Economics Doctor of Philosophy Program
Department of Economics | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
丁香园AV Calendar 2012 Spring
丁香园AV Requirements
See Graduate General Regulation 1.3.4. Also required is amaster of arts (MA) degree, with graduate work in core areas that are equivalent to ECON 802, 807, 835 and 836. Any core area deficiency must be filled by completing the appropriate course(s) in addition to the course work normally required. In certain cases, students may be transferred into the doctor of philosophy (PhD) program from the MA program after meeting MA core and unit requirements (16 courses beyond the BA honours is required for such a PhD program).
Degree Requirements
This program allows specialization in economics, economics and business administration, or economics and a related discipline. Normally, every PhD program will include the following.
1. Successful performance in 11 approved courses beyond the economics MA requirements listed above. Those specializing in economics must include ECON 803, 804, 808, 809, 831, 837 and either 838 or 839; those specializing in economics and business administration must include ECON 803 and 804, or 808 and 809, 831. Those specializing in economics must also complete ECON 900 which does not count towards the 11 courses. Other courses may be drawn from those normally offered at the graduate level by this or other related departments. Normally, a student must complete at least five courses of regularly scheduled course work within this department; exceptions to this rule must be approved by the student鈥檚 supervisory committee and the graduate program committee.
2. Successful performance in written comprehensive examinations.
2.1 Students specializing in economics write comprehensive examinations in economic theory and one other field. In addition, students complete a field either by successfully completing two courses approved by the graduate program chair (other than required or readings courses) with at least an A- average, or a comprehensive examination in the field. The economic theory comprehensive exams consist of separate examinations in micro and macroeconomic theory. The microeconomics comprehensive theory examination usually encompasses topics and readings covered by ECON 802, 803, and 804. The macroeconomics comprehensive theory examination usually encompasses topics and readings in ECON 807, 808, and 809. Comprehensive exams in other fields normally encompass topics and readings presented in the main courses in those fields.
2.2 Students specializing in economics and business administration must write a comprehensive economic theory exam covering topics and guideline readings of either microeconomics (ECON 802, 803, and 804), or macroeconomics (ECON 807, 808 and 809). The student will complete three fields, subject to the following: a) at least two field requirements are satisfied by written examinations; b) at least two are drawn from accounting, finance, management science, marketing and organization behavior.
2.3 Arrangements for students specializing in economics and a related discipline, or economics and business administration and a related field will be recommended by the student鈥檚 supervisory committee and approved by the department鈥檚 graduate program committee.
2.4 Normally, full time students write micro/macro theory comprehensive exams at the first opportunity after the exam period of their second term.
3. An original and significant thesis completed by the candidate under department faculty supervision.
Dissertation Procedures
Thesis proposal seminar
This will be given by each candidate to fulfil the ECON 900 course requirement. ECON 900 will be completed in the summer term following completion of the student鈥檚 theory comprehensive examinations. Each candidate produces a written paper, makes it available to all interested department members and presents it on a pre-announced date in the departmental seminar. The candidate鈥檚 supervisory committee should attend and arrange for others interested to also attend. That committee, along with the candidate, should decide on the future course of thesis research paying due regard to the comments that have been received.
Thesis core and a thesis seminar
These should be given by each candidate after the supervisory committee agrees that the thesis is substantially complete and before it is formally approved for defence. The thesis core should be a paper that describes the major original contributions of the thesis (preferably in a form appropriate for journal submission) and should be available to all interested department members.
Thesis defence
Procedures for the thesis defence are described in the graduate general regulations (see 1.11 Publication of Thesis).
Satisfactory Performance
Each candidate鈥檚 progress is assessed at least once a year in the fall term. Any student who performs unsatisfactorily is subject to the review of unsatisfactory progress described in graduate general regulations (see 1.8.2 Review of Unsatisfactory Progress).
Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations
All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations (residence, course work, academic progress, supervision, research competence requirement, completion time, and degree completion), as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled, as shown above.