Curriculum and Degree Information
Students in the Ph.D. program in Economics must complete a minimum of 60 credits, which includes required courses, electives, and seminars; maintain satisfactory standing; pass a first and second examination; and conduct original research for a dissertation and defense.
All students must follow an approved program of study. Programs can be approved by either the Executive Officer or the Deputy Executive Officer.
Students should familiarize themselves with the following requirements to succeed in the Ph.D. Program in Economics:
- Required preparation in Economics and Mathematics
- Sixty-credit requirement
- Faculty mentorship
- Standards for retention
- Criteria for advancement
- Dissertation
- Professional development and ethics
- Teaching
For reference, sample paths to degree and information about the en-route M.A. degree are also available.
Required Preparation in Economics and Mathematics
All incoming students are required to have completed courses in Intermediate Microeconomics and Intermediate Macroeconomics at the undergraduate level. Further, all incoming students are required to have a knowledge of calculus and linear algebra (two courses of undergraduate calculus and one course in linear algebra, or the equivalent). Successful completion (B grade or better) of undergraduate courses in these areas will normally satisfy this requirement. Even so, students are strongly advised to take additional, more advanced courses in mathematics, such as differential equations and real analysis. In addition, students are required to have had at least one course in undergraduate statistics and one course in undergraduate econometrics.
The core courses in Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, and Econometrics are taught on the assumption that students have the required preparation in economics and mathematics.
Faculty Mentorship
All graduate work is carried out under the direct and regular supervision of faculty. At the time of admission, the Executive Officer or Deputy Executive Officer acts as the student’s mentor, and continues to do so until the student determines the field in which he or she would like to specialize.
At that time, in consultation with the Executive Officer or Deputy Executive Officer, the student will choose an adviser in his or her desired field of specialization. Typically, this adviser will also be the student’s dissertation adviser. The faculty mentor will advise the student regarding issues such as advancing in a professional career. If the student decides to change his or her field of specialization, he or she may choose to change advisers. It is the student’s responsibility to choose an adviser and to inform the adviser of his or her interests and intentions.
In addition to being advised by doctoral faculty, all new incoming students are assigned a student mentor as part of the peer advisement program.
Standards for Retention
The student's record will be evaluated at the end of each academic year, and his or her matriculation may be terminated for unsatisfactory scholastic performance.
To maintain a satisfactory standing in the program, the student must meet the following standards:
- A quantitative standard -- The student must maintain a minimum cumulative average of 3.0 (a "B" average).
- The Graduate Center also defines satisfactory progress as having no more than two incompletes at any one time and completion of degree in a timely fashion (see The Graduate Center Bulletin and Student Handbook for additional details).
- The First Examination requirements must be completed in a timely manner as described in section below.
These requirements are interrelated. Together they provide an overall profile for each student's progression in the program and a means for determining the status of the student.
Criteria for Advancement
Level I to Level II: Advancement from Level I to Level II requires the student to complete 45 credits and to pass all three parts of the First Examination (Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Econometrics). For the First Examination, students must take written exams in three areas but may have the written exam in a third area waived if they have at least a B average in its respective course sequence. Students must complete the First Examination within the first two years. View details of the First Examination.
Level II to Level III: Advancement from Level II to Level III requires the student to be advanced to Candidacy. Advancement to Candidacy requires that the student complete 60 credits (at least 30 of which must be taken at The Graduate Center) with at least a B average, complete all required courses, and pass the Second Examination. View details of the Second Examination.
The list of required courses that must be completed prior to advancement from Level II to Level III consists of the following:
- The six core courses in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Econometrics that are the basis of the First Examination
- Two courses each in two Advanced Fields of Study
- One of the following two: (i) Applied Macroeconometrics, (ii) Applied Microeconometrics
- One of the following: (i) History of Economic Thought, (ii) American Economic History, (iii) European Economic History [Note: If none of these courses are offered in a given academic year, another field course may be substituted subject to the approval of the Executive Officer.]
- Research Methods and Writing in Economics
- Applied Economics Seminar
Dissertation
The dissertation process starts after completion of the level 2 requirements by successfully passing the second examination and satisfying the 60-credit requirement of the GC. Working closely with faculty mentors, the student will develop a dissertation proposal, a dissertation composed of original research, and an oral defense. View details of the dissertation.
Teaching
Before receiving his/her degree, each student in the Economics Program is strongly encouraged to have taught a course in college- or graduate-level economics under his/her sole control. The student must normally have the title of Adjunct Lecturer or Teaching Fellow in CUNY, but equivalent positions inside and outside CUNY may be approved by the Executive Officer.