A&S—Economics
The aim of the doctoral program in economics at the University of Pittsburgh is to prepare students to be professional economists in academia, business, or government.
The normal time to completion of the PhD is five years. The Department of Economics does not offer a master’s degree program. Nevertheless, graduate students may apply for a Master of Arts (MA) under specific circumstances as described below.
- Continuing Master’s Degree
Continuing students may apply for an MA in economics after they have passed all preliminary examinations and paper requirements and have at least 30 credits in graded coursework at the 2000 or 3000 level. In addition, their GPA must be 3.0 or higher in all courses counting toward the 30-credit minimum.
- Non-continuing Master’s Degree
The Graduate Committee may recommend that a MA in economics be awarded to a student who is leaving the PhD program either voluntarily or because of dismissal. Such students must have at least 30 credits in graded coursework at the 2000 or 3000 level and a minimum 3.0 GPA in all courses counting toward the 30-credit minimum. In addition, students receiving a non-continuing master’s degree must either pass one of the two preliminary theory examinations or complete a master’s thesis with the approval of two faculty members.
Continuing students do not qualify for a non-continuing master’s degree.
Faculty members have a wide variety of research interests. Currently, the department’s strengths are greatest in the following fields:
- Comparative Systems and Development Economics
- Econometrics
- Economic Theory
- Experimental Economics
- Game Theory
- International Economics
- Macroeconomics
- Public Economics
- Urban and Regional Economics
Contact Information
- Department Chair: Jean Francois Richard
- Director of Graduate Studies: John Duffy
- Main Office: 4901 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
- 412-648-1760
- Fax: 412-648-1793
- E-mail:
tmw40@pitt.edu
- www.econ.pitt.edu
Additional information concerning the department’s graduate program
may be obtained from the University of Pittsburgh,
Department of Economics, Graduate
Administrator
Terri Waters, 4914 Wesley W. Posvar Hall, Pittsburgh,
PA 15260. Phone: 412-648-1399. Fax: 412-648-1793. E-mail: tmw40@pitt.edu.
Applicants for admission must submit transcripts of all college-level work, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement as to why they want to pursue doctoral study in economics, and scores on the verbal, quantitative, and writing assessment-analytical sections of the Graduate Record Examination. International applicants whose first language is not English are required to submit official scores from either the TOEFL administered by the Educational Testing Service with a minimum score of 550 (paper-based test) or 213 (computer based test) or from the IELTS administered by the University of Cambridge, Local Examinations Syndicate with a minimum score of 6.5 (taking the academic writing and reading modules). Applications will be accepted for fall term admission if received by March 15. For award consideration (fellowships and teaching assistantships), applications must be received by February 1. The department admits students only for the fall term.
The department generally offers financial support beginning with the first year of graduate study. Awards are competitive; not all students who are admitted to the program are offered fellowships or teaching assistantships. All fellowships and assistantships offer full tuition as well as a stipend and some include medical coverage. Students who are admitted without funding may qualify for funding if they pass the preliminary examinations in microeconomics and macroeconomics at the end of the first year of study.
Provided there are adequate funds, students with fellowships or teaching assistantships who make satisfactory progress toward completion of the PhD can expect their financial support to continue for up to four years beyond the first year of study.
Credit Requirement
The minimum requirement is 72 credit hours. Of these, 51 credit hours must be in graded course work. Core courses include ECON 2010, ECON 2020, ECON 2100, ECON 2110, ECON 2120, ECON 2130, and ECON 2150. Preliminary Examinations
The PhD preliminary exams consist of a four-hour exam in microeconomic theory and a second four-hour exam in macroeconomic theory. These exams are offered in June after the first year of study. If a student fails either or both preliminary examinations, a second attempt is offered two months later in August. Students must pass both exams by the second attempt to continue in the program.
Minimum GPA
All students must attain a minimum grade of a B in both Econ 2020 and 2150 to be certified for the PhD in economics. All students must attain a minimum GPA of 3.00 in 2000- and 3000-level course work in economics as well as maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 in all courses qualifying for graduation to be certified for the PhD in economics, as well as to qualify for continued financial assistance. Comprehensive Exam Requirement (Research Paper)
All students are required to complete a single authored, original research paper demonstrating their ability to do research in economics. This is typically done in the second year. The paper is reviewed by two faculty members, who may ask for revisions or additions. Following their approval of the paper, the student is certified as having completed the comprehensive examination requirement.
Field Requirements
Research Field
In their third year of study all students are required to make a seminar presentation of their findings in a workshop in their chosen field. The presentation may be based on the student’s second year paper or on other research. Students should obtain the approval of their advisor prior to scheduling this presentation. Successful completion of this presentation shall result in certification of students in their research field.
Outside Field
The requirements for the second (outside) field depend on the field chosen. Typically the requirement will consist of taking graded coursework in a field and receiving a minimum grade of a B in all courses. The faculty working in each area determines the particular requirements for certification.
Dissertation Overview (Admission to Candidacy)
Following successful completion of the comprehensive examination, the student begins to work full time on the doctoral dissertation. This involves searching for a topic, finding a faculty advisor, and beginning preliminary research. When a topic is selected and preliminary research is underway, the student, in consultation with the advisor, forms a dissertation committee. A dissertation overview is held at which the student presents his proposal for doctoral research, preliminary findings, and a strategy for completing the work to the dissertation committee. If the dissertation committee approves of the topic and research strategy, the student can file an application for admission to candidacy for the Doctor of Philosophy.
Dissertation Defense
The final oral examination in defense of the doctoral dissertation is conducted by the doctoral committee and is open to the University community.
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