- Economics
- Curriculum and Degree Information
- Paths to Degree
Paths to Degree
See below for sample schedules for meeting the requirements for the Ph.D. in Economics.
The Graduate Center requires all students in CUNY doctoral programs to obtain the Ph.D. degree within eight years from the time of their first registration if they enter with a baccalaureate degree alone, or within seven years from the time of their first registration if they matriculate with 30 credits of accepted academic work.
The following give suggested plans of action for completing these requirements before the limitation of time expires:
Students’ actual progress will vary, but these schedules provide useful guidelines for most students.
Students entering with a B.A. degree (only)
There is a 60 credit requirement for students entering without previous graduate work in economics.
- Participate in the Math Camp or Math Orientation course that is offered at the beginning of the first year. Details on this may vary from year to year, so check with the Economics Program Office for details.
- Fall semester: take Microeconomics I, Macroeconomics I, Econometrics I.
- Fall semester: participate in the review of math, statistics, and programming seminar (a noncredit seminar).
- Spring semester: take Microeconomics II, Macroeconomics II, Econometrics II.
- Spring semester: participate in the review of math, statistics, and programming seminar (a noncredit seminar).
- Begin targeting the fields of specialty by independent reading and attendance (whenever feasible) at the Applied Economics Seminar.
- Form study groups.
- In June: take (and pass) the First Examination exams in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and/or Econometrics.
- In August: retake (and pass) First Examination exams in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and/or Econometrics. Note that you cannot retake a First Examination exam in August if you did not participate in the June exam.
- Take either Applied Microeconometrics or Applied Macroeconometrics.
- Take the Applied Economics Seminar.
- Take two or more field courses. Note: some advanced courses in economics are not offered every year.
- Take one of the following courses: (i) History of Economic Thought, (ii) American Economic History, (iii) European Economic History, if offered. If none of these courses is offered, take another course in one of your chosen fields or in econometrics.
- Take any other courses that complement your areas of specialty. Note: some advanced courses in economics are not offered every year.
- Complete the (non-credit) course in Teaching Strategies in Economics.
- Regularly attend the Applied Economics Seminar in the semester when you are not formally registered for it, as well as the bimonthly student-run seminar, and other economics seminars at CUNY and in the New York City area.
- Target your area of interest within your selected field(s) of specialty, as a way to choose a topic for the paper to be written in the Research Methods and Writing in Economics course and the topic of your dissertation.
- In June: if necessary, take (and pass) First Examination exams in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and/or Econometrics.
- In August: if necessary, retake (and pass) First Examination exams in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and/or Econometrics. Note that you cannot retake a First Examination exam in August if you did not participate in the June exam. Note also that this is your last chance: if you haven’t passed all First Examination exams in August of your second year, you will not be allowed to continue in the program.
- In August: if possible, take (and pass) the Second Examination field exam. You must have completed field two courses in the examined area of specialty before you can take the field exam.
- Go from Level I to Level II when you have completed 45 credit hours.
- Take field courses that are still needed to complete the field requirements. Note: some advanced courses in economics are not offered every year.
- Take any other required courses that you did not yet take in Academic Year Two.
- Take any other courses that complement your areas of specialty. Note: some advanced courses in economics are not offered every year.
- Regularly attend the Applied Economics Seminar, the bimonthly student-run seminar, and other economics seminars at CUNY and in the New York City area.
- Apply for a CUNY doctoral research grant.
- Spring semester: take the Research Methods and Writing in Economics course. Some students take more than one semester to complete their research paper, so plan on allocating some time during the summer of Academic Year Three to the completion of this paper.
- In August, take or retake (and pass) the Second Examination field exam. You must have completed field two courses in the examined area of specialty before you can take the field exam.
- Take any other courses that complement your areas of specialty. Note: some advanced courses in economics are not offered every year.
- Go from Level II to Level III when you have completed 60 credit hours, have fulfilled all other requirements, and have completed all coursework that you desire (which may well take you over the 60-credit limit).
- Regularly attend the Applied Economics Seminar, the bimonthly student-run seminar, and other economics seminars at CUNY and in the New York City area.
- Within one month of moving to Level III, select a committee of three faculty members to help you prepare your dissertation proposal.
- Before defending your dissertation proposal, finalize the selection of a dissertation committee of three or more faculty members.
- Within twelve months of moving to Level III, defend your dissertation proposal.
- Apply for a CUNY doctoral research grant or a CUNY dissertation fellowship.
- Present a paper at a conference.
- Work on your dissertation.
- Regularly attend the Applied Economics Seminar, the bimonthly student-run seminar, and other economics seminars at CUNY and in the New York City area.
- Late in Spring semester: join the job market seminar, which runs from April until the following January.
- Spring/Summer: complete your job market paper.
- Prepare materials needed for job applications.
- Present a paper at a conference.
- Complete work on your dissertation.
- Submit dissertation chapter(s) to journal(s) for publication.
- Regularly attend the Applied Economics Seminar, the bimonthly student-run seminar, and other economics seminars at CUNY and in the New York City area.
- Until January: participate in the activities of the job market seminar: presentation of job market paper, mock interviews.
- Submit job applications, starting with the September Job Openings for Economists.
