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Course of Study for the Graduate Program

First Year

The first year of the Ph.D. program is designed to give students a sound foundation in economic theory and quantitative methods to prepare them for advanced study in their second year. Material covered in the first year includes:

  • A mathematical review (ECON 204)
  • Economic theory (ECON 201A-B)
  • Applied welfare economics, international trade, applied industrial organization, and micromodeling in agricultural and resource economics (ARE 201 and ARE 202)
  • Econometrics and statistics (ARE 211 and ARE 212)

At the end of the first year, students demonstrate mastery of microeconomic theory by completing the preliminary examination.

The Graduate Advisory Committee may exempt students who have an outstanding background in economics and/or quantitative methods from taking any or all of the required first-year courses. The requirement may be relaxed for a student with a weaker background, and some remedial classes may be required. In such cases, first-year requirements must be completed by the end of the second year. Without exception, however, all students must pass the preliminary examination.

Second Year

The second year of the Ph.D. program is designed to be flexible, permitting students to explore their own interests. During the second year students:

  • Take one course in macroeconomic theory (ECON 202A or B)
  • Complete the third required course in the econometrics sequence (ARE 213)
  • Submit an approved econometrics project (ARE 219)

Students are also expected to develop two fields beyond basic microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, and quantitative methods. One field must be selected from among those offered by the Department (Environmental and Resource Economics, Agricultural and Resource Policy, International Development ). The second field also may be taken within the Department, in particular in one of the seven areas of specialization, although many students choose a combination of courses offered by another department and selected with the advice and consent of the Graduate Advisory Committee.

For example, students may take one field in other departments in the College of Natural Resources or in other campus departments such as Economics, Statistics, Demography, Business Administration, and others. To supplement their field courses, we encourage students to take courses in other departments. By the end of the second year (usually several weeks following the close of course work), students are expected to complete a field examination in one of their two fields.

Third Year and Beyond

After the second year, the student develops a thesis topic in consultation with a small faculty committee. A research essay, which is a short thesis prospectus, serves as a basis for an oral examination taken during the third year.

It normally takes about two years to write the dissertation. During this time students may take further course work. Four seminar/workshops are regularly offered for students in their dissertation years:

  • Department Seminar
  • Environmental and Resource Economics Seminar
  • International Development Workshop
  • The Thesis Workshop.

Other workshops are organized on an ad-hoc basis, either when visitors offer such an opportunity or when particular needs are felt by a group of students. Students taking workshops for credit are generally beyond the second regular year of their Ph.D. program.

Normal Progress

Students in the ARE Ph.D. program are expected to adhere to the following schedule, defined as "normal progress," and complete their studies within Normative Time. The sanctions are specified below.

Normative Time is defined as total elapsed calendar time to complete all requirements for the doctoral degree for students engaged in full-time, uninterrupted study. The maximum length of time for our program, set by the Graduate Division, is 12 semesters: 6 semesters before advancement to candidacy, and a maximum of 6 semesters after advancement to completion of the dissertation.

End of First Year

  • A grade of at least B in each of the pre-approved first year courses
  • A Preliminary Examination in economic theory is taken at the end of the first year of studies.

If the examination is not passed, it must be taken again by the end of the second year. (The examination can be taken only twice.) Failure to pass these requirements within the first two years of study leads to dismissal from the Ph.D. program.

End of Second Year

  • Econometrics course sequence and econometrics project completed with at least a B grade in each
  • Both major and minor fields completed
  • Examination in major field taken.

If the major field examination is not passed, it must be taken by the end of the third year, and it can be taken only twice. These requirements must be satisfied before a student is allowed to take the Oral Qualifying Examination.

End of Third Year

  • Required macroeconomics course (ECON 202A or 202B) completed
  • Incomplete grades removed
  • All the first and second year requirements satisfied.
  • Research Essay approved by the student's chosen Guidance Committee
  • Oral Qualifying Examination passed.

Failure to complete all first and second year requirements by this time is cause for blocked registration, discontinuation of financial aid, or dismissal.

Advancement to Candidacy

After passing the Oral Qualifying Examination, students apply for advancement to candidacy for the doctoral degree. Once a student has been advanced to candidacy, the Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) appointment may be upgraded from Level 1 to Level 2 upon recommendation of the faculty dissertation supervisor and availability of funding.

Fourth Year

Students are expected to be writing their dissertations by this time. Departmental support such as GSR/GSI appointments and nonresident tuition may be significantly reduced or discontinued if the Oral Qualifying Examination has not been passed before entering the fourth year.

Fifth Year

Registration may be blocked if the Oral Qualifying Examination has not been passed. Nonresident tuition support would be discontinued.

Time for Completion of Dissertation

Six semesters after Advancement to Candidacy within constraint of normative time. Candidacy will usually be lapsed by Graduate Division at the end of this time.

Extension of Candidacy Beyond Normative Time

Beyond normative time, a one-year extension may be obtained from the Dean of Graduate Division based on certification by the student's dissertation supervisor that continued progress is being made. If this certification is not obtained, the student's candidacy is lapsed by the Graduate Division. Reinstatement by the Dean of Graduate Division is sometimes possible; it depends, in particular, on assessment by the Graduate Advisory Committee that the student's past studies and examinations are not obsolete for the desired degree. The Graduate Division may require the student to take another oral examination.