Doctoral Studies

Faculty closely guide students throughout their time in the program, beginning as soon as they arrive! 1Y (first-year) students take part in a workshop designed to familiarize incoming scholars with the USC Department of Economics’ distinguished faculty members and their respective fields of research. The workshop continues into the 2Y, with different faculty-student pairings.

When students transition from coursework to research work, they participate in small-group discussion workshops (“Reading Groups”). Here, students can expect to regularly receive feedback on their own research from a varied group of faculty members and peers.

Our faculty believe in the value of interdisciplinary research and have robust connections to other departments, schools, and research centers at the University. Doctoral students work on multidisciplinary projects in areas such as health care, environmental science and policy, traffic engineering, neuroscience, psychology, and computer science. Students are often encouraged to work with the amazing scholars throughout USC, including those within the following:

USC Marshall School of Business
Sol Price School of Public Policy
Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics
Center for Economic and Social Research

Our program is designed to train students to conduct original research. This is not limited to careers in the academic sector. Many of our students go on to deploy their skills in the public sector and in the private industry. We give our full support to students who choose these paths and are proud of their achievements.

The Department is devoted to maintaining a progressive curriculum. Each semester, a diverse lineup of prominent scholars are invited to visit and present their research to students and faculty at weekly seminar series. These seminars are organized by USC Economics faculty across the following research areas–Applied Microeconomics, Development Economics, Econometrics, Economic Theory, Macroeconomics.

USC Dornsife doctoral students get to enjoy the many advantages of life in Southern California. Nearby, students can enjoy a variety of events and activities in Los Angeles—beaches, concerts, arts, music, and amazing food. For students who seek to venture a little further, the reserves and national forests in Southern California are just a scenic drive away! Imagine being able to step foot on sand and snow within the same day. With great weather year-round, students are free to explore opportunities beyond campus and discover new passions.