Satisfactory Progress

The graduate program in economics is structured so that students should be able to complete an M.A. degree in one and a half to two years and a Ph.D. degree in four to five years. The criteria spelled out below provide guidelines for what is considered to be making satisfactory progress as a graduate student in the Department of Economics.

All Students

• Maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better.

First-year Students

• Satisfactory completion of ECON 590, ECON 591, ECON 660, ECON 661, ECON 690 and ECON 690A by the end of the second semester. If a grade lower than B is obtained in ECON 660 or ECON 661, then passing the appropriate M.A. comprehensive examination will also maintain satisfactory progress.

Second-Year Students

• For M.A. students, completing all required course work and the master’s research component.
• For Ph.D. students, satisfactory performance in ECON 660 and ECON 661, and passing the Ph.D. candidacy examination.

Third-year Students

• Completion of most field courses.
• Substantial progress in the Ph.D. research paper.
• Identification of a dissertation topic.

Fourth-year Students

• Satisfactory completion of Ph.D. research paper and presentation in ECON 798.
• Completion of Dissertation proposal and enrollment in ECON 799.
• Meeting whatever timetable for submission of dissertation drafts and revisions that is required by the chair of your dissertation committee.
• Completion and successful defense of dissertation.

Fifth-year Students

• Meeting whatever timetable for submission of dissertation drafts and revisions that is required by the chair of your dissertation committee.
• Completion and successful defense of dissertation.