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 51 hours of course work within the plan of study. They must complete five core courses in economic theory (and pass preliminary examinations covering the core courses), three core courses in econometrics, three courses in a methodology area, two courses in a primary (specialty) field, two courses in a secondary field and two 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

Methodology Areas

The methodology requirement is three courses 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.  Currently approved methodological course combinations are:

a)  Advanced Theory:  Three courses drawn from the areas of Game Theory (ECON 610), Math Econ (ECON 660, ECON 661 or approved courses in Mathematics) and Information and Uncertainty (ECON 676, ECON 677).  For the Applied International Economics specialty field - AGEC 652, AGEC 618 and a third methodology course in Economics, such as Information and Uncertainty (ECON 676), would meet this requirement.

b)  Experimental: Two experimental courses (ECON 685, ECON 686) or one course in experimental and either a Game Theory or an Information and Uncertainty course.  The third course can be from the Advanced Theory or Econometrics areas.

c)  Econometrics: Two courses in Econometrics (ECON 673, ECON 674) and one course from the Advanced Theory or Experimental areas.

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
• public 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 at least 4 of the 9 "upper-level" courses (3 Methodology courses, 2 specialty field courses, 2 secondary field courses, and 2 electives) must be in Economics.  Note that the courses used to satisfy the primary field 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 (speciality) field.