Other Requirements
In addition to completing coursework, students must meet several key milestones in their journey towards earning a Ph.D. in Economics. Students must achieve the following milestones:
1. Pass qualifying examinations in Microeconomics, Econometrics, and Economics of Innovation.
• Each exam consists of questions from both semesters and lasts for three hours.
• These exams are taken after the first year of coursework.
• If needed, these exams can be retaken once if not passed on the initial attempt.
• The exact exam dates are announced at the beginning of the Spring semester. In general, the first round takes place 2-3 weeks after the Spring semester ends. Second round takes place about 2 months after the first round.
• It’s important to note that qualifying exams must be successfully completed before students can proceed to the Ph.D. candidacy examination.
2. Fulfill field requirements
• Students are required to attain grades of B or higher in their field courses to fulfill field requirements. If a student receives a grade lower than B in a field course, the Graduate Program Director (GPD), in consultation with the Department Head, will provide the student with an opportunity to fulfill field requirements. This will be done by administering a comprehensive exam in the respective field course. If, after this opportunity, the student still does not achieve a grade of B or higher, they will be required to withdraw from the program.
3. Form a doctoral committee
• By the beginning of the Fall semester of the student’s third year, they are expected to have formed their doctoral committee and to have submitted the Nomination of Doctoral Committee form to OGE.
4. Complete the second-year research paper.
• The second-year research paper must be initiated during the student’s second year and submitted by November 15th of the Fall semester in their third year.
• Under exceptional circumstances, an extension until the end of the third year may be granted, subject to the discretion of the GPD and the Department Head.
• This research paper is expected to contribute to the student’s dissertation and requires approval from the student’s doctoral committee chair (and co-chair, if any).
5. Deliver a presentation of an original research paper in the Spring semester of the third year.
• Student presents an original research paper (often their second-year paper) to the Economics Department. The student’s dissertation committee members evaluate the student’s performance and quality of research, and decide whether the presentation was successful and whether the student is making good progress. All faculty and graduate students will be invited to the presentation.
• This presentation serves multiple purposes, including ensuring that the student makes continuous progress in their dissertation research and offering an opportunity to receive valuable feedback on their work. Furthermore, they serve as motivation to refine and prepare the research for potential submission to academic journals.
6. Successfully defend a research candidacy proposal.
• The Ph.D. candidacy examination follows a series of preparatory steps, including selecting a Ph.D. advisor, conducting preliminary research planning, drafting a dissertation proposal, assembling a formal Ph.D. committee, and orally presenting their dissertation proposal.
• The proposal should outline the student’s research plan, including a literature review, proposed analytical methods, and any completed or preliminary dissertation components, models, and analyses. Ideally, the second-year research paper is integrated into both the dissertation and the proposal.
• Student should have proposed their dissertation to their Committee by the end of the Fall semester of their fourth year. This is done by passing the Candidacy exam and submitting the Candidacy Exam form to OGE.
• Committee approval indicates that the student’s research is on a path toward successful completion of the Ph.D.
7. Deliver a presentation of another original research paper in the Spring semester of the fourth year.
• Student presents an original research paper (different from their third-year presentation) to the Economics Department. The student’s dissertation committee members evaluate the student’s performance and quality of research, and decide whether the presentation was successful and whether the student is making good progress. All Department faculty and graduate students are invited to the presentation.
8. Complete a written dissertation and successfully defend the dissertation.
• The Ph.D. defense, where students orally defend their written dissertation, is contingent upon approval by the Ph.D. committee.
• Typically, an economics dissertation comprises three papers suitable for publication in reputable peer-reviewed economics research journals, complemented by an introductory and concluding section.
- Alternative dissertation formats may be accepted, subject to the committee’s decision.
In addition, participation in departmental research seminars, featuring internal and external faculty members and fellow students, is highly encouraged. While there’s no formal requirement for attendance, actively participating in these seminars enhances the learning experience, quality of research, and presentation skills. It may also impact evaluations and recommendations.
There is no mandatory distance fieldwork or internship requirement. Typically, students conduct their research in on-campus offices throughout the approximately three-year dissertation period, following initial development during the first two years of coursework.
Selection of a Doctoral Committee
The successful completion of a Ph.D. thesis requires the guidance and expertise of a dedicated faculty advisor along with the oversight of a doctoral committee. The committee should consist of a minimum of four members, each playing a distinct role. Here are the key criteria and steps for forming a doctoral committee:
Composition of the Doctoral Committee:
• Chair: The committee must have a Chair, who is required to be a tenured or tenure-track faculty member within the Economics Department at RPI. The student may also have a co-chair who is also required to be a tenured or tenure-track faculty member within the Economics Department at RPI. However, in exceptional cases, non-tenure track faculty members (e.g., lecturers) may serve as co-chairs alongside a tenured/tenure-track faculty member.
• Two Committee Members: The committee must include two additional members who hold positions as tenured, tenure-track, or non-tenure track faculty within the Economics Department. If there is a co-chair, then only one economics committee member is needed.
• Outside Member: To ensure a breadth of perspectives, the committee must include one outside member. This individual can be a faculty member from another department within RPI, a representative from an external institution, or a scholar specializing in a discipline relevant to the student’s dissertation.
Nomination of Doctoral Committee:
• After selecting the members of their committee, students must complete a Nomination of Doctoral Committee form. This form should be signed by all committee members and requires approval by the Office of Graduate Education prior to scheduling the Candidacy Exam.
• Once the form is complete, it should be submitted to the Graduate Program Administrator. The Graduate Program Administrator will have the GPD sign it, make a copy for the student’s file, and send the original to the Office of Graduate Education.
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