Graduate Program
Program Overview
The graduate program in economics at the University of Notre Dame is a Ph.D. program designed to prepare successful graduates for careers as professional economists at academic institutions, government agencies, non-government organizations, international agencies, and the private sector. Our faculty are involved in leading developments in research, teaching and governmental economic policies. We provide the next generation of scholars with the rigorous analytical and quantitative training necessary to continue this tradition. The expected time to completion of the Ph.D. is five years.
In accordance with the Catholic identity of Notre Dame, the doctoral program in economics offers special opportunities for students interested in policy-relevant research that contributes to improving the human condition. Prospective students interested in research that addresses these problems should find our program especially attractive. Through a variety of centers and institutes, the University fosters interaction among scholars in a variety of disciplines who conduct research on similar issues. Some of these centers and institutes include: the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, the Institute for Educational Initiatives, the Energy Center, the Center for Aquatic Conservation, the Center for Children and Families, and the Ford Family Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity.
Program Emphasis
The first year of studies is devoted to acquiring a thorough knowledge of microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, econometrics, and quantitative methods. The nature of this material demands that entering students be facile with multivariate calculus, linear algebra, probability, and mathematical statistics. In the second year, students research a topic of their own choosing and write a paper that reports the results of this research. A distinctive feature of the Notre Dame Ph.D. program in Economics is that it gets students involved in research early in the curriculum.
Small Class Sizes
To maintain high average student quality and to facilitate a high degree of interaction with the faculty, new enrollments are targeted at 6 to 8 students per year. Both core and elective class sizes are small, which facilitates extensive class participation. The sequence of core courses provides an intensive basic training in the discipline. Advanced courses, seminars, and research opportunities are offered in a variety of specialized fields. Students receive a substantial amount of faculty attention in the classroom and at the research stage.
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