best phd in agricultural economics

UC Davis Agricultural and Resource Economics

The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at UC Davis offers one of the world's top graduate programs in agricultural economics, development economics, and environmental and resource economics. Students in our program complete a rigorous plan of study in microeconomic theory, econometrics, and field courses, and benefit from close collaboration and hands-on advising with faculty. We welcome students from a wide range of backgrounds and places, and value the diversity they bring to our program.

In these pages you will find key information about our program, including the program philosophy, application procedure, financial aid, and course offerings. Our graduate handbook provides you with all the relevant information about expectations, procedures, and requirements to be met as you make your way toward your degree objective.

If you have any questions after reading these pages, please send an e-mail to [email protected] .

We also offer a post-graduate certificate program, for students currently enrolled in a graduate program abroad who seek to enhance their training in applied economics at UC Davis.

Main Office: 530-752-1515 Student Advising Services: 530-754-9536 DeLoach Conference Room: 530-752-2916 Main Conference Room: 530-754-1850

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100 Best colleges for Agricultural Economics in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Agricultural Economics. A graph of 1.18M citations received by 46.1K academic papers made by 151 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Iowa State University

For Agricultural Economics

2. Cornell University

3. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

4. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

5. University of California - Berkeley

6. Michigan State University

7. University of California - Davis

8. University of Florida

9. Stanford University

10. Pennsylvania State University

11. University of Wisconsin - Madison

12. Yale University

13. Ohio State University

14. Texas A&M University - College Station

15. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

16. Kansas State University

17. Harvard University

18. University of Georgia

19. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

20. University of Chicago

21. Columbia University

22. Auburn University

23. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

24. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

25. University of Maryland - College Park

26. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

27. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

28. Purdue University

29. Washington State University

30. Princeton University

31. Oregon State University

32. New York University

33. Tufts University

34. University of Missouri - Columbia

35. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

36. Arizona State University - Tempe

37. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

38. University of Kentucky

39. University of Pennsylvania

40. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

41. Oklahoma State University

42. North Dakota State University

43. University of California - Santa Barbara

44. Mississippi State University

45. Montana State University

46. University of Arizona

47. University of Connecticut

48. Duke University

49. Texas Tech University

50. University of Washington - Seattle

51. Johns Hopkins University

52. University of Arkansas

53. University of Wyoming

54. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

55. Boston University

56. University of Texas at Austin

57. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

58. Carnegie Mellon University

59. University of Pittsburgh

60. University of California - Los Angeles

61. University of Southern California

62. University of Illinois at Chicago

63. University of Virginia

64. University of California-San Diego

65. Clemson University

66. West Virginia University

67. Dakota State University

68. University of Hawaii at Manoa

69. University of Idaho

70. University of Delaware

71. South Dakota State University

72. Utah State University

73. Williams College

74. University of California - Irvine

75. University of California - Santa Cruz

76. Florida State University

77. University of Vermont

78. Dartmouth College

79. University at Buffalo

80. University of Maine

81. Georgetown University

82. Emory University

83. University of Notre Dame

84. Northwestern University

85. University of Iowa

86. University of South Carolina - Columbia

87. New Mexico State University

88. Washington University in St Louis

89. Brown University

90. University of California - Riverside

91. American University in Washington

92. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

93. University of Montana

94. University of Colorado Boulder

95. Providence College

96. Georgia Institute of Technology

97. Georgia State University

98. Clark University

99. Vanderbilt University

100. Michigan Technological University

The best cities to study Agricultural Economics in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Ames , Ithaca , Champaign , and Minneapolis .

Economics subfields in the United States

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Ph.d. in agricultural economics.

At Nebraska, you can create the future you want. Our STEM-certified Ph.D. program gives you the tools to do more. One-on-one faculty membership helps you grow as a student, a researcher, and a citizen. Our students collaborate with each other, across disciplines, and across the world.

Why Agricultural Economics?

At Nebraska, you'll find a community of students and faculty ready to help you succeed. The three-part mission of a land grant institution means you have access to researcher, teachers and extension specialists. Faculty research is concentrated in five areas:

Agriculture Firm Profitability and Sustainability Behavioral and Experimental Economics Industrial Organization of the Agri-Food System International Trade and Development Natural Resources Rural Innovation and Development

Why Nebraska?

In the Department of Agricultural Economics, you get the best of both worlds. You'll attend a world-class, Big Ten university and have access to the all the academic resources and activities that come with it. At our East Campus location, you get a small-school atmosphere with one-on-one personal advising and a community that cares about you. At Nebraska, we believe in the power of every person. And we don't rest on our strengths — we stretch them.

How to Apply What You Will Learn Funding and Cost About the Ph. D. in Ag Econ

Students come from across the world to participate in our STEM designated doctoral program. The program is enriched by the diverse experiences and backgrounds of our students. We encourage collaboration and value the contributions of our PhD students to our department.

Diya Ganguly Ph. D. Student

"There is a wonderful sense of being truly welcomed and made to feel at home by everyone I have met on campus and everyone in my department."

Simanti Banerjee Associate Professor

"I was drawn to UNL’s strong agricultural focus, its membership in the prestigious Big 10 Conference, UNL’s location in the State Capital where it is close to various stakeholder agencies."

Badri Khanal PhD Alumnus

"UNL feels like a home away from home. Lincoln has a very welcoming community for international students."

Kofi Britwum PhD Alumnus

"I appreciate having advisers/professors who saw in me what I didn't see in myself, and nurtured me to become an independent researcher and an academic."

Meet More Students Meet Our Faculty About Our University Life In Lincoln

How to Apply

Requirements.

• A master's degree with a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Students without a master’s degree will also be considered but they must have completed core requirements for the master's degree in agricultural economics.
• See all Graduate Studies admission policies .

Prerequisites

• Master's level microeconomics
• Master's level macroeconomics
• Master's level econometrics
• Calculus I, II, and III

Field courses in areas of interest are recommended but not required.

Other Information

• The GRE is not required but is recommended for students seeking an assistantship.
• If your native language is not English, verification of English proficiency is required. Graduate Studies determines exemptions from this requirement.
• You do not need to contact a faculty member to be considered for admission or an assistantship.

Application

In addition to Graduate Studies' requirements . We require:

• A one-page to three-page statement of purpose. It should explain why you want to pursue a graduate degree and describe your interests.
• Three letters of recommendation. We recommend at least two of these letters are from faculty members who can describe your academic abilities.
• Resume or curriculum vitae

What You Will Learn

All doctoral students take:

• ECON 912A and 912B - Advanced Microeconomics I & II
• ECON 912A and 912B - Advanced Macroeconomics I & II
• ECON 917, 918, and 919 - Econometrics I, II & III
• STAT 882 - Mathematical Statics I-Distribution Theory
• Two courses from the AECN 901 block (6 credit hours)
• Two courses from the AECN 902 block (6 credit hours)

In addition to the core requirements, Ph.D. students are expected to:

• Prepare a department or a conference presentation (or paper) before the fourth year begins
• Have a paper submitted to a peer-reviewed journal before graduating

Credit Hour Requirements

• At least 90 credit hours, including 12 to 55 hours of dissertation research
• At least half of the graduate work, including the dissertation, will be completed in the department

Funding and Cost

Graduate tuition and fees.

For current graduate tuition and fee structure and rates, visit studentaccounts.unl.edu/graduate-tuition.

Assistantships

Graduate research assistantships are the most common form of financial assistance. A GRA consists of a stipend and benefits. Tuition is waived for students on assistantships, but fees of approximately $1,200/year must be paid by all students. A major portion of the fee for student health insurance is included in GRAs. Each year, we receive funding from the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Agricultural Research Division for GRAs. These are not tied to a specific research project but support the research needs of the department and institute. There is no separate application for assistantships and applicants do not need to contact a faculty member to be considered.

Faculty often have grants or other funding to support graduate students. More information .

READY TO APPLY?

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Graduate Program

Why study at uc berkeley's department of agricultural and resource economics.

Aprajit Mahajan, associate professor of agricultrual and resource economics, working with a student after class. Photo: Jim Block

Our graduate program in agricultural and resource economics produces outstanding researchers in development economics, environmental and energy economics, international trade, and agricultural and resource policy.

Students enrolling in our doctoral program complete a rigorous course of study, including microeconomic theory (offered by the Department of Economics), econometrics, and field courses offered by ARE, the Department of Economics, and the Haas School of Business. A number of our graduate students also take doctoral-level courses in the Department of Statistics.

Read a  letter to prospective graduate students  from the chair of our department, Jeremy Magruder

Why ARE - Advice from Current and Former Students

Texas A&M University Catalogs

Doctor of philosophy in agricultural economics.

A PhD in Agricultural Economics provides a degree tailored to produce a highly skilled applied economist focused on quantitatively-based economic research and analyses of managerial and policy questions as well as natural resource and environmental issues.

Students (regardless of their primary interests) are encouraged to take not only advanced courses covering various fields within the department but also essential supporting courses in other departments. Students are expected to acquire knowledge of economic theory, its application to contemporary agricultural production, agribusiness and resource problems, and the ability to employ analytical techniques in making policy and business decisions.

The teaching and research activities are grouped broadly as follows: Agribusiness, Applied Market Analysis, and Resources and Environmental Economics. The present and expanding program of research in the department affords the student diverse options and capable guidance in dissertation research.

