university of michigan economics phd program

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With a graduate degree in economics, students may find jobs as analysts and economists in the government, multinational corporations, higher education and business organizations. These are the top graduate schools for economics programs. Each school's score reflects its average rating on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding), based on a survey of academics at peer institutions. Read the methodology »

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Dual Degree in Law and Economics (JD+PhD)

The dual program in Law and Economics enables a small number of highly qualified students to pursue simultaneous work in both disciplines. The program is designed to enable students to substantially reduce the time usually required to earn the two degrees separately and to encourage meaningful integration of work in both fields. All requirements for both the JD and the PhD in Economics can be completed in six to seven years; some students may require a greater amount of time. Timely completion of the program will ordinarily require at least two summers in residence.

Students in the dual program receive superb training in legal and economic analysis, as well as informed insight into some of the most complex and difficult problems confronting government leaders, business executives, and scholars today. Graduates of the program are particularly well prepared for university teaching and research in both fields. Recent graduates of the program have also chosen to work as practicing economists, either in government or in private consulting firms. Those graduates who choose to practice law are uniquely well prepared to handle cases in administrative, antitrust, corporate, securities, commercial, labor, and environmental law.

The program provides a framework of basic requirements for each degree to encourage competence in both disciplines. Apart from these requirements, the program is flexible and permits students to shape individual courses of study in accordance with their particular interests and goals. Each student’s program is reviewed and approved by a dual committee composed of both Law and Economics faculty.

Information contained herein is valid as of 2/26/19 and is subject to change.

Contact the applicable admissions office or dual degree resource for more information.

Requirements

Applicants should have exceptional undergraduate records that include substantial work in Economics, as well as courses in statistics and mathematics, including calculus and linear algebra.

Applicants must gain separate and independent admission to both the graduate program in Economics in the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies and to the Law School. Applicants should indicate their interest in the dual program on both the Law and Graduate School applications. If you are enrolled in a graduate program in another school or department at the University, the Law School will accept a valid GRE , GMAT , or MCAT score in lieu of an LSAT score; otherwise, a valid LSAT score is required. *

Students entering the Law School must complete the required first-year law curriculum. Students must take one elective course of three or four credit hours during their second semester. All students must complete the following before graduation: at least one international or comparative law course of two or more credit hours, at least one upper-level course with a rigorous writing component, one statutory or regulatory course of three or more credit hours, one course in professional responsibility of two or more credit hours, and two credit hours of experiential learning. Separate courses must be taken to fulfill the upper-level course with a rigorous writing component, the professional responsibility course, and the experiential learning course Students admitted to the Law School must earn a minimum of 83 credits toward the JD , at least 71 of which must be earned in Law School courses.

Twelve (12) credit hours from Economics courses may be counted toward requirements for the JD . If you are admitted to the Rackham School of Graduate Studies and choose to pursue the JD / PHD program, you must notify the Law School’s Office of Student Records and Office of Student Life.

• Two terms of economic theory courses. One term of mathematics and two terms of econometrics, or the equivalent level of competence as demonstrated by passing written examinations.
• Four courses in specialized fields in Economics, two of which must form a sequence in a major field.
• One course concentrating on advanced theoretical or empirical techniques. This course may be counted as one of the four required field courses or, alternately in special circumstances and with the approval of the student’s adviser, may be taken in the Law School.
• Successful completion of three written preliminary examinations; one in microeconomics, one in macroeconomics, and one in the student’s major field.
• Advanced research paper, to be satisfied in concurrence with the Law School seminar requirement. Ordinarily, this paper will form the basis of the student’s dissertation.
• Doctoral dissertation; a research project on a significant topic of the student’s choosing. A dissertation proposal must be approved by a faculty committee, which also hears the student’s oral defense at the completion of the dissertation.

Students must satisfy the degree requirements of each school, and should consult with advisers in each school for the precise graduation requirements for each degree and for information about course offerings. Law School courses are not offered in the summer term. Students will not receive credit toward the JD for non-law coursework taken prior to matriculation at the Law School. Students should consult with the adviser at the companion school concerning credit toward the PhD for Law course work.

Tuition will be assessed at either the Law School or the Graduate School rate, whichever is higher, when courses toward both degrees are taken in one term. The combined degree is not open to those who have already earned one of the two degrees.