- Attend the ASSA conference, and possibly also the SEA and EEA conferences, for job interviews.
- Expect flyout visits during the Spring semester.
- Defend your dissertation.
- Deposit your dissertation in late April.
- Attend Commencement in late May.
Students entering with graduate school credits
Typically, regardless of previously completed graduate school credits, all required courses must be taken within the Ph.D. Program in Economics at The Graduate Center. Graduate school credits for courses related to economics may transfer as “blanket credits” (i.e., credits not associated with any particular course) and thus help to meet the 60-credit-hour requirement more quickly.
- Participate in the Math Camp or Math Orientation course that is offered at the beginning of the first year. Details on this may vary from year to year, so check with the Economics Program Office for details.
- Fall semester: take Microeconomics I, Macroeconomics I, Econometrics I.
- Fall semester: participate in the review of math, statistics, and programming seminar (a noncredit seminar).
- Spring semester: take Microeconomics II, Macroeconomics II, Econometrics II.
- Spring semester: participate in the review of math, statistics, and programming seminar (a noncredit seminar).
- Begin targeting the fields of specialty by independent reading and attendance (whenever feasible) at the Applied Economics Seminar.
- Form study groups.
- In June: take (and pass) the First Examination exams in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and/or Econometrics.
- In August: retake (and pass) First Examination exams in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and/or Econometrics. Note that you cannot retake a First Examination exam in August if you did not participate in the June exam.
- Upon completion of the First Examination, apply for graduate school credit transfer.
- Go from Level I to Level II when you have completed 45 credit hours.
- Take either Applied Microeconometrics or Applied Macroeconometrics.
- Take the Applied Economics Seminar.
- Take two or more field courses. Note: some advanced courses in economics are not offered every year.
- Take one of the following courses: (i) History of Economic Thought, (ii) American Economic History, (iii) European Economic History, if offered. If none of these courses is offered, take another course in one of your chosen fields or in econometrics.
- Fall semester: Target your area of interest within your selected field(s) of specialty, as a way to choose a topic for the paper to be written in the Research Methods and Writing in Economics course and the topic of your dissertation.
- Spring semester: take the Research Methods and Writing in Economics course. Students often take more than one semester to complete their research paper, so plan on allocating some time during the summer of Academic Year Two to the completion of this paper.
- Take any other courses that complement your areas of specialty. Note: some advanced courses in economics are not offered every year.
- Complete the (non-credit) course in Teaching Strategies in Economics.
- Regularly attend the Applied Economics Seminar in the semester when you are not formally registered for it, as well as the bimonthly student-run seminar, and other economics seminars at CUNY and in the New York City area.
- In June: if necessary, take or retake (and pass) First Examination exams in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and/or Econometrics.
- In August: if necessary, retake (and pass) First Examination exams in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and/or Econometrics. Note that you cannot retake a First Examination exam in August if you did not participate in the June exam. Note also that this is your last chance: if you haven’t passed all First Examination exams in August of your second year, you will not be allowed to continue in the program.
- In August: if possible, take (and pass) the Second Examination field exam. You must have completed field two courses in the examined area of specialty before you can take the field exam.
- Take field courses that are still needed to complete the field requirements. Note: some advanced courses in economics are not offered every year.
- Take any other required courses that you did not yet take in Academic Year Two.
- Take any other courses that complement your areas of specialty. Note: some advanced courses in economics are not offered every year.
- Regularly attend the Applied Economics Seminar, the bimonthly student-run seminar, and other economics seminars at CUNY and in the New York City area.
- Apply for a CUNY doctoral research grant.
- In August, take or retake (and pass) the Second Examination field exam. You must have completed field two courses in the examined area of specialty before you can take the field exam.
- Go from Level II to Level III when you have completed 60 credit hours, have fulfilled all other requirements, and have completed all coursework that you desire (which may well take you over the 60-credit limit).
- Within one month of moving to Level III, select a committee of two faculty members to help you prepare your dissertation proposal.
- Regularly attend the Applied Economics Seminar, the bimonthly student-run seminar, and other economics seminars at CUNY and in the New York City area.
- Just before defending your dissertation proposal, select a dissertation committee of three or more faculty members.
- Within twelve months of moving to Level III, defend your dissertation proposal.
- Work on your dissertation.
- Apply for a CUNY doctoral research grant or a CUNY dissertation fellowship.
- Late in Spring semester: join the job market seminar, which runs from April until the following January.
- Spring/Summer: complete your job market paper.
- Prepare materials needed for job applications.
- Present a paper at a conference.
- Complete work on your dissertation.
- Submit dissertation chapter(s) to journal(s) for publication.
- Regularly attend the Applied Economics Seminar, the bimonthly student-run seminar, and other economics seminars at CUNY and in the New York City area.
- Until January: participate in the activities of the job market seminar: presentation of job market paper, mock interviews.
- Submit job applications, starting with the September Job Openings for Economists.
- Attend the ASSA conference, and possibly also the SEA and EEA conferences, for job interviews.
- Expect flyout visits during the Spring semester.
- Defend your dissertation.
- Deposit your dissertation in late April.
- Attend Commencement in late May.