Information regarding the program and  application process  may be obtained from the  Agricultural Economics Graduate Programs webpage  or by contacting the Department at [email protected] .

Steps to Fulfill a Doctoral Program

Program Requirements

• Student's Advisory Committee

Degree Plan

Transfer of credit, research proposal, preliminary examination, preliminary examination format, preliminary examination scheduling.

• Preliminary Examination Grading

Failure of the Preliminary Examination

Retake of failed preliminary examination, final examination.

• Final Examination Grading

Dissertation

Student’s advisory committee.

After receiving admission to graduate studies and enrolling, the student will consult with the head of their major or administrative department (or chair of the intercollegiate faculty) concerning appointment of the chair of the advisory committee. The student’s advisory committee will consist of  no fewer than four members of the graduate faculty  representative of the student’s several fields of study and research, where the chair or co-chair must be from the student’s department (or intercollegiate faculty, if applicable), and  at least one or more of the members must have an appointment to a department other than the student’s major department . The outside member for a student in an interdisciplinary degree program must be from a department different from the chair of the student’s committee.

The chair, in consultation with the student, will select the remainder of the advisory committee. Only graduate faculty members located on Texas A&M University campuses may serve as chair of a student’s advisory committee. Other Texas A&M University graduate faculty members located off-campus may serve as a member or co-chair (but not chair), with a member as the chair.

If the chair of a student’s advisory committee voluntarily leaves the University and the student is near completion of the degree and wants the chair to continue to serve in this role, the student is responsible for securing a current member of the University Graduate Faculty, from the student’s academic program and located near the Texas A&M University campus site, to serve as the co-chair of the committee. The Department Head or Chair of Intercollegiate faculty may request in writing to the Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate and Professional School that a faculty member who is on an approved leave of absence or has voluntarily separated from the university, be allowed to continue to serve in the role of chair of a student’s advisory committee without a co-chair for up to one year. The students should be near completion of the degree. Extensions beyond the one year period can be granted with additional approval of the Dean.

The committee members’ signatures on the degree plan indicate their willingness to accept the responsibility for guiding and directing the entire academic program of the student and for initiating all academic actions concerning the student. Although individual committee members may be replaced by petition for valid reasons, a committee cannot resign  en masse . The chair of the committee, who usually has immediate supervision of the student’s research and dissertation or record of study, has the responsibility for calling all meetings of the committee. The duties of the committee include responsibility for the proposed degree plan, the research proposal, the preliminary examination, the dissertation or record of study and the final examination. In addition, the committee, as a group and as individual members, is responsible for counseling the student on academic matters, and, in the case of academic deficiency, initiating recommendations to the Graduate and Professional School.

The student’s advisory committee will evaluate the student’s previous education and degree objectives. The committee, in consultation with the student, will develop a proposed degree plan and outline a research problem which, when completed, as indicated by the dissertation (or its equivalent for the degree of Doctor of Education or the degree of Doctor of Engineering), will constitute the basic requirements for the degree. The degree plan must be filed with the Graduate and Professional School prior to the deadline imposed by the student’s college and no later than 90 days prior to the preliminary examination.

This proposed degree plan should be submitted through the online Document Processing Submission System located on the website  http://ogsdpss.tamu.edu . A minimum of 64 hours is required on the degree plan for the Doctor of Philosophy for a student who has completed a master’s degree. A student who has completed a DDS/DMD, DVM or a MD at a U.S. institution is also required to complete a minimum of 64 hours. A student who has completed a baccalaureate degree but not a master’s degree will be required to complete a 96-hour degree plan. Completion of a DDS/DMD, DVM or MD degree at a foreign institution requires completion of a minimum of 96 hours for the Doctor of Philosophy. A field of study may be primarily in one department or in a combination of departments. A degree plan must carry a reasonable amount of 691 (research). A maximum of 9 hours of 400-level undergraduate courses may be used toward meeting credit-hour requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy.

Additional coursework may be added by petition to the approved degree plan by the student’s advisory committee if it is deemed necessary to correct deficiencies in the student’s academic preparation. No changes can be made to the degree plan once the student’s Request for Final Examination is approved by the Graduate and Professional School.

Approval to enroll in any professional course (900-level) should be obtained from the head of the department (or Chair of the intercollegiate faculty, if applicable) in which the course will be offered before including such a course on a degree plan.

No credit may be obtained by correspondence study, by extension or for any course of fewer than three weeks duration.

For non-distance degree programs, no more than 50 percent of the non-research credit hours required for the program may be completed through distance education courses.

To receive a graduate degree from Texas A&M University, students must earn one-third or more of the credits through the institution’s own direct instruction. This limitation also applies to joint degree programs. 

Courses for which transfer credits are sought must have been completed with a grade of B or greater and must be approved by the student’s advisory committee and the Graduate and Professional School. These courses must not have been used previously for another degree. Except for officially approved cooperative doctoral programs, credit for thesis or dissertation research or the equivalent is not transferable. Credit for “internship” coursework in any form is not transferable. Courses taken in residence at an accredited U.S. institution or approved international institution with a final grade of B or greater will be considered for transfer credit if, at the time the courses were completed, the courses would be accepted for credit toward a similar degree for a student in degree-seeking status at the host institution. Credit for coursework taken by extension is not transferable. Coursework  in which no formal grades are given or in which grades other than letter grades (A or B) are earned (for example, CR, P, S, U, H, etc.) is not accepted for transfer credit . Credit for coursework submitted for transfer from any college or university must be shown in semester credit hours, or equated to semester credit hours.

Courses used toward a degree at another institution may not be applied for graduate credit. If the course to be transferred was taken prior to the conferral of a degree at the transfer institution, a letter from the registrar at that institution stating that the course was not applied for credit toward the degree must be submitted to the Graduate and Professional School.

Grades for courses completed at other institutions are not included in computing the GPA. An official transcript from the university at which transfer courses are taken must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions.

The general field of research to be used for the dissertation should be agreed on by the student and the advisory committee at their first meeting, as a basis for selecting the proper courses to support the proposed research.

As soon thereafter as the research project can be outlined in reasonable detail, the dissertation research proposal should be completed. The research proposal should be approved at a meeting of the student’s advisory committee, at which time the feasibility of the proposed research and the adequacy of available facilities should be reviewed. The approved proposal, signed by all members of the student’s advisory committee, the head of the student’s major department (or chair of the intercollegiate faculty, if applicable), must be submitted to the Graduate and Professional School at least 20 working days prior to the submission of the Request for the Final Examination.

Compliance issues must be addressed if a graduate student is performing research involving human subjects, animals, infectious biohazards and recombinant DNA. A student involved in these types of research should check with the Office of Research Compliance and Biosafety at (979) 458-1467 to address questions about all research compliance responsibilities. Additional information can also be obtained on the website  http:// rcb.tamu.edu .

Examinations

The student’s major department (or chair of the interdisciplinary degree program faculty, if applicable) and their advisory committee may require qualifying, cumulative or other types of examinations at any time deemed desirable. These examinations are entirely at the discretion of the department and the student’s advisory committee.

The preliminary examination is required. The preliminary examination for a doctoral student shall be given no earlier than a date at which the student is within 6 credit hours of completion of the formal coursework on the degree plan (i.e., all coursework on the degree plan except 681, 684, 690, 691, 692, 693, 695, 697, 791, or other graduate courses specifically designated as S/U in the course catalog). The student should complete the Preliminary Examination no later than the end of the semester following the completion of the formal coursework on the degree plan.

The objective of preliminary examination is to evaluate whether the student has demonstrated the following qualifications:

a.     a mastery of the subject matter of all fields in the program;

b.     an adequate knowledge of the literature in these fields and an ability to carry out bibliographical research;

c.     an understanding of the research problem and the appropriate methodological approaches.

The format of the preliminary examination shall be determined by the student’s department (or interdisciplinary degree program, if applicable) and advisory committee, and communicated to the student in advance of the examination. The exam may consist of a written component, oral component, or combination of written and oral components.

The preliminary exam may be administered by the advisory committee or a departmental committee; herein referred to as the examination committee.

Regardless of exam format, a student will receive an overall preliminary exam result of pass or fail. The department (or interdisciplinary degree program, if applicable) will determine how the overall pass or fail result is determined based on the exam structure and internal department procedures. If the exam is administered by the advisory committee, each advisory committee member will provide a pass or fail evaluation decision.

Only one advisory committee substitution is allowed to provide an evaluation decision for a student’s preliminary exam, and it cannot be the committee chair.

If a student is required to take, as a part of the preliminary examination, a written component administered by a department or interdisciplinary degree program, the department or interdisciplinary degree program faculty must:

a.     offer the examination at least once every six months. The departmental or interdisciplinary degree program examination should be announced at least 30 days prior to the scheduled examination date.

b.     assume the responsibility for marking the examination satisfactory or unsatisfactory, or otherwise graded, and in the case of unsatisfactory, stating specifically the reasons for such a mark.

c.     forward the marked examination to the chair of the student’s advisory committee within one week after the examination.