At the beginning of their final year of study in the combined program, students should consult with their Rackham academic adviser and the Law School’s Office of Student Records regarding forms that need to be completed prior to graduation. Also at this time, students should submit a Dual/Joint Degree Election Form ( www.rackham.umich.edu/current-students/policies/academic-records/dual-j… ) for approval from both the Law School and the Department of Economics.

Any JD who enrolls concurrently in another degree program will be awarded the JD degree after completing all of the requirements for the dual, joint, or combined degrees. (As a practical matter, this means that the student will receive the JD degree either after or at the same time as they receive the degree(s) in the other program(s).) This policy will not affect the student’s class year for purposes of the Law School’s commencement ceremony or alumni events, and it will not apply if a student discontinues the other degree program(s). A law student who believes that they will experience some hardship as a result of this policy may petition the Associate Dean for Academic Programming for an exception.

JD courses traditionally have a later grading deadline than other degree programs. On some occasions, this later JD grading deadline may affect a student in their final term if another degree program desires all of the student’s grades prior to the JD grading deadline.

Contact Information

Law School Admissions Office University of Michigan Law School Jeffries Hall, Suite 2200 701 S. State St. Ann Arbor, MI   48109-1215

Phone: 734.764.0537 Email: [email protected]  

Office of Student Life (dual degree programs) University of Michigan Law School 316 Hutchins Hall 625 S. State St. Ann Arbor, MI   48109-1215

Phone: 734.764.0516 Email: [email protected]

Office of Student Records University of Michigan Law School 300 Hutchins Hall  625 S. State Street  Ann Arbor, MI   48109-1215

Phone: 734.763.6499 Email: [email protected]

Department of Economics Doctoral Admissions Department of Economics University of Michigan 250 Lorch Hall 611 Tappan Ave. Ann Arbor, MI  48109-1220

Phone: 734.764.2360 Email: [email protected] Website: lsa.umich.edu/econ

Rackham Graduate School Admissions  0120 Rackham Building 915 E. Washington St. Ann Arbor, MI  48109-1070

Phone: 734.764.8129 Email: [email protected] Website: rackham.umich.edu/admissions/applying

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Department of Economics

PhD Programs

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The Ph.D. program in MSU’s Department of Economics is a leader in economic research and training, routinely being ranked between the 25th and 35th best economics departments in the United States according to U.S. News & World Report. According to the current Research Papers in Economics (RePEc) rankings, MSU is 24 th in the United States and is in the top-three in the Big 10 in Econometrics, International, Labor, Micro, and Public. For additional rankings, see the  American Economic Association .

We recognize that the best education comes from building a strong theoretical and econometrics foundation and working closely with faculty members and fellow classmates. As a department, we have taken steps to maximize these opportunities by offering competitive support packages, keeping field class sizes small, and fostering a collaborative environment within and between cohorts.

Our goal is that students will leave MSU with the research tools, experience, and professional network necessary to succeed in their desired careers. Recent graduates have gone on to work in tenure-track positions at top research institutions (Rutgers, Georgia Tech, Arizona, Oregon State, Iowa State, Melbourne, Essex), top government agencies (Census, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Food and Drug Administration, Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. Government Accountability Office), and top private sector firms (Abt, Amazon, Citi, J.P. Morgan, Mathematica).

• Dual Doctoral Degrees

Course Selection

While our course selection changes from year to year, we have structured the program so that we can offer at least one course in all of our primary fields each year:

• Microeconomic Theory
• Macroeconomics
• Development
• Econometrics
• Environmental and Resource
• Industrial Organization
• International Trade

In addition to working on topics in these primary fields, we frequently have students working in secondary fields, including Aging, Behavioral, Education, and Health. Please see Michigan State University's  schedule of courses for a complete and up-to-date course offering.

Funding Information

All admitted students are automatically considered for funding and fellowships. In recent years, all admitted students received some form of funding, ranging from university-wide fellowships that require no teaching to teaching and research assistantships. We will communicate a student’s funding offer in the official admissions offer letter.

For more information, please contact Scott Imberman , Director of Graduate Studies, or Jay Feight , Graduate Program Coordinator. 

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PhD Programs

Doctor of philosophy.

