Krannert School of Management
Economic Graduate Programs
Introduction
The Department of Economics at Purdue University's Krannert Graduate School of Management offers a doctoral program that prepares economists for careers in research, teaching, business and government. The graduate program in economics has a strong quantitative and analytical orientation. It is designed to provide a working knowledge of basic research skills and to broaden the students' understanding of economic institutions.
Degree Requirements
Ph.D. students must complete a minimum of 52 hours of course work within the plan of study. They must complete 18 credit hours in economic theory (and pass preliminary examinations covering the core courses), 10 credit hours in econometrics, 6 credit hours in a methodology area, 6 credit hours in a primary (specialty) field, 6 credit hours in a secondary field and 6 credit hours of electives. Click here for sample schedules of courses. Students also must write and successfully defend a dissertation of suitable scholarly content and scope that demonstrates ability to carry out a substantial independent research project. Students typically take four to five years, including summer school sessions, to complete their Ph.D. studies.
Core Courses
The core theory course requirement consists of a course sequences in microeconomic theory including mathematical economics and course sequences in macroeconomic theory.Methodology Areas
The methodology requirement is 6 credit hours from one of the approved combinations of methodological courses. Methodological courses are in the areas of Econometrics, Experimental, Game Theory, Information and Uncertainty, and Mathematical Economics. One intent of the methodological requirement is to identify course combinations that develop depth in one of the following three methodological fields: Advanced Theory, Econometrics, and Experimental Economics.
Courses outside the Economics department may be substituted with the prior permission of the Economics Policy Committee in the above methodological course combinations.
Fields of Specialization within Economics
- econometrics
- environmental and resource economics
- experimental economics
- industrial organization
- information economics
- international economics (theoretical)
- international economics (applied)
- labor economics
- macroeconomic theory
- mathematical economics
- microeconomic theory
- monetary economics
Course-sequences are offered in each field of specialization. Students may also choose as a secondary field a related area outside of economics. The fields of specialization available from other areas include development, accounting, e-commerce, finance, management science, marketing, mathematics, operations management, statistics, strategic management, and organizational behavior and human resource management. Note that the courses used to satisfy the primary and secondary fields of specialization cannot also be used to satisfy the methodological requirement.
In addition, students have the option to construct individual programs with the permission of the faculty. Students interested in such programs should consult with the departmental director of graduate studies.
Each field (primary and secondary) requires passing a minimum of six hours of field courses. Each student must pass a written examination in their primary (specialty) field.