The PhD program in Economics: Program Requirements

1. Course Requirements

The curriculum of the PhD program comprises:

 -) introductory quantitative requirements,
 -) a sequence of core and required courses,
 -) minimum course requirement of at least 36 credits,
 -) economics seminars, and
 -) a research thesis

Introductory Quantitative Requirements

Students are required to pass two specific mathematics-oriented courses unless they have clearly completed the same requirements. They are,

   ECON 5100   Mathematics for Business and Economics and
   ISOM   5540   Introduction to Probability

These courses are offered in fall upon they commence the program. The credits earned from these two courses are not counted toward the graduation requirements.


Required Courses

  ECON 5210    Microeconomic Theory I
  ECON 5220    Microeconomic Theory II
  ECON 5250    Macroeconomic Theory I
  ECON 5260    Macroeconomic Theory II
  ECON 5300    Econometrics
  ISOM  5550     Statistical Methods for Business and Economics I
  LANG  5010    Postgraduate English for Academic Purposes
 

Field Courses

  -  First economics field area              
  -  Second economics field area

Research Courses

  ECON 7800  Economics Seminar             (1 credit each for 2 semesters)
  ECON 7990  Doctoral Thesis Research


In the first semester of the first year, doctoral students must take ECON 510, ECON 521, ECON 525, ISOM 581 and LANG 501. In the second semester of the first year, PhD students must take ECON 522, ECON 526, ECON 530 and ISOM 582. Students need to take 3 field courses in their second year of study.


2. Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination comprises two parts - a comprehensive examination in economic theory and two major field examinations based on student's choice of emphasis. The exam on theory consists of written examinations in microeconomics and in macroeconomics. Full time students must make the first attempt at the economic theory examinations by the end of the first year of study, and take the field examinations by the end of the second year.  Both exams usually held on June.

Students sitting for the comprehensive examination in economic theory for the first time must take the examinations in both microeconomics and in macroeconomics after their first year of study. Students sitting for the major filed examinations for the first time must write the examinations in both of the chosen fields.
 
 

3. Second and Third Year Requirements

3.1 Field Courses Requirement

Upon proceeding to the second year, students are required to choose two field studies, each
consisting of two continuing or related courses. Course instructors or supervisors of the courses will collaborate to take charge of the qualifying examination.

3.2 Research Proposal and Presentation

After passing the qualifying examination on economic theory, students must submit research proposals to the PhD Coordinator by the end of the second year (no later than their first attempt of the major filed examinations), and prepare and present the paper by the end of second year of study. The paper must be approved by the department's faculty members.

Before the formal presentation of the research proposal, students must prepare an additional interim report. At the beginning of the second semester of their second year of study, students are required to give a 30-minute presentation of what they intend to do in the two field research topics. This is a report on the orientation and the progress of students’ research.

3.3 Thesis Proposal and Admittance to Candidacy

After passing the major field exam and acceptance of the research paper by the department, students should form a thesis committee to direct their thesis research. A thesis proposal  presentation will be scheduled only after the thesis committee concludes that a suitable topic has been identified and a sufficient amount of preliminary work has been completed. Once the thesis committee approves the memorandum, it becomes a Thesis Agreement among the student, the thesis committee and the SBM PhD Program. The student is then admitted to candidacy and can proceed to completing the thesis in accordance with the Agreement.



4. The Dissertation:

Each candidate for the Ph.D. degree must submit an acceptable dissertation, embodying publishable original research on an approved topic.

Students conduct PhD research under the general supervision of a thesis committee of at least three faculty members, one of whom is the designated thesis supervisor. Normally, as soon as possible after the Comprehensive Examinations, the PG Coordinator, in consultation with the student, shall appoint an advisor in the field in which the student plans to write the dissertation. This advisor shall be responsible for supervising the preparation of the thesis proposal. Until the thesis advisor is appointed, the student's advisor shall continue to supervise his/her progress.

 

                      [MSc program]                               [Department of Economics]