Comprehensive Examination
The PhD theory comprehensive examinations in microeconomic theory and macroeconomic theory must be taken at the end of the second semester of study following completion of the four required theory courses: ECON 611 and 612 for microeconomic theory, and ECON 613 and 614 for macroeconomic theory. These examinations are offered within two weeks of each other in June. Students who do not pass one or both examinations may retake the examination(s) not passed later in the summer. If a student fails either theory examination the second time, that student is terminated from the economics PhD program; a third attempt is not allowed.
Third-Year Paper
PhD students are required to complete a research paper by the end of their sixth semester. Students who fail to present an acceptable paper by this time will be designated as not making satisfactory progress and will be terminated from the program.
After completion of coursework, comprehensive exams, and the third year paper, students are eligible to be recommended for candidacy in the PhD program.
Dissertation
The student must submit a dissertation that embodies original work on some significant topic in theoretical or applied economics. Before undertaking the dissertation, the student arranges for an advisory thesis committee consisting of faculty whose research interests are appropriate to the proposed problem.
After completing all comprehensive examinations, course requirements and the third-year paper, the student must develop a written prospectus of the dissertation topic and obtain the approval of the prospectus by the thesis committee. The prospectus must include a brief statement of the problem and the student’s proposed approach to answering the problem. In the case of empirical studies, the student must also include a discussion of the data.
When the initial prospectus has been developed to the extent that it is ready for examination by the entire department, the student must present and defend the prospectus to a graduate seminar of faculty and students. The presentation must be made with the advice of the student’s dissertation committee. This seminar provides feedback on the dissertation topic. It must be presented at least six months prior to the final oral examination in defense of the dissertation.
The two-course sequence, ECON 693 and ECON 694, is normally taken during the third year and beyond, of graduate work. All resident PhD candidates who have completed their comprehensive examinations are required to register for either ECON 693, 694, 698 or 699.
Final Examination
After the student’s admission to candidacy, the degree of PhD in economics is recommended by the department for the student who has completed an approved program of study, submitted a dissertation acceptable to the advisory committee and passed a final oral examination in defense of the dissertation.
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