Students are eligible for to schedule the preliminary examination in the Academic Requirements Completion System (ARCS) if they meet the following list of eligibility requirements:

Student is registered at Texas A&M University for a minimum of one semester credit hour in the long semester or summer term during which any component of the preliminary examination is held. If the entire examination is held between semesters, then the student must be registered for the term immediately preceding the examination.

An approved degree plan is on file with the Graduate and Professional School prior to commencing the first component of the examination.

Student’s cumulative GPA is at least 3.000.

Student’s degree plan GPA is at least 3.000.

At the end of the semester in which at least the first component of the exam is given, there are no more than 6 hours of coursework remaining on the degree plan (except 681, 684, 690, 691, 692, 693, 695, 697, 791, or other graduate courses specifically designated as S/U in the course catalog). The head of the student’s department (or Chair of the Interdisciplinary Degree Program, if applicable) has the authority to approve a waiver of this criterion.

Preliminary Examination Grading

Credit for the preliminary examination is not transferable in cases where a student changes degree programs after passing a preliminary exam.

If a written component precedes an oral component of the preliminary exam, the chair of the student’s examination committee is responsible for making all written examinations available to all members of the committee.  A positive evaluation of the preliminary exam by all members of a student’s examination committee with at most one dissension is required to pass a student on their preliminary exam.

The student’s department will promptly report the results of the Preliminary Examination to the Graduate and Professional School via the Academic Requirements Completion System (ARCS) within 10 working days of completion of the preliminary examination.

If an approved examination committee member substitution (one only) has been made, their approval must be submitted to the Graduate and Professional School via ARCS. The approval of the designated department approver is also required on the request.

After passing the required preliminary oral and written examinations for a doctoral degree, the student must complete the final examination within four years of the semester in which the preliminary exam is taken. Exams taken in between terms will expire at the end of the term that ended prior to the exam. For example, a preliminary exam taken and passed during the Fall 2023 semester will expire at the end of the Fall 2027 semester. A preliminary exam taken in the time between the Summer and Fall 2023 semesters will expire at the end of the Summer 2027 semester.

First Failure

Upon approval of the student’s examination committee, with no more than one member dissenting, and approval of the Graduate and Professional School, a student who has failed the preliminary examination may be given one re-examination. In accordance with Student Rule 12.5, the student’s department head or designee, intercollegiate faculty, or graduate advisory committee should make a recommendation to the student regarding their scholastic deficiency.

Second Failure

Upon failing the preliminary exam twice in a doctoral program, a student is no longer eligible to continue to pursue the PhD in that program/major. In accordance with Student Rule 12.5.3 and/or 12.5.4, the student will be notified of the action being taken by the department as a result of the second failure of the preliminary examination.

Adequate time must be given to permit the student to address the inadequacies emerging from the first preliminary examination. The examination committee must agree upon and communicate in writing to the student, an adequate time-frame from the first examination (normally six months) to retest, as well as a detailed explanation of the inadequacies emerging from the examination. The student and the committee should jointly negotiate a mutually acceptable date for this retest. When providing feedback on inadequacies, the committee should clearly document expected improvements that the student must be able to exhibit in order to retake the exam. The examination committee will document and communicate the time-frame and feedback within 10 working days of the exam that was not passed.

Candidates for the doctoral degrees must pass a final examination by deadline dates announced in the  Graduate and Professional School Calendar  each semester. A doctoral student is allowed only one opportunity to take the final examination.

No unabsolved grades of D, F, or U for any course can be listed on the degree plan. The student must be registered for any remaining hours of 681, 684, 690, 691, 692, 791 or other graduate courses specifically designated as S/U in the course catalog during the semester of the final exam. No student may be given a final examination until they have been admitted to candidacy and their current official cumulative and degree plan GPAs are 3.00 or better.

Refer to the  Admission to Candidacy  section of the graduate catalog for candidacy requirements.

A request to schedule the final examination must be submitted to the Graduate and Professional School via ARCS a minimum of 10 working days in advance of the scheduled date. Any changes to the degree plan must be approved by the Graduate and Professional School prior to the submission of the request for final examination.

The student’s advisory committee will conduct this examination. Only one committee member substitution is allowed with the approval of the Graduate and Professional School. If the substitution is for the sole external member of the advisory committee - with an appointment to a department other than the student's major department - then the substitute must also be external to the student's major department. In extenuating circumstances, with the approval of the Graduate and Professional School, an exception to this requirement may be granted.

The final examination is not to be administered until the dissertation or record of study is available in substantially final form to the student’s advisory committee, and all concerned have had adequate time to review the document. Whereas the final examination may cover the broad field of the candidate’s training, it is presumed that the major portion of the time will be devoted to the dissertation and closely allied topics. Persons other than members of the graduate faculty may, with mutual consent of the candidate and the chair of the advisory committee, be invited to attend a final examination for an advanced degree. A positive vote by all members of the graduate committee with at most one dissension is required to pass a student on their exam. A department can have a stricter requirement provided there is consistency within all degree programs within a department. Upon completion of the questioning of the candidate, all visitors must excuse themselves from the proceedings.

Final Examination Grading

The student’s department will promptly report the results of the Final Examination to the Graduate and Professional School via the Academic Requirements Completion System (ARCS) within 10 working days of completion of the final examination. The Graduate and Professional School will be automatically notified via ARCS of any cancellations.

A positive evaluation of the final exam by all members of a student’s advisory committee with at most one dissension is required to pass a student on their final exam. If an approved committee member substitution (1 only) has been made, their approval must be submitted to the Graduate and Professional School via ARCS.

The dissertation,  which must be a candidate's original work demonstrates the ability to perform independent research . Whereas acceptance of the dissertation is based primarily on its scholarly merit, it must also exhibit creditable literary workmanship. Dissertation formatting must be acceptable to the Graduate and Professional School as outlined in the Guidelines for Theses, Dissertations, and Records of Study.

After successful defense and approval by the student’s advisory committee and the head of the student’s major department (or chair of intercollegiate faculty, if applicable), a student must submit the dissertation in electronic format as a single PDF file to https://etd.tamu.edu/ . Additionally, a dissertation approval form with original signatures must be received by the Graduate and Professional School through the Academic Requirements Completion System (ARCS). Both the PDF file and the completed ARCS approval form must be received by the deadline.

Deadline dates for submitting are announced each semester or summer term in the Graduate and Professional School Calendar (see Time Limit statement). These dates also can be accessed via the  Graduate and Professional School website .

Each student who submits a document for review is assessed a one-time thesis/dissertation processing fee through Student Business Services. This processing fee is for the thesis/dissertation services provided. After commencement, dissertations are digitally stored and made available through the Texas A&M Libraries.

A dissertation that is deemed unacceptable by the Graduate and Professional School because of excessive corrections will be returned to the student’s department head or chair of the intercollegiate faculty . The manuscript must be resubmitted as a new document, and the entire review process must begin anew. All original submittal deadlines must be met during the resubmittal process to graduate.

Additional Requirements

Continuous registration, admission to candidacy.

• 99-Hour Cap on Doctoral Degree

Application for Degree

A student who enters the doctoral degree program with a baccalaureate degree must spend one academic year plus one semester in resident study at Texas A&M University. A student who holds master’s degree when they enter doctoral degree program must spend one academic year in resident study. One academic year may include two adjacent regular semesters or one regular semester and one adjacent 10-week summer semester. The third semester is not required to be adjacent to the one year. Enrollment for each semester must be a minimum of 9 credit hours each to satisfy the residence requirement. A minimum of 1 credit hour must be in a non-distance education delivery mode. Semesters in which the student is enrolled in all distance education coursework will not count toward fulfillment of the residence requirement.

To satisfy the residence requirement, the student must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester or 10-week summer semester in resident study at Texas A&M University for the required period. A student who enters a doctoral degree program with a baccalaureate degree may fulfill residence requirements in excess of one academic year (18 credit hours) by registration during summer sessions or by completion of a less-than-full course load (in this context a full course load is considered 9 credit hours per semester).

Students who are employed full-time while completing their degree may fulfill total residence requirements by completion of less-than-full time course loads each semester. In order to be considered for this, the student is required to submit a Petition for Waivers and Exceptions along with verification of their employment to the Graduate and Professional School. An employee should submit verification of their employment at the time they submit the degree plan. See  Registration.

See  Residence Requirements .

All requirements for doctoral degrees must be completed within a period of ten consecutive calendar years for the degree to be granted. A course will be considered valid until 10 years after the end of the semester in which it is taken. Graduate credit for coursework more than ten calendar years old at the time of the final oral examination may not be used to satisfy degree requirements.

After passing the required preliminary oral and written examinations for a doctoral degree, the student must complete the final examination within four years of the semester in which the preliminary exam is taken. Exams taken in between terms will expire at the end of the term that ended prior to the exam. For example, a preliminary exam taken and passed during the fall 2019 semester will expire at the end of the fall 2023 semester. A preliminary exam taken in the time between the summer and fall 2019 semesters will expire at the end of the summer 2023 semester.

A final corrected version of the dissertation or record of study in electronic format as a single PDF file must be cleared by the Graduate and Professional School within one year of the semester in which the final exam is taken. Exams taken in between terms will expire at the end of the term that ended prior to the exam. For example, a final exam taken and passed during the fall 2022 semester will expire at the end of the fall 2023 semester. A final exam taken in the time between the summer and fall 2022 semesters will expire at the end of the summer 2023 semester. Failure to do so will result in the degree not being awarded.