The research-based doctoral program has two primary tracks: Resource Ecology Management (natural science focus) and Resource Policy and Behavior (social science focus). Students may choose between a highly specialized course of study or one that broadly addresses complex, interdisciplinary issues. Each student's course of study is tailored to their scholarly interests and guided by their faculty chair and committee. Broad areas of specialization reflect the expertise and research interests of faculty. The doctoral program's goal is to develop the creative abilities of exceptional students, thereby training them for independent work that contributes to original research and scholarship at the forefront of their chosen fields. Students will become leaders in research, teaching and training others, and developing the scientific knowledge base needed to formulate policies and practices that help sustain natural resources. Program Milestones

• Upon admission, you are assigned an advisor and faculty member(s) to serve on your interim Guidance Committee.
• In your first year, you prepare a "course of study" document that will guide your coursework and scholarly development.
• By the end of your second year, you will complete your qualifying exam and advance to doctoral candidacy.
• By the end of your fifth semester, you will submit your full dissertation proposal.
• By the end of your fifth year, you will defend your dissertation.  

Your PhD will be granted by the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies . The school's Doctoral Handbook provides key information, such as a timeline and outline of expectations and requirements. For more information, contact [email protected] .

Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics

• Degree Programs

6.0. Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program

The doctoral program in Agricultural and Applied Economics is designed to develop a broad based competence in economic theory and in techniques of quantitative analysis. Dissertation research of students in our department usually addresses applied problems using contemporary economic theory and analytical methods. Students completing our program have demonstrated a high degree of success in academics, business, and government.

Two options are offered for the Doctor of Philosophy in the Agricultural and Applied Economics program. The first option does not require a minor. The second option includes a minor in Family Financial Planning—a joint Ph.D. program between the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics and the College of Human Sciences. Completion of the Doctoral program in Agricultural and Applied Economics with a minor in Family Financial Planning qualifies graduates to take an exam administered by the Certified Financial Planning Board of Standards to become Certified Financial Planners.

6.1. Prerequisites

Most students will have completed the requirements for an M.S. degree or its equivalent before admission to the doctoral program. If the Master's degree does not meet the prerequisite requirements for entering our Master of Science program (see Section 5.1) then those requirements must be met in order to enter the Ph.D. program. Some exceptional students will be offered the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. directly from a Bachelor's program. In this case, see the Graduate Coordinator for course and program requirements.

Background in algebra, partial and total differentiation, integration and basic matrix or linear algebra operations are very useful to perform well in coursework and research work.

6.2. Credit Hour Requirements

The doctoral program requires a minimum of 60 credit hours of course work beyond the baccalaureate degree and at least 12 credit hours of dissertation research (AAEC 8000).

6.3. Transfer of Credit

Transfer of graduate credit from other academic institutions may be allowed. The request for transfer must be initiated by the student and supported by the student's committee chair. Transfer decisions are made by the department Graduate Coordinator and must be approved by the Graduate School . Information required in support of transfer requests includes academic transcripts and course catalogue descriptions of each course proposed for transfer. Course syllabi may also be requested to support transfer decisions.

6.4. Substitution for Core Courses

Substitutions for core courses are allowed only under unusual circumstances. Requests for substitutions for core courses must be initiated by the student and his or her committee chair, to the department Graduate Coordinator and must be approved by the Graduate School . Final decisions on substitutions for core courses taught outside our department are made by the department Graduate Coordinator . Decisions on core courses taught in the department are made by the current instructor of the core course being replaced.

6.5. Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination

The purpose of the Ph.D. comprehensive examination is to test the student's ability to integrate knowledge from various subject matter areas and apply appropriate concepts and tools to issues and problems relevant to the discipline. The comprehensive exam is administered by a departmental committee twice each year (usually in May and August) and is normally taken at the end of the first full year of coursework. The exam has two parts which are taken separately. Part 1 of the exam focuses econometric methods and Part 2 covers microeconomic theory. Students have two opportunities to pass both parts of the exam. If both parts of the exam are passed on the first attempt then the student has successfully completed this degree requirement. If one or both parts of the exam are failed on the first attempt (usually in May), the student must retake the failed part(s) at the next offering (in the following August). A second failure of either part of the comprehensive exam will result in dismissal from the student's Ph.D. program.

