Department of Economics and Econometrics // University of Notre Dame

Program Requirements

Ph.D. Requirements in a Nutshell

Math Camp

One week during the summer before the first year (see below for more information).

The Core Courses

First year curriculum plus Econometrics II (see below for more information).

Comprehensive Exams

Written exams in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory in the summer after the first year. Failure to pass at the Ph.d. level results in dismissal from the program.

Field Requirements

A field is a two-semester course in an advanced area of study. You must take courses in two such fields.

Second-Year Research Paper

Under the direction of a faculty advisor, you write an independent and original research paper in the second year and present your findings to the faculty early in the third year.

Seminar Requirements

From your fourth semester and beyond, you must register for a research seminar and present at least one research paper in a workshop before the end of your fourth year.

The Dissertation Proposal and Candidacy

You must propose a dissertation topic and have it approved by your dissertation committee before the end of the fourth year.

You must be admitted to candidacy by the end of your fourth year. The candidacy examination consists of a written component and an oral component.

The Dissertation

The final requirement is submission, approval and successful defense of the dissertation. You'll be expected to fulfil this requirement by the end of your fifth year.

Satisfactory Course Performance

Satisfactory performance requires a grade of B- or better in each and every graduate course with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (corresponding to the grade B). Less than satisfactory course performance may result in dismissal from the program at the discretion of the Graduate Studies Committee.

Credit Hours

You must complete a minimum of 45 credit hours (15 courses) of approved course work at the graduate level. All students are encouraged to attend a research seminar offered by the department. Students in their 4th semester and beyond are required to attend.

Course of Study and More Details on the Requirements

Math Camp

Economics is a quantitative social science that leans heavily on certain branches of mathematics. Since it may have been some time since entering students have had their college math courses, we run a one-week intensive course to review college level math relevant to economics and to introduce new concepts as time permits.

First Year

During your first year of study, you will acquire a thorough knowledge of microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, econometrics, and quantitative methods in a set of required courses referred to as the “core.” All but the second econometrics course is taken in the first year. You will take Econometrics II in Fall of the second year.

Students who are well-prepared in mathematics or statistics may satisfy some of the core course requirements as determined by the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the Graduate Studies Committee.

After the Spring semester, you will take the comprehensive written exams in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. These are competency evaluations that assesses your command of the essential concepts and methods that are necessary to read the literature and to perform research at the disciplinary frontier. Possible outcomes of the comprehensive exams are (a) Ph.D. pass, (b) M.A. pass, (c) fail. Students who do not attain a Ph.D. pass in either examination have one opportunity for a retake later that summer, typically in August. Failure to pass both exams at the Ph.D. level results in dismissal from the program.

Your first year will look like this:

Fall Semester

ECOE 60-001: Mathematics for Economists I

ECOE 60-101: Microeconomic Theory I

ECOE 60-201: Macroeconomic Theory I

ECOE 60-301: Probability and Statistics

Spring Semester

ECOE 60-002: Mathematics for Economists II

ECOE 60-102: Microeconomic Theory II

ECOE 60-103: Macroeconomic Theory II

ECOE 60-302: Econometrics I

Summer

Sit for comprehensive exams

Second Year

During your second year, you take the remaining core course, Econometrics II and acquire expertise in specialty fields by taking two courses in each of two specialized fields of study. This is to satisfy the field requirement in which the Ph.D. candidate successfully completes two specialized fields. A field is a two-course sequence in a specialized area. Your competency in a field area is determined by receiving satisfactory grades in those courses.

The program allows some flexibility in forming specialty fields subject to approval by the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the Graduate Studies Committee. Field offerings vary from year to year depending on faculty in residence and student interest but most are expected to be offered at least once every other year. The current set of fields includes:

International Economics
Monetary & Macroeconomics
Industrial Organization
Public Economics
Environmental Economics
Labor Economics
Political Economy
History of Economic Thought

You will also spend the year developing an original research topic under the supervision of faculty in your chosen field of study. A distinctive feature of the Notre Dame program is that written field exams are replaced by a second-year research paper which you must present for approval by the faculty early in the third year. The purpose of this requirement is to get you engaged in research early in your career. The research paper must demonstrate an ability to conduct independent research and may become one of the chapters of your dissertation. From the fourth semester on (Spring Semester of your second year), you will be required to participate in a research seminar in your chosen fields. Participation means presenting updates of your own research and critically analyzing that of others.