A student in a program leading to a Doctor of Philosophy who has completed all coursework on their degree plan other than 691 (research) are required to be in continuous registration until all requirements for the degree have been completed. See  Continuous Registration Requirements .

To be admitted to candidacy for a doctoral degree, a student must have:

• completed all formal coursework on the degree plan with the exception of any remaining 681, 684, 690 and 691, or 791.
• a 3.0 Graduate GPA and a Degree Plan GPA of at least 3.0 with no grade lower than C in any course on the degree plan,
• passed the preliminary examination (written and oral portions),
• submitted an approved dissertation proposal,
• met the residence requirements. The final examination will not be authorized for any doctoral student who has not been admitted to candidacy.

A student is required to possess a competent command of English. For English language proficiency requirements, see the Admissions section of this catalog. The doctoral (PhD) foreign language requirement at Texas A&M University is a departmental option, to be administered and monitored by the individual departments of academic instruction.

99-Hour Cap on Doctoral Degrees

In Texas, public colleges and universities are funded by the state according to the number of students enrolled. In accordance with legislation passed by the Texas Legislature, the number of hours for which state universities may receive subvention funding at the doctoral rate for any individual is limited to 99 hours. Texas A&M and other universities will not receive subvention for hours in excess of the limit.

Institutions of higher education are allowed to charge the equivalent of non-resident tuition to a resident doctoral student who has enrolled in 100 or more semester credit hours of doctoral coursework.

Doctoral students at Texas A&M have seven years to complete their degree before being charged out-of-state tuition. A doctoral student who, after seven years of study, has accumulated 100 or more doctoral hours will be charged tuition at a rate equivalent to out-of-state tuition. Please note that the tuition increases will apply to Texas residents as well as students from other states and countries who are currently charged tuition at the resident rate. This includes those doctoral students who hold GAT, GANT, and GAR appointments or recipients of competitive fellowships who receive more than $1,000 per semester. Doctoral students who have not accumulated 100 hours after seven years of study are eligible to pay in-state tuition if otherwise eligible.

Doctoral students who exceed the credit limit will receive notification from the Graduate and Professional School during the semester in which they are enrolled and exceeding the limit in their current degree program. The notification will explain that the State of Texas does not provide funding for any additional hours in which a student is enrolled in excess of 99 hours. Texas A&M University will recover the lost funds by requiring students in excess of 99 hours to pay tuition at the non-funded, non-resident rate. This non-funded, non-resident tuition rate status will be updated for the following semester and in all subsequent semesters until receipt of a doctoral degree. Please see the  Tuition Calculator  at the non-resident rate for an example of potential charges.

The following majors are exempt from the 99-Hour Cap on Doctoral Degrees and have a limit of 130 doctoral hours:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
• Biomedical Sciences
• Clinical Psychology
• Counseling Psychology
• Genetics and Genomics
• Health Services Research
• Medical Sciences
• Microbiology
• Neurosciences (College of Medicine)
• Oral and Craniofacial Biomedical Sciences
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Public Health Sciences
• School Psychology

For information on applying for your degree, please visit the  Graduation  section.

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Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics Doctor of Philosophy

Welcome to the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics (AEDE) at The Ohio State University. Housed in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, AEDE currently has twenty-two world-class faculty members and administers highly respectedbachelor’s, master’s and PhD programs.

AEDE’s faculty provide world-class teaching, research and outreach in applied economics, with concentrations in the areas of:

• agricultural economics and agribusiness
• environmental and resource economics
• international and development economics
• regional and urban economics

Doctoral Program The AEDE PhD program is a globally recognized leader in the disciplinary areas of agricultural, environmental, and development economics. In 2011, our doctoral program was ranked by the National Research Council as the top program in Agricultural and Resource Economics in the United States.

Students learn to apply the skills they acquire , through rigorous training in economic theory and advanced quantitative methods, to a wide range of real-world economic problems. PhD degree recipients go on to assume teaching, research, and managerial positions with:

• universities and colleges
• research institutions
• government agencies
• multilateral international institutions
• nongovernmental organizations
• private companies and corporations

If you want to learn more about our Department’s outstanding programs, please explore our website . If you have any questions, if you would like more information, or if you are ready to join one of the elite departments at Ohio State and in the world, let us know at [email protected] or give us a call at 614-292-7911.

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Agricultural & Resource Economics PhD

The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics offers programs leading to PhD degrees. Due to quota limitations, students are rarely admitted for the master's degree, although it may be awarded to students who are pursuing work toward the PhD in our program (or in another field at Berkeley) after fulfillment of the appropriate MS requirements.

The Agricultural and Resource Economics Program is relatively flexible; however, the program stresses economic theory, quantitative methods, and two elective fields defined in consultation with the graduate adviser. Some common elective fields include development economics, natural resource or environmental economics, agricultural policy, and international markets and trade.

Contact Info

[email protected]

207 Giannini Hall

Berkeley, CA 94720

At a Glance

Department(s)

Agricultural & Resource Econonomics

Admit Term(s)

Application Deadline

December 2, 2024

Degree Type(s)

Doctoral / PhD

Degree Awarded

GRE Requirements

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A Uniquely Rich Experience

With the academic resources and research expertise of economics faculty in two colleges — the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Poole College of Management — our graduate students experience uniquely rich research and learning, preparing them for leadership in today’s dynamic, global marketplace. It’s not surprising we consistently place graduates as professors in these fields at major land-grant universities and research institutions.

You can also pursue a Master of Science in economics or a Master of Economics. For currently enrolled undergraduate students, we offer the accelerated bachelor’s-master’s degree program.

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Accelerated ba/ma.

The Accelerated BA/MA degree program in economics gives exceptional undergraduate economics students the opportunity to complete both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree at an accelerated pace by double-counting up to 12 credits toward a thesis or non-thesis Master’s degree.

Program details 

Master’s Degrees

The master’s degree programs can be tailored to each students’ research interests and career goals. Students choose a terminal master’s track or a PhD-prep track and can choose between a research project culminating in a thesis (MS) or coursework only (MR). Attending full-time or part-time is an option, and many courses are available online.

Doctoral Program

The Ph.D. program is consistently ranked in the top 5 agricultural and resource economics programs. Faculty collaborate to offer a quantitatively rigorous program that prepares graduates for work in academia, research, government, and private industry. Students complete 36 hours of coursework and 36 hours of dissertation research.

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A graduate of the NC State Master of Economics program, Laura Schumacher used her passion for climate change solutions to excel in her studies. She also took advantage of opportunities to collaborate with faculty, most notably on a project with Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist Heidi Schweizer.

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Having built trust in the industry, we promote our Ph.D. job market candidates for prospective employers to ensure our top talent reach their full potential.

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We boast a strong track record of placing alumni as professors at major land-grant schools as well as helping graduates land prominent positions in the industry.

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Recognized as a premier graduate program globally, we have a solid reputation that stands on the high quality of our research.

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For more information on our graduate programs, please contact:

Melinda Morrill Graduate Program Director [email protected]

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Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics

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The PhD program is a globally recognized leader in the disciplinary areas of agricultural, development, environmental and regional economic s and was previously ranked by the National Research Council as the top program in Agricultural and Resource Economics in the United States.

Students acquire rigorous training in economic theory and advanced quantitative methods and learn to apply these skills to a wide range of real-world economic problems. Degree recipients go on to assume teaching, research and managerial positions with universities and colleges, research institutions, government agencies, multilateral international institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and private companies and corporations.

An MS degree is not required for admission to apply to the PhD Program.  Students whose undergraduate degrees are not in economics or business are welcome to apply as well.

Learn more about the application criteria and process >>>>>

Fields of specialization

Students are required to take a total of 12 credit hours of frontiers courses that provide specialized training in the field of their choice. The AEDE frontiers courses cover topics relevant to agricultural economics, environmental and resource economics, regional economics and development economics. Graduate students are given wide latitude to design their own program of study and to choose a dissertation topic. In recent years, under the supervision of AEDE faculty members, doctoral students have conducted innovative theoretical and applied research on agricultural policy and trade, agricultural finance and risk management, consumption and marketing economics, food economics and agribusiness, environmental and natural resource economics, international and regional economic development, poverty and food security, climate change,  agricultural economics,  spatial and land-use economics, health economics, bioeconomics, and experimental and behavioral economics. Innovative research that addresses pressing social problems is encouraged, regardless of the sub-discipline of economics with which it may be identified.

Course requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 90 graduate semester credit hours and take the non-credit Math Camp offered by the Department of Economics in July and August, immediately preceding the start of classes in the first year. Students are required to take a minimum of 56 credit hours of in-class coursework. This is comprised of 44 credit hours of required courses that provide a strong foundation in microeconomic theory, econometric theory, applied econometrics and applied welfare as well as 12 credit hours of frontiers courses relevant to the student’s intended research topics to provide more specialized training. All additional credit hours cover departmental seminar requirements and dissertation research. Please refer to our curriculum sheets for the first year and second/third years in the PhD program for a more detailed understanding of the required coursework.

Examinations

In addition to required coursework, students must: Pass a microeconomics theory qualifying examination prior to the beginning of the second year; Pass the second year manuscript requirement prior to the beginning of their third year; Pass the candidacy examination and defend their doctoral dissertation proposal, typically before the beginning of their fifth year; Complete the doctoral dissertation and pass a final oral examination.  

