Ph.D. Economics

About the Program

The doctoral program is offered jointly by the Departments of Economics at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa.

The Ph.D. program stresses the application of economic theory to the analysis of Canadian economic policy and economic development. Eight areas of specialization are available for intensive study and thesis research: econometrics, economic development, economics of the environment, industrial organization, international economics, labour economics, monetary economics, and public economics. The program of courses and thesis guidance, drawing upon the faculty of the two departments, will encompass course requirements, policy-oriented workshops, comprehensive examinations, and a thesis. Students are expected to have, or to acquire, proficiency in mathematics and statistics before proceeding with the program.

Academic Regulations

  • See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.
  • Doctoral students must normally obtain a grade of B- or higher in each credit counted towards the degree.
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Admission Requirements

  • The normal requirement for admission into the Ph.D. program is a master's degree (or the equivalent) from a recognized university with high honours standing. The Department may require certain applicants to write the Graduate Record Examination Aptitude Test and the Advanced Test in Economics offered by the Educational Testing Service.
  • In cases of exceptional merit, Ph.D. candidates may be accepted on a part-time basis.

Transfer from Master's to Ph.D. Program

  • A student who shows outstanding academic performance and who demonstrates high promise for advanced research during the master's program may, subject to meeting the requirements below, be permitted to transfer into the Ph.D. program without completing the M.A. program:
    • The student will have completed ECON 5000, ECON 5002, and ECON 5005.
    • The student must make formal application to the graduate studies committee.
    • Students permitted to transfer into the Ph.D. program will be required to complete the equivalent of 13.5 credits of which 6.0 or 7.0 credits will be assigned to the Ph.D. Thesis, depending on the student's background and grades at the time of the transfer.
    • Students who have taken ECON 6000 and/or ECON 6002 as part of the M.A. curriculum will be granted advanced standing in these courses.
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Program Requirements

  • Notwithstanding additional course work that may be required by the admissions committee as a condition of entry, students admitted to the Ph.D. program are required to complete:
    • 4.0 credits in ECON 6000, ECON 6002, ECON 6005, ECON 6900, ECON 6902, ECON 6905, ECON 6907, ECON 6908; and
    • 2.0 credits in economics electives; and
    • a thesis equivalent to 5.0 credits.
  • Students are also required to do course work in two of eight fields of specialization leading to a field comprehensive examination and the writing of a thesis. To fulfil this requirement, students must pass, within twenty-four months of beginning full-time study, at least two of the three courses associated with each of two chosen fields as well as a comprehensive examination in one of them (ECON 6905).
  • The courses in the eight fields of specialization are:
    • Econometrics: ECON 5712, ECON 5713, ECON 6714
    • Economic Development: ECON 5500, ECON 5504, ECON 5505
      • Economics of the Environment: ECON 5507, ECON 5803, ECON 5804
      • Industrial Organization: ECON 5301, ECON 5302, ECON 5303
      • International Economics: ECON 5601, ECON 5602, ECON 5603
      • Labour Economics: ECON 5361, ECON 5362, ECON 5363
      • Monetary Economics: ECON 5606, ECON 5607, ECON 5609
      • Public Economics: ECON 5401, ECON 5402, ECON 5403

Comprehensive Examinations

Theory: Each student will register in ECON 6900 and ECON 6902 in order to write the comprehensive examinations in microeconomic theory and macroeconomic theory. Both of these examinations must be successfully completed within twelve months of beginning full-time study. Students who fail to meet this requirement will normally be withdrawn from the Ph.D. program.

Primary Field: Each student will register in ECON 6905 in order to write a comprehensive examination in his or her chosen primary field. This examination must be successfully completed within twenty-four months of beginning full-time study. Students who fail to meet this requirement will normally be withdrawn from the Ph.D. program.

Although not compulsory, a candidate may be required by an examining committee to sit an oral examination.

Seminar Attendance

Students who have completed the comprehensive examinations in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory will be required to attend a minimum of eight departmental seminars in economics during each academic year until they have submitted their thesis to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.

Thesis Requirements

Doctoral students will write and defend a Ph.D. thesis. In preparing the thesis, the student is required to give two thesis workshops. In the first (ECON 6907), a research proposal for the thesis will be presented for evaluation by at least three faculty members. In the second (ECON 6908), a substantial portion of the research for the thesis will have been completed and will be presented and evaluated by at least three faculty members.

Guidelines for Completion of Ph.D. Degree

Full-time Ph.D. students are expected to complete their requirements within four calendar years. Students who undertake the program by a combination of full-time and part-time study must complete their degree requirements within an elapsed period of eight calendar years, as set out in the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

 

 

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