Fall Semester

First Field Course I

Second Field Course I

Econometrics II

Spring Semester

First Field Course II

Second Field Course II

Research Seminar

Summer

Complete the Second-Year paper.

Third Year

You'll now finish your course work by taking any additional field courses along your interests, present your Second-Year research paper, and devote increasing time and energy towards your dissertation research.

Fall Semester

Remaining Field Course I (optional)

Research seminar

Spring Semester

Remaining Field Course II (optional)

Research Seminar

Fourth Year

You now devote yourself entirely towards your dissertation research and to participation in research seminars. You must pass your candidacy exam (which admits you to candidacy) before the end of the fourth year. Also, by that time, you should have completed two research papers that are ready for presentation at other universities, research institutions, or professional conferences.

Fifth Year

During the fifth year, you will complete your dissertation research, defend your dissertation, and initiate post-dissertation research.

Explanation of the Seminar Requirement

Research seminars are an extremely important aspect of the Ph.D. program. They provide you with insights into current research topics and offer a forum for students and faculty to present and discuss their recent research. Attendance and active participation in seminars and workshops will help you to formulate and engage in your own independent research. Seminar and workshop attendance is optional, but strongly encouraged in the first and second years. By your third year and beyond, you will be required to register for a research seminar, and to present at least one research paper in a workshop by the end of your fourth year.

Explanation of the Dissertation Proposal

Starting in the third year, you will be expected to engage in a significant, original research project. Optimally, this would follow from the second-year research paper. All students are required to have a faculty advisor in their major field of study by the end of their third year. The role of the faculty advisor is to help the student make the transition from coursework to research and to help identify suitable dissertation topics. Often the faculty advisor also serves as the major advisor for the dissertation.

Explanation of the Candidacy Exam

You must be admitted to candidacy by the end of your fourth year by passing your candidacy exam. The candidacy examination consists of a written component and an oral component. The written part normally precedes the oral part and is satisfied by either a written dissertation proposal or a paper that will become a chapter of the dissertation. The oral part of the examination is conducted as soon as feasible after passage of the written part according to the rules of the Graduate School. It can be taken no later than one calendar year prior to defense of the dissertation. The oral part is comprehensive and is intended to test your readiness for advanced research in the more specialized area(s) of your field as well as the feasibility of the specific research proposed for the dissertation. Successful passage indicates that, in the judgment of the faculty, you have an adequate knowledge of the basic literature, problems, and research methods in your field.

Explanation of the Dissertation

The dissertation must contain original research of sufficient quality to be published in well-respected peer-reviewed general interest or field journals. It is typically supervised by one major advisor, and it must be orally defended before a committee of the advisor and three reading committee members of the faculty. Usually, students consult with several members of the department during the dissertation stage and are required to present one research paper from their dissertation in a workshop.

Additional Notes and Requirements

The Director of Graduate Studies serves as faculty adviser for all students until they have chosen an adviser in their major field of study. The matching of student to advisor should be undertaken during the second year.

There is no general foreign language requirement for graduate students in economics.

In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School, students must meet various departmental requirements. These requirements are continually under review and are subject to revision.

The Masters of Arts Degree

The Department of Economics and Econometrics does not administer a stand alone M.A. program but allows students to apply for an M.A. should they choose to terminate their study in the Ph.D. program. This degree is typically awarded to those who successfully complete the required course work in the core for the first year of the Ph.D. program and meet the University requirements for the M.A.

Specifically, a student must have a total of 24 credit hours of course work (as outlined above in The First Year: The Core Curriculum), successfully pass the comprehensive examinations in Microeconomics and Macroeconomics at the Masters level, and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.