6.6. Qualifying Examination and Admission to Candidacy

Graduate school rules require that all doctoral students successfully complete a Qualifying Examination for admission to candidacy for the doctor's degree. In the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics the Dissertation Proposal Defense serves as the Qualifying Exam. Students are allowed two attempts to satisfactorily complete this examination. Failure to satisfactorily complete the examination on a second attempt will result in dismissal from the Ph.D. program. Further information on the Dissertation Proposal and Proposal Defense is provided in Section 9.0 of this Handbook.

6.7. Final Examination

All doctoral candidates are required to pass a public final oral examination which is usually over the general field of the dissertation. Candidates should consult the Graduate School for details regarding scheduling of the final examination. After the final examination, the professor conducting comprehensive exams will send a written notification of the results to the Graduate Secretary for the student's graduate file.

Doctoral candidates, with their major advisor, are required to find their own Dean's Representative for the Graduate School for their defense, preferably someone outside of the department.

Public announcement of exams will be done through the department Graduate Secretary. Exams must be announced at least four weeks prior to the exam date, without exception.

6.9. Degree Program Course Requirements

Listed below are the course requirements for the Ph.D. program options. Courses listed specifically by number are core courses. Note that the option II course requirements have been revised in consultation with the Department of Personal Financial Planning.

Ph.D in Agricultural and Applied Economics - No Minor Required (option1) 1

Course number / course title / credit hours.

• AAEC 5303 / Advanced Production Economics / 3
• AAEC 5307 / Applied Econometrics I / 3
• AAEC 6316 / Advanced International Trade and Policy / 3
• AAEC 5321 / Research Methodology in Economics/ 3
• AAEC 6302 / Food, Ag., and Nat. Resource Policy Analysis / 3
• AAEC 6305 / Economic Optimization / 3
• AAEC 6308 / Advanced Natural Resource Economics / 3
• AAEC 6310 / Demand and Price Analysis / 3
• AAEC 6311 / Applied Econometrics II / 3
• AAEC 6301 / Microeconomic Theory II / 3
• AAEC 6315 / Applied Microeconomics I / 3
• ECO 5311 / Macroeconomic Theory and Policy / 3
• Committee Approved Field Courses / / 24
• AAEC 8000 / Doctor's Dissertation / 12

Total Credit Hours 72

Ph.D. in Agricultural and Applied Economics - Minor in Family Financial Planning (option 2) 1,2

• AAEC 8000 / Doctor's Dissertation / 21
• PFP 5371 / Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning / 3
• PFP 5372 / Asset Management II / 3
• PFP 5373 / Personal Financial Planning Cpstn. / 3
• PFP 5394 / Retirement Planning / 3
• PFP 5497 / Risk Management and Insurance Planning / 4
• PFP 5398 / Estate Planning / 3
• PFP 5362 / Asset Management I / 3
• PFP 5377 / Client Communication and Counseling / 3
• ACCT 5311 / Individual Study in Accounting / 3

total credit hours 85

1 Numbered courses are core courses. 2 Draft revisions pending review and approval of AAEC faculty.

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Welcome to Resource Economics

In the Department of Resource Economics, we apply economics to tackle a wide range of questions including those related to the environment, health care, how industries are organized, and human behavior. 

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In the news, upcoming events, spring 2024 seminars.

The department of Resource Economics is pleased to present the Spring 2024 seminar series. All seminars will be available in person in Stockbridge 303 unless stated otherwise.

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MIT’s Master of Applied Science in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy program adds a public policy track

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MIT’s Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and Department of Economics have announced an expansion of their jointly administered Master of Applied Science in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP) program . This expansion adds a new public policy track to complement the existing international development track, opening up new avenues for student learning and research. 

Designed to tackle poverty alleviation and other pressing policy challenges in the United States and other high-income countries, the curriculum of the new track spans a diverse set of issues, from domestic concerns like minimum wage and consumer welfare to global matters including trade, climate change, and immigration. Applications for the public policy track will open this fall, with the inaugural cohort set to arrive on MIT’s campus in spring 2026.

The DEDP program, led by MIT professors and Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, along with professors Sara Fisher Ellison and Benjamin Olken, was established with the mission of equipping diverse cohorts of talented professionals with the knowledge and skills to tackle poverty using evidence-based approaches. The new master’s degree track will support this mission while also underscoring the program’s commitment to addressing a broad array of critical challenges in the fight against poverty worldwide.