Questions? We are here to help. Please email AEDE Graduation Admissions and Services below for more information about the PhD program.

AEDE Graduate Admissions and Services

[email protected]   | 614-292-7911

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Home » Agricultural and Resource Economics (Ph.D.)

Agricultural and Resource Economics (Ph.D.)

The department of Agricultural and Resource Economics specializes in agricultural education, agribusiness management and finance, livestock systems, consumer choice and the economics of water, land and environment.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Agricultural and Resource Economics

Areas of study.

• Agricultural economics
• Natural resource and environmental economics
• Contact your department representative or request more program information .
• Check out department requirements and resources from your department’s website.
• When you’re ready to take the leap, start your application .

Requirements

Coursework, credit requirements, and more information is available in the Colorado State University general catalog . Please contact your department representative with program-related questions.

Student Employment

Graduate students interested in employment positions (GTA, GRA, GSA appointments and hourly positions) should contact their advisor and their departmental graduate coordinator for the process to apply.

Financial Aid

• Financial aid resources available through the Office of Financial Aid website.
• Your department may have financial aid options available and please check our financial resource section for additional opportunities.

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Applied Economics PhD

The Applied Economics PhD program provides training valuable for success in academic, analytical, and policy positions. Students focus on quantitative economic analysis of problems and policies in areas primarily related to agriculture, natural resources and the environment, trade, development, energy, marine and coastal resources, and health care. Our graduate program learning outcomes are here .

The program emphasizes rigorous immersion in economic theory, econometrics and other quantitative methods, and in their uses and applications in the student’s concentration areas. The curriculum draws on core courses offered within the Applied Economics graduate program – and on concentration and elective courses from the Applied Economics Department, the Colleges of Forestry, Agricultural Sciences, Liberal Arts, and Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, and the School of Public Health.

The Applied Economics PhD program prepares students for careers in academia, consulting, and government and in financial services and other industries.

The Graduate Program Director (currently Dr. David Kling ) acts as the temporary advisor for students beginning PhD studies. Students are strongly encouraged to find a permanent advisor/major professor by winter quarter of their second year. Ideally this is the same as the advisor for the empirical paper, but it does not need to be. The Director will provide guidance on the first year 1 courses that will be suitable to the program requirements and to the student’s background and interests.

The Applied Economics PhD program is committed to diversity . 

The overall program consists of five components:

(1) Core courses in microeconomic and quantitative methods

(2) Two concentration areas, each with a minimum three-course requirement

(3) Elective courses

(4) An empirical research paper written during the student's second year, and

(5) Dissertation research

Students must receive a B or higher in all courses meant to fulfill PhD program requirements. PhD program completion time is normally four years.

--------------------------------

Core Courses  ( course catalog )

AEC 512 Microeconomic Theory 

AEC 525 Applied Econometrics 

AEC 611 Advanced Microeconomic Theory I 

AEC 612 Advanced Microeconomic Theory II 

AEC 625 Advanced Econometrics I

AEC 626 Advanced Econometrics II 

AEC 627 Computational Economics 

GRAD 520 Responsible Conduct of Research 

Concentration Courses 

Concentrations available in the Applied Economics Program are: (a) Natural Resource and Environmental Economics, (b) Development Economics, and (c) An open concentration area developed in consultation with the student’s advisory committee. 

Students are required to complete two concentrations.  Each should include at least three courses, two of which must be at the 600 (PhD) level.  Concentration courses in Natural Resource and Environmental Economics and in Development Economics will be offered in alternate years.

The following courses ( course catalog )  are relevant to the two defined concentration areas:

Natural Resource and Environmental Economics 

AEC 550 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

AEC 651 Advanced Natural Resource Economics

AEC 652 Advanced Environmental Economics

AEC 653 Empirical Environmental and Resource Economics

Development Economics 

ECON 555 Economic Development

AEC 640 Sustainable Development

AEC 643 Advanced Topics in Development Economics

Electives and Dissertation

A total minimum of 108 credits (500 or 600 level) are needed to complete the PhD program, of which at least 36 must be PhD dissertation credits.   The minimum number of elective credits needed for the degree will be that required – together with the core, concentration, and dissertation credits – to fulfill the 108-credit total minimum. Some examples of previous student dissertations are here . 

Some example elective classes include (see the Graduate Handbook for more examples): 

Forestry Policy

FOR 531 Economics & Policy of Wildland Fire

FOR 534 Economics of Forest Resource

FE 640 Combinatorial Optimization

MTH 528 Stochastic Elements in Mathematical Biology

Health Economics

H 638 Public & Private Health Insurance

H 659 Health Policy Research Methods II

H 632 Applied Health Economics

Data Science

AEC 555 Program Evaluation

ST 537 Data Visualization

ST 538 Modern Statistical Methods for Large and Complex Datasets

ST 543 Applied Stochastic Models

CS 534 Machine Learning

Program Requirements

To be advanced to candidacy, the student must pass a written preliminary examination (at the end of the first year), write an empirical research paper during the second year, and pass a comprehensive oral qualifying examination (no later than fall of the third year).

Written Preliminary Exam

The written preliminary exam focuses on the microeconomic theory courses taken during the first year, together with applications of the theory covered in the first-year econometrics and quantitative methods courses. Computational Economics (AEC 627), taken in the second year, is not tested on the written preliminary exam.

Second Year Research Paper

All PhD students are expected to complete a research project during their second year in the program. Each student will register for AEC 606 (Special Projects) for each quarter of the second year – 1 credit in the fall and 3 credits in the winter and spring term. The purpose of the empirical project is for PhD students to begin thinking about research and identifying potential advisors and topics early in the program, and to produce a research paper that provides evidence on an original idea. Each student should identify an AEC graduate faculty member to advise the development of the paper. However, ultimately the research paper is the responsibility of the student, though a collaborative effort with the faculty advisor is acceptable. The faculty advisor is the principal source of feedback on the paper and students are strongly encouraged to identify a faculty advisor by the beginning of their second year. This faculty member may, but does not have to, eventually become the student’s permanent dissertation advisor. Similarly, the chosen topic may, but does not have to, develop into (part of) the student’s dissertation topic. The organization of AEC 606 is meant to provide each student with guidance and a set of deadlines to help facilitate completion of the project. There are multiple hard deadlines that will be enforced. The purpose of the deadlines is to ensure steady progress is made throughout the year.

Comprehensive Oral Qualifying Exam

After the student has identified a major professor, assembled a committee, and filed a program of study, he/she must pass the comprehensive oral qualifying examination (no later than fall of the third year). The oral exam has two components: a) A proposal of the student’s intended dissertation research; and b) An oral exam covering all of the student’s core and field course work up to the time of the exam. Once the student passes this exam, he/she is advanced to PhD candidacy.

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PhD in Agricultural and Applied Economics

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Degree Requirements

Sample plan of study, qualifier examination process.

• Comprehensive Examination Progress

Dissertation Requirements

The PhD program emphasizes preparation for teaching, research, and extension work in academia, as well as for careers in agrifood business, government and international agriculture. The program usually requires about three years beyond the master's program to complete. The size, quality and diversity of the faculty provide a broad choice of advisors and research topics. While students and their advisory committees have latitude in developing a plan of study, the following specialties are emphasized in our program: Environmental and Development Economics; Managerial, Behavioral & Organizational Economics; and Public Policy Analysis.

The general requirements for the PhD consist of theory and methods courses, followed by a well-balanced selection of field, elective, and research courses in agricultural and applied economics and other disciplines at the graduate level. The course of study will prepare students for the qualifier exam taken after the first year of courses, the comprehensive exam assessing competency in his or her chosen fields of study, and independent research. A dissertation embodying the results of original research must be written on a subject approved by the program committee. An oral examination over the dissertation completes the degree requirements.

The minimum requirements for the PhD are 72 credit hours of graduate coursework, with at least 30 credit hours from courses numbered 8000–9000, exclusive of dissertation research, problems or independent study. No more than 30 credit hours can be transferred from an MS program. Specific requirements are as follows:

​ Back to Top

Or another 8000- or 9000-level quantitative methods class with advisor’s approval.

Subsequent Semesters: A student can take Field and/or Elective courses. Or Research and/or Dissertation hours.

Back to Top

Students take the Qualifier Exam after completing the first year sequence of courses. Students must pass the Qualifier Exam to continue in the PhD program. The Qualifier Exam consists of two parts. (1) The Microeconomics Qualifier Exam is administered in May of the first year by the Economics Department and is taken at the same time first year Economics PhD students take the exam. Students who fail the Micro Qualifier in May can retake the exam in August. (2) An average GPA of 3.25 for the other courses in the first year core.

Comprehensive Examination Process

Students take the Comprehensive Exam after passing the qualifier exam and completing coursework, including core courses and field courses. The Comprehensive Exam consists of three parts: the written dissertation proposal, a written comprehensive exam, and an oral examination. The Comprehensive Exam is administered by the student’s Doctoral Program Committee. The Comprehensive Exam must be completed at least seven months before the final dissertation defense.

