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Applied Economics PhD Program Requirements

Core Courses

The core courses required of all PhD students are:

  • AEC 611 Advanced Microeconomic Theory I (4 credits)
  • AEC 612 Advanced Microeconomic Theory II (4 credits)
  • AEC 613 Advanced Microeconomic Theory III (4 credits)
  • AEC 615 Advanced Macroeconomic Theory (4 credits)
  • AEC 523 Statistics and Optimization for Economics (4 credits)
  • AEC 625 Advanced Econometrics I (4 credits)
  • AEC 626 Advanced Econometrics II (4 credits)
  • AEC 627 Computational Economics (4 credits)

Written preliminary examinations are required

Students must pass two written preliminary examinations:

  • Microeconomic Theory (AEC 611, AEC 612 and AEC 613)
  • Quantitative Methods (AEC 523, AEC 625, AEC 626 and AEC 627). Students will take a written preliminary exam in quantitative methods upon completion of AEC 523, AEC 625, and either AEC 626 or AEC 627. The exam will include questions on material covered in AEC 523 and AEC 625 that all students will respond to. It will also include questions on material covered in AEC 626 and AEC 627 that students may select from depending on whether they have completed AEC 626 or AEC 627 or both.

Areas of Concentration/Specialization

PhD students are required to complete:

  • Two areas of specialization with 9 to 12 credits each.

Concentration areas currently offered by the Applied Economics program are:

  • Resource and Environmental Economics
  • Trade and Development
  • Public Health Economics
  • An open area of concentration or the Applied-Economics concentration provides Doctoral students the option of taking a concentration identified and approved by their Program Committee.

Students are required to obtain a B grade or above in each of the courses from the chosen concentration.

Resource and Environmental Economics

1. AREC 651 Advanced Natural Resource Economics (3 credits)
2. AREC 652 Advanced Environmental Economics (3 credits)
3. AREC 653x Spatial Economics of Natural Resources (3 credits)

Trade and Development

1. AREC 543 Applied Trade Analysis (4 credits)
2. AREC 640 Sustainable Development (4 credits)
3. AREC 643 International Trade (4 credits)

Public Health Economics

1. H 532 Economic Issues in Health and Medical Care (3 credits)
2. H 533 Health Systems Organization (3 credits)
3. H 605 Reading and Conference in Health Economics (open)

Dissertation and Other Degree Requirements

Required Credits:    108
Core courses total 32 credits. Additionally, 18 or more credits from two areas of concentration and a minimum of 36 thesis credits are required. Students will select additional credits (with Advisor's approval) for the Doctoral program of study totaling at least 108 credits.

A doctoral dissertation is required. See information in the graduate catalog on this and other university requirements for PhD students at Policies Governing All Graduate Programs and Policies Governing Doctoral Degree Programs. Useful information on steps for completing the dissertation is also provided by the Graduate School in its guidelines for completing our thesis.