Program Requirements

24 units

FALL

ECON-601: Microeconomic Theory I (4 units)

ECON-602: Macroeconomic Theory I (4 units)

ECON-611: Probability and Statistics for Economists (4 units)

SPRING

ECON-603: Microeconomic Theory II (4 units)

ECON-605: Macroeconomic Theory II (4 units)

ECON-609: Econometric Methods (4 units)

Electives – 20 units

The DDS must approve all elective courses. ECON and non-ECON courses may count toward the elective requirement. Elective and seminar courses contribute to students’ Advanced Fields of Study.

The remainder of the courses to total at least 60 units must be preapproved by the DDS. However, not more than 4 units of ECON-590 and/or ECON-790 can be taken in a semester.

ADVANCED FIELDS OF STUDY

Each student should complete 2 Advanced Fields with the approval of the DDS. The requirements for completing each advanced field of study consists of:

1. At least 2 courses numbered 600 or higher in that field with a minimum grade of A- in each
2. Satisfactory completion of one of the seminars related to the field
3. Presentation of a research paper in a class or seminar

Courses taken outside the USC Department of Economics or the University may not count toward the completion of a field. The signing of a student’s Appointment or Change of Qualifying Exam form signifies satisfactory completion of the Advanced Field requirements.

Seminars – 6 units

Students must complete a minimum of 3 seminars. The same seminar may be taken more than once. Each student must present at least one original research paper in a seminar of the student’s choice.

ECON-690: Seminar in Economic Theory (2 units)

ECON-691: Seminar in Econometrics (2 units)

ECON-692: Seminar in Economic Development (2 units)

ECON-693: Seminar in Applied Economics and Public Policy (2 units)

ECON-694: Seminar in Dynamic Economics (2 units)

ECON-696: Empirical Microeconomics Seminar (2 units)

Reading Groups – 6 units

Students must complete a minimum of 3 reading groups. Each semester, multiples sections of this course are offered. Each section focuses on a specific sub-field.

ECON-700: Research on Frontier Economics (2 units)

Dissertation Courses – 4 units

ECON-794a: Doctoral Dissertation (2 units)

ECON-794b: Doctoral Dissertation (2 units)

ECON-794c: Doctoral Dissertation (2 units)

ECON-794d: Doctoral Dissertation (0 units)

In addition to Graduate School requirements, a minimum GPA of 3.0 on all course work taken toward the 60-unit requirement must be achieved.

Before beginning the third semester of graduate study, each PhD student must pass written Core Theory Examinations (Core Exams) in general economic theory, including applications. A maximum of 3 attempts is allowed. Not taking the examination at a given due time is considered as failing the examination once. The Core Exams are offered twice every year during the summer session.

Each PhD student must pass both Micro and Macro sections of the exam to pass the Core Exams. If a student fails one of the 2sections, the student is only required to retake the section of the exam they did not pass. Students who fail a section of the first examination in June are required to re-take the examination in August in the same year.

The first round of the Core Exams is given during the second week of June:

• Micro: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Monday
• Macro: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Wednesday

The second round of the Core Exams is given during the second week of August:

• Micro: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Monday
• Macro: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Wednesday

Each student will be assigned a Core Exam ID number in order to be anonymous to the faculty who are grading. Each faculty on the Core Examination Committee grades independently and discuss the results afterwards. Students remain anonymous to the committee members until after the results are announced.

During the summer after the fourth semester of study, each student must submit a single-authored empirical paper using quantitative methods to the examination committee. The paper may use field, experimental or simulated data. In this paper, the student should demonstrate competence in using a computer programming language and software.

The paper is due on the first day of fall semester. Each student will be asked to submit their paper electronically to the Associate Director, Doctoral Program.

During the summer after the sixth semester of study, each student must submit a single-authored research paper to a committee of faculty. The paper must be of publishable quality.

The paper is due on the first day of fall semester. Each student will be asked to submit their paper electronically to the Associate Director, Doctoral Program.

Each student is required to present the paper to the Third-Year Paper Committee members, other faculty, and graduate students at a scheduled time at the beginning of fall semester.

Upon successful completion of course and grade requirements, the paper requirement, and the Core Theory Examination, each student takes a Qualifying Examination (Q-Exam/QE) that focuses on the presentation and defense of the written dissertation proposal. After passing this examination, each student is admitted to candidacy for the PhD degree. This examination must be taken no later than the end of the eighth semester of study.

The QE is an oral exam to be taken after students have completed all of their required coursework and have begun pursuing their own research. The purpose of The QE is to ensure that students are working on suitable topics and making good progress toward a dissertation.

Students must form a QE Committee of 5 faculty members according to the USC Graduate School Guidelines & Forms. Of the committee members, the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences requires 1 to be an “outside member” (a USC professor from a different Department). Refer to the PhD Handbook for more details.

After admission to candidacy, each student forms a Dissertation Committee composed of 3 faculty members. The Chair of a student’s Dissertation Committee is usually the student’s Primary Faculty Advisor (PFA). Of the committee members, the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences requires 1 to be an “outside member” (a USC professor from a different Department).

Each student must register in sequence for ECON-794a, ECON-794b, ECON-794c, ECON-794d each semester, excluding summer sessions, until the dissertation and all other degree requirements are completed.

The dissertation is defended in an oral examination administered by the dissertation committee. This happens once the committee agrees that a student has completed the research and a satisfactory final draft of the dissertation has been written. If the committee agrees to pass a student but suggests extensions, modifications, and/or corrections, the student may incorporate changes into the manuscript and resubmit the manuscript to the committee for their approval.

It is every student’s responsibility to see that the proper paperwork is submitted to the Graduate School upon completion of each requirement for the doctoral dissertation.