Economics Ph.D.

Introduction

The Ph.D. program in economics provides students with training in modern microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics, combined with specialized training in the fields of international finance, international trade, economic development, monetary economics, applied microeconomics, experimental economics, and other areas.

Advancement to Candidacy

Course Requirements

First-year Ph.D. students are required to enroll in the following courses:

• ECON 210B*, and the three sequences:

• ECON 204A-ECON 204B-ECON 204C, Advanced Micro Theory I-II-III;

• ECON 205A-ECON 205B-ECON 205C, Advanced Macro Theory I-II-III; and

• ECON 211A-ECON 211B-ECON 211C, Advanced Econometrics I-II-III.

* Scheduled in pre-fall as a three-week math camp that precedes the start of fall quarter. The three sequences are taken during the traditional academic year.

First-year Ph.D. students should plan to attend an annual “Introduction to field courses" workshop to learn about course options for satisfying second-year course requirements, as described in the next paragraph.

Second-year Ph.D. students are required to complete two fields (e.g. macroeconomics, international  finance, labor) based on completion of 30 credits of coursework (two courses per quarter). The fields and associated courses will be proposed by the student with guidance from the faculty and subject to the  approval of the Ph.D. program director. Each field will be constructed by selecting two coherent courses  from the set of second-year economics Ph.D. courses listed below. Alternative graduate economics courses  that satisfy this requirement may be approved by the Ph.D. program director. See the extensive list of second year course options below.

Students are required to submit a second-year field paper which is due on Aug. 31, just before the start of the third year. The department's graduate online handbook details the evaluation procedure for the field papers.

Third-year Ph.D. students must attempt and pass the Oral Qualifying Exam by the end of the spring quarter (of the third year). They enroll in ECON 297A with their field paper advisor (in fall only). Each quarter, students must enroll in a workshop focused on advanced topics in their field of interest: ECON 274, ECON 275, or ECON 276. In addition, students enroll in ECON 299B, Doctoral Thesis Research (10 credits), with their advisor, each quarter.

Fourth-year Ph.D. students and beyond are focused on their dissertation research and enroll in ECON 299B, Doctoral Thesis Research (10 credits), and a workshop focused on advanced topics in their field of interest: ECON 274, ECON 275, or ECON 276.

All graduate courses must be taken for letter grade with the exception of ECON 210B, ECON 274, ECON 275, ECON 275 and courses numbered ECON 293 and higher. Only courses with a letter grade of B- or higher can be counted toward the degree requirements.

Ph.D. Courses and Program Requirements

First Year

At the conclusion of the first year, students are required to take and pass microeconomic and macroeconomic preliminary examinations, which are scheduled end of June with a make up in September.

Second Year

Second-year Ph.D. students are required to complete two fields (e.g. macroeconomics, international  finance, labor) based on completion of 30 credits of coursework (two courses per quarter). The fields and associated courses will be proposed by the student with guidance from the faculty and subject to the  approval of the Ph.D. program director. Each field will be constructed by selecting two coherent courses from the set of second-year economics Ph.D. courses listed below. Alternative graduate economics courses that satisfy this requirement may be approved by the Ph.D. program director.

Second-year field paper: due on Aug. 31 after the second year.

Third Year

Students enroll in ECON 299B plus one workshop plus each quarter, and also enroll in ECON 297A in fall quarter with their second-year paper advisor.

Qualifying examination (QE) is required by the end of the spring quarter of the third year.

Fourth Year and Beyond

Students enroll in ECON 299B and one workshop each quarter.

Based on university policy, course requirements are satisfied by a letter grade of B- or better or a grade of S (satisfactory). A letter grade of C in a course is not satisfactory for meeting a course requirement for the Ph.D. program.

Pre-Qualifying Requirements

First-year students take two written preliminary examinations; one each in Micro and Macro, in the second week after final exams in June. Students who do not pass either exam may attempt the exam again in September at a date scheduled by the department. Students who fail either exam twice are not allowed to continue in the program.

Second-year students must complete a field paper that consists of original research demonstrating the student's readiness to undertake the Ph.D. in economics. The paper is due on Aug. 31 in the summer after the second year in the program. 

Qualifying Examination

Advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree requires completion with satisfactory grades or better of the required coursework, preliminary examinations, the field paper, and the oral examination. The oral examination is taken after all other requirements have been completed. A student cannot advance to candidacy before clearing any incomplete grades from their record. Students are expected to complete the oral qualifying examination (QE) during the spring quarter of their third year.

Qualifying Examination Committee:

The Graduate Division sets the general structure of the QE committee. The QE committee must be made up of at least three faculty members from the department and one outside member. The chair of the student’s qualifying committee may not act as the chair for the dissertation committee. Both the outside member of the QE committee and the QE chair (one of the two additional economics members) must be tenured.

The outside member may be a UC Santa Cruz faculty from another discipline, or an economics faculty member from another campus. (NOTE: Travel expenses of QE committee members are not covered by either the Graduate Division or the Economics Department, and students are responsible for travel expenses and lodging of committee members from other campuses). Skype/Zoom may be used during the exam for outside members.

Members of the QE committee are chosen by the student in consultation with his/her faculty advisor and already appointed committee members, approved by the department and officially appointed by the Graduate Division dean.

Dissertation

Dissertation

The final requirement for the Ph.D. degree is acceptance of the student’s dissertation under the rules of the academic senate. A three-member dissertation advisory committee, headed by the student’s research advisor, evaluates the dissertation for the department. The dissertation advisory committee must be approved by both the economics Ph.D. committee and the Graduate Division. The committee may require a formal public defense of the dissertation.

Dissertation Committee

The Graduate Division requires that students who have passed their qualifying exams (QE) form their dissertation reading committee before they are considered advanced to candidacy.

The dissertation committee must include a minimum of three faculty members, one of whom must be designated as the dissertation advisor. Normally these readers are selected from the QE committee, but this is not required. 

At least two of these readers must be members of the UC Santa Cruz Economics Department. A majority of committee members must be part of the UC Santa Cruz academic senate.

Academic Progress

The main requirements for the program are as follows:

• Students must pass all first-year courses.
• Students must pass the micro and macro preliminary exams within the maximum two attempts.
• Students must pass the 2nd-year paper, due on Aug. 31 in the summer after the second year.
• Students must pass the oral qualifying exam. This is expected to be completed by the end of the spring quarter of the third year.
• Students must pass a workshop in each quarter in years three and above.

Students who fail to meet any of these requirements within the timeline specified will be placed on academic probation with the Graduate Division. Students who fail to rectify the terms of their probation within the timeline specified in their probation will be dismissed from the program. Note that probation and dismissal can only be formally issued by the Graduate Division (under recommendation from the Economics Department). More detail on these procedures, as well as student’s right to appeal such decisions, can be found in the Graduate Division Handbook. The minimum residency requirement for a Ph.D. degree at UC Santa Cruz is six quarters. To receive a graduate degree from UC Santa Cruz, you must be registered at the Santa Cruz campus for at least three of the six quarters. A minimum of one quarter in residence must elapse between advancement to candidacy and awarding of degree.

Applying for Graduation

By the end of the second week of instruction in the quarter you intend to graduate, you must file an "Application for Degree" form with the Division of Graduate Studies.