Two types of dissertations are acceptable. The first type of dissertation is organized around a single topic and typically is a lengthy monograph of research findings. The second type of dissertation is a compilation of three essays that are related to a general theme or topic. Students select dissertation topics in consultation with their Doctoral Program Committee.

Admission into the PhD program is determined by an assessment of program prerequisites and application materials. Prerequisites for the PhD program include courses in intermediate microeconomics; intermediate macroeconomics; econometrics or regression and correlation analysis; differential calculus; and statistics. Applicants who have not met these prerequisites or have limited background in economics may be required to correct these deficiencies or take certain courses without graduate credit before being formally admitted into the program. A master’s degree in economics, agricultural economics, or a related field, is preferred but not required for admittance into the PhD program. Minimum requirements for admission into the PhD program are a Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) or equivalent and undergraduate GPA of 3.2. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an equivalent English competency test is required of applicants whose first language is not English, with minimum TOEFL scores of 80 if internet-based. Applicants should also take the GRE or GMAT exams. Domestic and international students are equally welcome to apply.

The following should be submitted as part of the application process:

• Statement of purpose explaining why you want to study at the University of Missouri
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts
• GRE (or GMAT) score report
• TOEFL (or equivalent) score report, if applicable

For priority consideration for assistantships, fellowships and scholarships, applications should be submitted by January 15 for Fall enrollment and September 1 for Spring enrollment. 

For More Information

For further information on admissions or financial assistance, write to Teo Skevas, Director of Graduate Studies, 215 Mumford Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, or  [email protected] .

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AAE Ph.D. Program

Phd student research.

Poverty alleviation

AAE PhD student Qinan Lu looks at impacts of residential relocation on rural household efficiency.

Conflict and learning

PhD student Osaretin Olurotimi uses spatial data to analyze the effect of conflict on learning outcomes of children in Uganda.

Award-winning research

Gaurav Doshi receives the 2022 PhD Bromley Paper Prize for research on short and long-run effects of electricity grid expansion.

Social norms & economics

Sakina Shibuya works on a project in Pakistan looking at roles of social norms on decisions to hire women in the garment industry.

Wetland ecosystems

Nicole Karwowski, left, studies how wetland ecosystems improve crop yields and create climate-resilient agricultural systems.

Crime & economic shocks

Itzel De Haro Lopez studies the effect of NAFTA on violence and economic growth in Mexico's avocado sector.

Scholar research award

Vikas Gawai was selected by the Center for Financial Security to be a Junior Scholar chosen for his research on social security.

The AAE Ph.D. program provides a rigorous background in economic theory and analysis, combined with applied economics courses in the areas of Development, Natural Resources and Environment, Agriculture and Community Economics. Students will enjoy small class sizes, a supportive atmosphere, and strong relationships with their major advisor and the AAE community.

The program takes 4-5 years to complete. The Ph.D. curriculum relies on the doctoral core in theory and econometrics offered by Wisconsin’s outstanding and highly ranked Department of Economics . When matched with the department’s applied courses,  students learn how to use advanced methods to conceptualize and answer contemporary economic problems. This strong core training prepares students for a variety of challenging careers .

Required Coursework:

Microeconomics Theory I (Econ 711, 3 credits) Microeconomic Theory II (Econ 713, 3 credits) Macroeconomic Theory (Econ 712, 3 credits)

• Statistics and Econometrics (6 credits) Economic Statistics (Econ 709, 3 credits) Econometrics (Econ 710, 3 credits)
• Major field courses (9 credits) 3 courses from advanced applied economics area courses
• Minor field courses (9 credits) 3 courses from one outside department or 3 courses from two or more departments including AAE
• AAE 780: Research Colloquium, 3 credits
• 51 credits are required for the PhD. After coursework, the remainder of credits are taken as independent research credits, AAE 990, 15 credits.

Active department seminar and workshop series complement formal classroom instruction.

Preliminary examinations are required in microeconomic theory and a major field. Students receiving grades of B or better in the microeconomic theory core courses can choose not to sit for the microeconomics preliminary exam. The microeconomic theory preliminary exam is administered and graded by the faculty in Economics. Pass rates for AAE students have historically been around 95%. The major field preliminary exam is administered and graded by the AAE faculty.

The Ph.D. also requires a dissertation. Most students’ dissertation work includes a period of primary data collection and field work either in this country or abroad, often in the developing world.

Accepted candidates are offered funding in the form of Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships or Fellowships.

The following video features an AAE Ph.D. student and his research.

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PHD, Agricultural & Applied Economics

Rigorous curriculum and cutting-edge research programs in a wide range of economic fields. Work closely with nationally recognized, experienced faculty to break new ground in our understanding of human decision making and economic institutions.

Degree Type: Doctoral

Degree Program Code: PHD_AGAE

Degree Program Summary:

Graduate study in agricultural and applied economics leading to a Master of Science degree in agricultural and applied economics or environmental economics and Doctor of Philosophy degree provides a wide range of educational opportunities in addressing the issues of production and distribution of food and fiber, natural resource and environmental management, and the quality of rural life. These programs prepare students for careers of leadership through development of a high degree of economic comprehension and decision making. Applications of economic theory and econometrics to resolve economic problems are the major areas of focus for courses in the department. The department has offered graduate degree programs for over 55 years. Its graduates hold key positions in both the private and public sectors in the state, the nation, and throughout the world. Graduates are employed in a wide range of positions, with robust demand in private industry from health care to food and fiber wholesale firms. Graduates are employed in domestic and international academic positions.

Graduate study is offered at both the masters and doctoral levels. The Master of Science (MS) in agricultural and applied economics and the Master of Science (MS) in environmental economics degrees require 27 hours minimum of course work and three hours of thesis. A Master of Agribusiness (MAB) degree consists of a minimum of 36 hours of course work including a technical report in lieu of a formal thesis. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree consists of a minimum of 63 hours of course work beyond the bachelor’s degree, satisfactory performance on written and oral examinations, and a formal dissertation.

Graduate instruction and research may be undertaken in the following areas of specialization: agricultural marketing and consumer demand, agricultural business management, production economics, natural resources and environmental economics, and international trade and development.

Graduate research is coordinated with the department’s overall research program. Students may select a research topic related to the department’s current research projects or an approved area of sponsored research. Exceptional computer facilities, software, and support are available for departmental research.

Financial assistance is available to graduate students on a competitive basis in the form of departmental research assistantships. Paid internships are also available from regional and national agribusiness firms.

Locations Offered:

Athens (Main Campus)

College / School:

College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences

147 Cedar Street Athens, GA 30602

706-542-3924

Department:

Agricultural and Applied Economics

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Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Economics

• Fall January 10

International students may need to surpass the Graduate School’s minimum English language proficiency exam scores for this program. If the graduate program has unique score requirements, they will be detailed below. Otherwise, please refer to the Graduate School’s minimum score guidelines.

Degree Description:

The PhD in Agricultural Economics is designed to provide the student with an excellent foundation in the theory and methods of economic analysis as well as experience in applied analysis of agricultural, agribusiness, and/or resource economics problems. Career opportunities for agricultural economists also include academia, government, and the private sector. Many academic positions (especially at land grant universities) include salary support for a combination of teaching, research, and/or outreach related to the food and fiber sectors and the natural resource base that supports them.

Admission Requirements:

Statement of Purpose, 3 letters of recommendation, CV, GRE, Unofficial Transcripts

Student Opportunities:

The collaboration between students and professors is really close, our offices are often next to each other, and it is common for professors to coauthor papers with PhD students, which turn into journal publications. In the last years, coauthored papers with our students were published in journals such as American Journal of Agricultural Economics , Economic Inquiry , Agricultural Economics, Canadian Journal of Economics , Journal of Environmental Economics and Management , and Economic Letters , among others. In addition, the environment between students and professors is very collegial, and we meet once a week (normally after seminars) for drinks in a more relaxed environment.

We fund around 80% of admitted students, who receive graduate assistantships from our School. The rest of students are often funded by governments in their home countries, or foundations, such as the Fulbright or the Soros Foundations.

Career Opportunities:

Academia, Government and the Private Sector

Job Market Guide

Career Placements:

The job market placement of our recent PhD graduates has been extremely positive, including positions at the University of Arkansas, Penn State University, Yale University (Post-Doc), University of Connecticut, California State University, Cornell University (Post-Doc), University of New Mexico, Illinois State University, University of Kentucky, University of Oklahoma, University of Georgia, Colorado State University, and University of Nebraska; at government agencies such as the US Department of Agriculture and the United Nations; and firms such as JP Morgan-Chase and American Express.

Contact Information:

• Jaimie Dahl, Asst. to the Director, and Graduate Coordinator [email protected]
• Jeffrey Luckstead, Associate Professor, and Graduate Studies Chair [email protected]

2100 accredited US Universities for Graduate Programs. 400+ specializations.

1400 No GRE, GMAT schools for the Master’s program

700+ Graduate scholarships totaling $3.5 mm

Doctoral / PHD Programs in Agricultural Economics

24 universities offer graduate PHD program in Agricultural Economics

University of California-Berkeley

The graduate program in agricultural and resource economics produces outstanding researchers in development economics, environmental and energy economics, international trade, and agricultural and resource policy. Students enrolling in our doctoral program complete a rigorous course of study, including microeconomic theory (offered by the Department of Economics), econometrics, and field courses offered by ARE, the Department of Economics, and the Haas School of Business. A number of the graduate students also take doctoral-level courses in the Department of Statistics.

