Economics

Qualifying Examinations and Papers

The qualifying examination consists of two components: an examination in microeconomics and one in macroeconomics. The student must take the qualifying examination at the first offering after completion of the courses 6E:205 and 6E:206, and no later than the end of the second year of the Ph.D. program.

Students complete a substantial research paper in the academic year after passing the qualifying examination. In the second semester of this year, the student selects a reading committee of three faculty members, who evaluate the research paper. The student chooses the research topic and develops a research proposal in consultation with the reading committee members. The student must submit the research proposal, signed by the members of the reading committee, to the director of the Ph.D. program in economics.

Given passing grades on the two examinations, approval of the submitted paper, and successful completion of the core courses, the student is promoted to the dissertation stage.