Two Year Plan of Study

First Year

Fall

• Microeconomic Theory I (Econ 530 non-econ Ph.D. section)
• Econometrics Analysis I (Econ 532)
• Introduction to Game Theory (Econ 505)

Grades: A GPA of 3.5 or above in Econ 530 and 532, and a grade of A- or above in Econ 505

Spring

• Econometrics Analysis II (Econ 535)
• Macroeconomics (Econ 501)
• 1-2 MSPE Electives

Qualifying Exams: Pass the first-year Ph.D. qualifying exam for the Econometrics sequence by the beginning of the next fall semester.

Grades: An overall GPA of 3.7 or above at the end of first year (in addition to the first semester grade requirements). End of the first year is the end of the summer II semester.

Second Year

Fall

• Microeconomic Theory I (Econ 530- Ph.D. section)
• Macroeconomic Theory I (Econ 531)
• 1-2 MSPE Electives

Grades: A GPA of 3.7 or above in 530(Ph.D. section)/531/532/535

English Proficiency Requirement: Have a speaking score of 24 or above on the TOEFL, 8 or above on IELTS, OR passing the English Proficiency Interview (EPI) test administered by the University.

If the above requirements are not satisfied, students can petition the Director of the Ph.D. Program to remain in the Ph.D. track. The Director of the Ph.D. Program will review the petition and decide whether or not to approve it and set any additional conditions.

Spring

• Microeconomic Theory II (Econ 533)
• Macroeconomic Theory II (Econ 534)
• 1 Ph.D. Elective

Qualifying Exams: Pass the first-year Ph.D. qualifying exam in both the Microeconomics and Macroeconomics sequences:

• The student must pass these remaining two exams by their second attempt to be eligible for any funding beyond the fall semester of their first year in the Ph.D. program.
• For the fall semester of their first year in the Ph.D. program, the student will receive a 50% assistantship (includes tuition waiver, stipend, and work not to exceed 20 hours per week) if they pass at least one of the two exams.
• If the student fails both exams on their first attempt, they will receive a 25% assistantship (includes tuition waiver, stipend, and work not to exceed 10 hours per week) for their fall semester of their first year in the Ph.D. program.
• If the student passes both exams on the first retake, they will receive full funding starting in the spring semester of their first year in the Ph.D. program.
• If the student fails both exams on the first retake, they will not receive any funding from the spring semester of their first year in the Ph.D. program.

Other Rules

• Failure to satisfy the requirements at any stage results in the student reverting back to the regular MSPE track.
• If a student reverts back to the MSPE track, he/she could still obtain the regular MSPE degree by completing the 10 course requirements.
• The completed Ph.D. courses fulfill the MSPE core requirements as follows:
  • Econ 530 would fulfill the core course requirement for Econ 500
  • Econ 531 would fulfill the core course requirement for Econ 501
  • Econ 532 would fulfill the core course requirement for Econ 502
  • Econ 535 would fulfill the core course requirement for Econ 503