PHD in Agricultural and Resource Economics

• GRE Required:  Yes
• Research Assistantships:  1754
• Teaching Assistantships:  3621
• Financial Aid: Register to view the details

University of Florida

The Agricultural Education and Communication graduate programs prepare students for domestic and international teaching, research, Extension, administrative, and leadership positions in both the public and private sectors. Students can focus on agricultural communication, agricultural education, Extension education, or leadership development. Courses are taught in an agricultural and natural resources context and are broadly applicable in business, government, training/development, and agency settings.

The degrees offered are Master of Science (M.S.; thesis* and non-thesis*) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

MS and PHD in Agricultural Education and Communication

• Research Assistantships:  2278
• Teaching Assistantships:  1317

University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics offers graduate degree programs leading to the master of arts, master of science, and doctor of philosophy. Long recognized as one of the top programs in the nation, the department is an active center of research and graduate training in environmental and natural resource economics, the economic development of low-income countries, agricultural economics, community economics, and more recently, resource and energy demand analysis.

Doctoral students are required to develop comprehensive proficiency in economic theory, mathematics, econometrics, and major and minor fields of concentration. In addition to the prerequisites for the master's program, doctoral applicants should also have mathematical statistics and linear algebra.

Agricultural and Applied Economics, Ph.D.

• Research Assistantships:  2733
• Teaching Assistantships:  2355

68 universities offer the Master's program in Agricultural Economics.

Which one best suits your need?

University of California-Davis

The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ARE) at UC Davis offers a Master of Science degree focused on applied economics. The M.S. degree works great as a terminal degree that affords excellent job opportunities upon graduation or as essential preparation to do Ph.D. work. Students can choose between thesis and non-thesis options. The program can be completed in one year for students who choose the non-thesis option.

The Davis ARE M.S. degree program features strong training in microeconomic theory and econometrics, with two-course sequences in both fields. They also have M.S. courses in several applied fields, including agricultural economics, international development economics, finance, and environmental and natural resource economics.

M.S. in Agricultural and Resource Economics

• GRE Required:  Register to view the details
• Research Assistantships:  Register to view the details
• Teaching Assistantships:  Register to view the details

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The ACE M.S. program offers considerable flexibility. Students using the degree as a foundation for a doctorate emphasize economic theory and analytical research tools. Students seeking the terminal master's degree focus their study on the concepts and analytical techniques used by analysts and managers in industries, governments, and other organizations.

The students’ research uses economics to address important social and economic challenges. Thesis and dissertation topics include designing policies for environmental protection and resource management, evaluating international efforts to reduce poverty and hunger, and enhancing the performance of commodity and speculative markets.

Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program and is strongly recommended for those intending to pursue an academic career.

Students admitted to the M.S. program with exceptional credentials may choose to pursue courses of study leading to transfer into the Ph.D. program. This Straight through M.S. to Ph.D. option involves taking challenging doctoral courses in the first year. Careful planning with a faculty advisor is important. Students who are accepted for transfer discontinue work toward the M.S. degree.

Master of Science in Agricultural and Applied Economics

Ohio state university-main campus.

Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics Doctor of Philosophy.

Doctoral Program The AEDE PhD program is a globally recognized leader in the disciplinary areas of agricultural, environmental, and development economics. In 2011, our doctoral program was ranked by the National Research Council as the top program in Agricultural and Resource Economics in the United States.

Students learn to apply the skills they acquire, through rigorous training in economic theory and advanced quantitative methods, to a wide range of real-world economic problems. PhD degree recipients go on to assume teaching, research, and managerial positions with:.

250 Agricultural Administration 2120 Fyffe Road Columbus, OH 43210.

Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics Doctor of Philosophy

University of georgia.

CAES Agricultural Applied Economics Graduate Recent Placements.

Post-Doctoral Researcher, Agricultural Resource Economics, Pennsylvania State University.

IMMANA Postdoctoral Fellow, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University and Postdoctoral Research Fellow Adjunct, Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia.

Research Economist, National Energy Technology, U.S. Energy.

Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Agricultural Economics, Texas A M University.

Senior Public Service Associate, University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development.

Postdoctoral Fellow Lake Futures, Economics, University of Waterloo.

Agricultural Applied Economics

Virginia polytechnic institute and state university.

The Department offers graduate programs leading to either a Master of Sciences (M.S.) in Agricultural and Applied Economics or a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Economics. The AAEC Ph.D. in Economics is jointly offered with the Economics and, as of fall 2019, is coded as a STEM degree, which allows international students to receive up to three years of Optional Practical Training (OPT). detailed information is included in the Academic Requirements section.

The Agricultural and Applied Economics graduate program offers an M.S. in Agricultural and Applied Economics. By selecting from a variety of core curriculum courses and electives, students may develop specialties in diverse areas such as General Economics Econometrics and Quantitative Methods Food and Health Economics Natural Resource and Environmental Economics Food System Economics and Management Policy and International Trade and Economic Growth and Development. The M.S. offers both thesis and non-thesis options.

The AAEC graduate program offers a joint Ph.D. in Economics with the Economics. The program is coded as a STEM degree, which allows international students to receive up to three years of Optional Practical Training (OPT). Ph.D. students take a common set of core courses in the first three semesters of the program and a common written qualifying examination. Students also write a dissertation and present a final dissertation defense. The Department also offers a Special Ph.D. Track in Academic Employment and Remote Sensing.

The Graduate School requirements for a Ph.D. degree include a minimum of 90 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the baccalaureate, with at least 27 hours of coursework and 30 hours of Research and Dissertation (AAEC ECON 7994).

Agricultural and Applied Economics

University of connecticut.

Over the years, our graduates have distinguished themselves as outstanding business leaders, scholars, and public administrators.

Although most students have majored in agricultural economics, resource economics, or economics, students who have majored in other disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Degree requirements, course offerings, and other key information for prospective and current ARE graduate students can be found in the Graduate Student Handbook.

Check out these links for resources and tips for economics research, writing, presenting and professional development.

Master of Science in Applied Resource Economics.

For some students, the M.S. is the terminal degree others continue studying for a Ph.D. degree.

A Masters Degree is earned through one of three options: Plan A (Thesis), or Plan B (Major Paper or Coursework) or, under certain conditions, as a component of a Ph.D. degree program.

All three terminal MS program options offered by the Department are based on courses at the 3000-level or higher, consistent with Graduate School policies on transferring credits or using 3000 level courses (maximum of 6 credits).

The list of courses can be found here.

Application instructions for the M.S. program can be found here.

ARE majors can earn up to 6 credits (combined) of independent study and internship to fulfill their 24 minimum credit requirement for the MS Plan B degree.

A list of students who are currently pursuing their M.S. degree can be found here.

A sample of jobs of past M.S. graduates can be found here.

Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural and Resource Economics.

The Ph.D. program in Agricultural and Resource Economics is intended for students who wish to develop their ability to make original contributions to scientific knowledge. Award of the degree testifies to broad mastery of economic theory, quantitative methods, and one or fields in agricultural and resource economics.

Application instructions for the Ph.D. program can be found here.

A list of students who are currently pursuing their Ph.D. degree can be found here.

Expectations for Satisfactory Progress through the PhD Program.

A sample of jobs of past Ph.D. graduates can be found here.

Agricultural Resource Economics

North carolina state university at raleigh.

The master’s degree programs allow students to tailor their experience to match their own research interests and career goals. Students choose a terminal master’s track or a PhD-prep track, dependant on their personal objectives. Students also choose between a research project culminating in a thesis (the MS degree) or a coursework only option (the MR degree). Attending full-time or part-time is an option, and almost all courses are available online or in a variety of on-campus sessions.

Many master’s degree students enter the job market following graduation and gain employment as consultants, analysts and researchers in private industry and government while others pursue additional graduate work at NC State or other respected universities.

Masters in Agricultural and Resource Economics

What kind of scholarships are available for graduate programs in agricultural economics.

We have 7 scholarships awarding up to $34,000 for Masters program in for Agricultural Economics, targeting diverse candidates and not restricted to state or school-based programs.

Find scholarships and financial aid for Agricultural Economics graduate programs

How can I compare the Agricultural Economics Graduate Programs?

Compare the GRE score requirements, admission details, credit requirements and tuition for the Master's Program, from 68 universities offering Graduate PHD/Doctoral Programs in Agricultural Economics. Compare Graduate PHD/Doctoral Programs in Agricultural Economics

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College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics

Ph.d. degree.

• Ph.D. students establish competency in the fields of microeconomic theory and econometric methods (courses taught in the  Department of Economics ), applied microeconomics, and a major field in Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
• Major fields are offered in Development Economics, Environmental and Resource Economics, and Food and Agricultural Economics . Students with an interest in  regional economics and/or state and local government policy select a major field based on their area of specific interest. Each student works with their guidance committee to develop a course program that supports the student’s long-term career goals and meets degree requirements.
• Students must meet grade requirements in microeconomic theory, econometric methods, and applied microeconomics to be qualified to proceed in the Ph.D. program.
• By the end of their third year, students are required to produce and present an original paper. The original research component, which must go beyond a literature review, should be sufficiently well-developed to convince the student’s research paper committee that the paper is publishable. Evaluation of the written paper and oral presentation constitutes the student’s comprehensive exam for the Ph.D.
• After passing the comprehensive exam, students proceed to defend a dissertation research proposal, complete the dissertation, and defend it at a final oral examination.

