Doctorate in Economics
Details of the Doctorate in Economics program are included in the college's
Economics Graduate Program Handbook 
.
Academic Requirements
Doctoral students in economics are required to take:
- Two courses in microeconomic theory
- Two courses in macroeconomic theory, and
- Two courses in econometrics.
Students who have no previous graduate work in economics may opt to complete a pre-core year including the following courses:
- ECG 700 Price Theory
- ECG 703 Income and Employment Theory
- ECG 765 Mathematical Methods for Economists, and
- a 2-course sequence in statistical theory.
Field Courses
Students are required to take six field courses, four of which should comprise two 2-course sequences. Fields with two-course sequences include: agricultural economics, economic growth and development, industrial organization, international economics, labor economics, macro-monetary economics, and natural resources and environmental economics. A student wishing to specialize in econometrics/statistics may opt to take two courses from the approved list of statistics courses (below). These two courses will complete one 2-course sequence.
Other courses include economic history, economic decision theory, history of economic thought, and public finance. Students may also take field courses at Duke University or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
521 - Statistical Theory
I
522 - Statistical Theory II
546 - Probability and Stochastic Processes I
552 - Linear Models and Variance Components
581 - Robust and Nonparametric Statistics
715 - Theory of Sampling Applied to Survey Design
722 - Decision Analytic Modeling
730 - Applied Time Series Analysis
731 - Applied Multivariate Statistical Analysis
733 - Applied Spatial Statistics
744 - Categorical and Censored Data Analysis
746 - Introduction to Stochastic Processes
750 - Statistical Computing
762 - Nonlinear Statistical Models for Univariate and Multivariate Response
778 - Measure Theory and Advanced Probability I
779 - Measure Theory and Advanced Probability II
782 - Time Series: Time Domain
783 - Time Series: Frequency Domain
784 - Multivariate Analysis
785 - Introduction to Statistical Decision Theory
793 - Advanced Statistical Inference I
794 - Advanced Statistical Inference II
Examinations
After completing the core theory courses, students take written preliminary examinations in microeconomic theory and macroeconomic theory. The examinations are offered twice a year, in January and July.
Students must complete the written preliminary examinations at the first offering following completion of their micro theory and macro theory core courses (usually July). Both exams must be taken at the same offering. The four-hour written exams are offered in the same week with a day of rest in between.
If a student fails one or both exams, the necessary exams may be retaken at the next offering (January). If a student fails one or both exams a second time, the student's doctoral program is terminated. There are no field exams.
A preliminary oral examination is required to admit a student to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. This exam concentrates on a dissertation proposal developed by the student under the guidance of their faculty committee. The preliminary oral examination is taken at the end of the third year of Ph.D. work. Once the dissertation is completed, the student must pass a final oral defense before committee.
Expected Duration of Program
Students who enter the program with no prior graduate work should expect to take five years to complete the Ph.D., three years of course work and two years of dissertation research. Those with a master's degree in economics or agricultural economics should expect to take four years, two years of course work and two years of dissertation research.