"The DEDP program has proven successful on many dimensions, and we are enthusiastic about leveraging its successes to address a broader set of social challenges,” says Ellison, a faculty lead for the program. “The public policy track will enable us to apply evidence-based methodology to poverty alleviation and other related issues in the context of high-income countries, as well. Given increasing levels of wealth and income inequality in these countries, we feel that the timing is opportune and the need is great."

The DEDP program distinguishes itself with an innovative admissions model that prioritizes demonstrated ability and motivation over traditional credentials, such as standardized tests and recommendation letters. To be eligible to apply to the master’s program, candidates must have earned a DEDP MicroMasters credential by passing five of the DEDP online courses. The courses are completely free to audit. Those who wish to earn a course certificate can pay a fee, which varies by the learner’s ability to pay, to take the proctored exam. While applications are reviewed holistically, performance in these classes is the primary factor in admissions decisions.

This approach democratizes access to higher education, enabling students from typically underrepresented backgrounds to demonstrate their potential for success. Notably, the program has welcomed many students from nontraditional backgrounds, such as a student who enrolled directly from high school (and who is now a second-year PhD student in economics at MIT), reflecting the ambition of its faculty directors to make higher education more accessible.

Sofia Martinez, a graduate of the class of 2023 and now co-founder of Learning Alliance , says, "Without the MicroMasters paving the way, applying to MIT or any similar institution would have been unthinkable for us. Initially, my aim in taking the online courses wasn't to pursue the residential program; it was only after witnessing my own progress that I realized the possibility wasn't so distant after all. This sentiment resonates with many in our cohort, which is truly humbling.”

Since its launch in 2020, the DEDP master’s program has conferred degrees to 87 students from 44 countries, showcasing its global reach and the success of its admissions model. Upon arriving on campus, students embark on an accelerated master's program. They complete a full course load in the spring, followed by a capstone project in the summer, applying the theoretical knowledge and practical skills gained through the program at research and policy organizations.

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All students admitted to our doctoral program receive full funding - including tuition waiver, health insurance, and a generous stipend package.    

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Master of Applied Economics

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The graduate programs in economics at The University of Michigan offer preparation for the wide range of careers now open to professional economists in academic, business, and government sectors. The Department's faculty and graduates have long been involved in leading developments in research and teaching and in governmental economic policies. The graduate programs are designed to continue this tradition, by providing their students with rigorous analytical and practical training.

One of two graduate-level programs offered by the Department, is the Master of Arts degree in Applied Economics (MAE). The other is the Ph.D. Program . The Master's program in Applied Economics, as the name implies, is a policy-oriented program, with emphasis on the application of economic tools and concepts to practical problems arising in a variety of fields. Students in this program ordinarily require one and one-half years to complete their work.

This degree program is designed for students who wish to apply the theory and techniques of economics to the analysis of practical problems in a variety of fields.  Unlike the Master of Arts Degree in Economics, the MAE is NOT an intermediate step to the University of Michigan Economics Ph.D Program . 

The MAE Program addresses the needs of three types of students:

1. those who want advanced training....

Those who want advanced training in economics in order to qualify for jobs in government or private organizations that require greater expertise than is provided by an undergraduate degree.

2. Those who want to strengthen their skills...

Those who wish to strengthen their background in economics, math, or statistics, or who need to certify their ability to do graduate work in economics.

3. Those who want to complement another field...

Those who wish to study economics as a complement to their work in another field.

Dual programs , including in some cases dual degrees, can combine economics with public health, social work, law, natural resources, demography, industrial relations, statistics, business administration, and other fields.

The integrated program of study within the Department of Economics is designed to bring students into the mainstream of modern economics by offering them the opportunity to learn from leading scholars. The program is designed to provide flexibility in setting up a course of study fitted to the student's interests. It offers students resources in each of many specialized fields. The Department participates in collaboration with other programs, including quantitative finance, public policy, natural resources, and social work, among others. The program naturally endeavors to help students develop high skills in analysis, research, and expression, while also encouraging the originality and independence of mind in seeking out and making contributions to the field.

Please refer to the sections to the left for more information.  

Questions about the MAE Program can be addressed to [email protected] .

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