Students typically complete the Ph.D. degree in four to five years. Full details on Ph.D. degree requirements are available in the Department’s Graduate Policy and Program Handbook.

Completed Dissertations

View the dissertations written by AFRE Ph.D. graduates since 1990.

Graduate Research Symposium Papers

View a list of authors and titles of research papers presented at Graduate Research Symposiums to date.

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Welcome to the School of Economic Sciences PhD Programs

Phd programs in economics and agricultural economics.

The School of Economic Sciences offers two doctoral programs: the PhD in Economics and the PhD in Agricultural Economics.

• The PhD in Economics is designed to prepare students for careers as professional economists in academia, government, and the private sector. The program is structured so that a student with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and an appointment as a graduate assistant should be able to complete the required coursework within three academic years, excluding summer sessions. Students with a Master of Science in Applied Economics degree may be able to complete the required coursework in less time, depending on the content and quality of previous work. The length of time required to complete the dissertation varies greatly but students usually complete the entire program, including the dissertation within four years.
• The PhD in Agricultural Economics is designed to provide the student with an excellent foundation in the theory and methods of economic analysis as well as experience in applied analysis of agricultural, agribusiness, and/or resource economics problems. Career opportunities for agricultural economists also include academia, government, and the private sector. Many academic positions (especially at land grant universities) include salary support for a combination of teaching, research, and/or outreach related to the food and fiber sectors and the natural resource base that supports them. The time required to complete the doctoral degree in agricultural economics is comparable to that required for the economics PhD.

We next list key features of our PhD programs.

Student publications . The collaboration between students and professors is close, our offices are often next to each other, and it is common for professors to coauthor papers with PhD students, which turn into journal publications. In the last years, coauthored papers with our students were published in journals such as  Science, Economic Inquiry, BE Journal of Macroeconomics, Canadian Journal of Economics, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, American Journal of Agricultural Economics,  and  Economic Letters , among others. In addition, the environment between students and professors is very collegial, and we meet once a week (normally after seminars) for drinks in a relaxed environment.

Job placement . The job market placement of our recent PhD graduates has been extremely positive, including positions at the University of Arkansas, Penn State University, Yale University (Post-Doc), University of Connecticut, Purdue University, California State University, College of William and Mary, Cornell University (Post-Doc), Colorado State University, University of New Mexico, Illinois State University, University of Kentucky, Hamline University, University of Oklahoma, University of Georgia, and University of Nebraska; City University of Hong Kong, Renmin University, University of International Business and Economics, and Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (China); Higher School of Economics (Russia); at government agencies such as the US Department of Agriculture, Freddie Mac, the United Nations; and at firms such as JP Morgan-Chase, Amazon, BNP Paribas, Charles River and Associates, Amgen Corporation, FedEx, and American Express.

Funding opportunities . Many admitted students are international and around 80% of admitted students receive graduate assistantships from our School (with other students being funded by governments in their home countries, or private foundations, such as the Fulbright Scholarship or the Soros Foundations). At this point, common assistantships (with a 20-hour per week work obligation) pay an estimated monthly stipend of $1,949. The stipend is provided for the nine-month academic year. Health insurance and most tuition costs are provided to you in addition to the stipend, resulting in a total award value of up to $46,396 depending on residency status. Also, students in good academic standing typically receive one additional month of pay for teaching and/or research assistance during the summer. Therefore, Ph.D. students with a 9-month assistantship plus one-month of summer pay receive a total stipend estimated at $19,490 per year. Please note that we plan to increase monthly stipends starting every year, conditional on funding availability.

MS in Statistics. The PhD program enhances the marketability of graduates in all degrees by deepening their training in economic theory and econometrics. To further strengthen their quantitative training, some students simultaneously pursue a Master’s degree in Statistics (pdf) (at least 2-3 students pursue this option every year).

Class size. On average, our incoming class has around 18-23 students. Most of our students complete the program in 4 years, and a few students complete it in 5 years. Overall, we often have more than 80 students in our PhD program. You can learn more about the Economics Graduate Student Association .

The PhD requires core courses in economic theory and econometrics, advanced topics courses in applied fields, and the completion of a dissertation. In the first year, study in the doctoral program is tightly structured. During the first year, full-time students take four core theory courses, one core course in statistics for economists and one core econometrics course. Because the fall core courses offered in the first year are prerequisites for subsequent courses, students generally must begin the program in the fall semester. Additional core courses are taken in the second year. Field courses are taken in the second and (possibly) third years. Total requirements for the PhD degree include a minimum of 72 credits beyond the baccalaureate, including at least 39 credits of coursework from the core and field courses and 20 credits of doctoral research.

While an advisory committee tailors each student’s program to his or her interests, all programs are designed to meet the following requirements.

Core courses:  A 27-credit core curriculum ensures that each PhD student receives advanced training in economic theory and quantitative methods: (1) theoretical foundations of economics–12 credits (EconS 500, 501, 502, 503) or their equivalents; and (2) tools for research and empirical analysis–12 credits (EconS 510, 511, 512, and 521) or their equivalents.

Directed elective:  Students take one 3-credit, 500-level course as a directed elective with the approval of their academic advisor.

Fields of specialization:  A student’s program is required to demonstrate an area or areas of concentration that prepare the student for the dissertation. Through field courses, the students receive additional preparation in at least two areas of specialization. Together with individual research activities and mentored study, the field courses prepare the students to apply economic theory and quantitative methods to real-world problems.  Selections among field courses allow students to tailor their graduate program to specific interests and to interact with faculty working in their area. The fields of study offered are: Macroeconomics; Development Economics; Health Economics; Econometrics; Environmental & Natural Resource Economics; International Economics; Industrial Organization; Public Economics; Agricultural Economics (required for Agricultural Economics PhD) .

Advanced topics are taught in a repeatable, variable-credit course in each field area. Students take a minimum of six credit hours in each of two fields, and 12 credits overall in field courses.

Additional credits:  Additional coursework and research credits are used to bring the student up to 72 credits.

Application Process

For more information, please visit the following link, which provides instructions about the on-line application process and all necessary application materials: Application Process . Please note that applications to our Ph.D. program require you to submit your CV, your undergraduate transcripts (and, if applicable, transcripts from your Masters or other postgraduate courses), your scores in the GRE exam, your scores in the TOEFL exam (unless you can show that your undergraduate education was taught entirely in English), a statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation on your behalf. You do not need to establish connections with faculty during the application process. You will pick faculty to work with on research after the first year of the PhD program. The School of Economic Sciences does not charge or handle the application fee. Please contact the Graduate School at [email protected] .

• GRE exam . We do not have a minimum GRE score. However, the average GRE score in the quantitative section (the most important section for our application process) is around the 75th percentile (157 points), but most funded students are above the 80-85th percentile (about 159 points or above). If you took your GRE exam in the last 1-2 years, please contact us to check if you should include a more recent score in your application.
• TOEFL exam . The minimum TOEFL score is 213 in the computer version (which corresponds to 550 points in paper version and 80 points in the internet version). In case you took the IELTS exam, the minimum IELTS score is 7 points. Please note that the TOEFL/IELTS exams can be waived if you completed a degree (or at least an entire academic year) at a university in the which all coursework was taught in English. Specifically, the Graduate School from WSU waives the TOEFL/IELTS exam to applicants who completed their degree from institutions in the following countries: Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana, Canada, Guyana, Kenya, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Nigeria, and Trinidad and Tobago. For more details on this policy, visit International Requirements website and for more information about the TOEFL exam .
• GPA score . The average GPA score into our Ph.D. program is around 3.4, but it varies depending on the coursework the applicant did in undergrad (for instance, we understand that your GPA can be lower than 3.4 if you took several math or Master-level courses).
• Transcripts . Applicants must submit transcripts from both their undergraduate and graduate-level courses, clearly reflecting the grade obtained in each course. Applicants can submit unofficial copies of all transcripts. If admitted into our program, the WSU Graduate School may contact the student asking him/her to submit official copies of all documents.

Graduate Program

Ph.d. in economics.

The Ph.D. program at Berkeley is designed for students interested in pursuing advanced study and conducting original research in Economics. The Ph.D. degree is awarded in recognition of the recipient's qualifications as a general economist and of the ability to make scholarly contributions in fields of specialization. Additionally, the Economics Ph.D. program is residential, there is no remote enrollment option. 

In advancing to the Ph.D. degree, students pass through two major stages:

• Preparation for candidacy typically takes two to three years. During the first two semesters, students take courses to achieve competence in econometric methods, methods of economic history and fundamentals of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. During the next two years, students prepare for examination in two fields of specialization of their choosing, prepare a dissertation prospectus, and take an oral examination. When these steps are completed, students are advanced to candidacy.
• Completion of a dissertation after advancing to candidacy typically takes one to two years. The dissertation must be based on original research and represent a significant contribution to the body of Economic knowledge.

The entire process takes approximately five to six years, although some students are able to complete the program in less time. Below is an overview of the program requirements by year and other pertinent information.

Program Requirements

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