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When the student has completed ECON 940 and ECON 945, the student should be prepared to take the microeconomic theory qualifying examination. When the student has completed ECON 805 and ECON 905, the student should be prepared to take the macroeconomic theory qualifying examination. For each examination the student is responsible for material covered in the most recent presentation of the relevant courses. Problems need not be based on specific course material. Problems intended to test the students ability to apply the concepts developed in the relevant courses are legitimate. Problems intended to test the students' broad understanding of the subject material are also legitimate.
The two qualifying examinations shall be given twice a year, just prior to the beginning of the fall semester and just prior to the beginning of the spring semester. The exams will normally be given in the same week. In order to take the qualifying examinations, the student must have an approved major professor, supervisory committee, and Program of Study. The student shall notify the Director of Graduate Studies of his or her intention to take the examinations at least four weeks before the examinations are to be given.Students are expected to take the qualifying examinations as soon as the necessary courses have been completed. In particular, students entering the Ph.D. program in the fall semester on a regular admission basis are expected to take the qualifying examinations in January of the second year, i.e., after three semesters of course work. Students must take the qualifying examinations by at least the second offering following completion of the course work in the core area. If a qualifying exam is not taken by the second opportunity, a failure will be recorded.
If the student fails a qualifying examination, the student must retake the exam by at least the second opportunity or another failure is recorded. Failure to pass either qualifying examination on the second attempt shall result in dismissal from the Ph.D. program unless the student successfully appeals to the Joint Graduate Committee for a third and final attempt. A student may petition for a third attempt on one, but not both, of the microeconomics or macroeconomics qualifying examinations. [In other words, a student is limited to a total of five attempts to pass both qualifying examinations and may not attempt any one qualifying examination more than three times.] Such a petition will be considered only if s/he has received a Masters Pass on at least one of the two previous attempts on that examination. Student appeals will include a petition letter, a supporting letter from the student's major advisor, and a written plan describing steps for improving the student's exam performance. A plan should include at least one of the following: (i) sitting in on one or more of the relevant courses covering the exam material, (ii) submission of a satisfactory set of solution to the most recent qualifying examination.
The Director of Graduate Studies (Economics) will appoint two of the three examiners for the microeconomics qualifying examination, three examiners for the macroeconomics qualifying examination, and will designate a committee member as chairperson for each of the examining committees. The Director of Graduate Studies (Agricultural Economics) will appoint one member to the microeconomic theory examining committee. Each qualifying examination committee shall be responsible for preparing, administering, and grading the examination. The grade determined by majority vote shall be either Ph.D. pass, Ph.D. fail/Masters pass, or Ph.D. fail/Masters fail. The Director of Graduate Studies (Economics) shall handle the administration of the qualifying examinations, including scheduling the examinations in accordance with the Joint Graduate Committee guidelines and assuring the communication of results to the students and representatives of the Department of Agricultural Economics.
The preliminary examinations consist of two written, comprehensive examinations. These examinations shall cover two branches of economics (excluding microeconomics and macroeconomics) or one branch of economics and a field in a related discipline. Branch preliminary examinations shall cover at least six credit hours of course work from courses numbered 800 or above. The econometrics preliminary examination requires nine credit hours of course work. Related field preliminary examinations shall cover at least six credit hours of course work that are approved by the department offering the field. No course work may be listed in more than one branch or field. The specific course work for each examination shall be determined by the major professor in consultation with the student and must be approved by the supervisory committee. All course work for the preliminary examinations shall appear on the Program of Study.
If there is insufficient formal coursework for an examination, the supervisory committee may approve individualized course work (e.g., independent study or problems courses) to complete the coverage. The Graduate School limits such individualized course work to six credit hours on the Program of Study. Copies of papers, examinations, and other written work done for such individualized course work shall be placed in the student's file for the supervisory committee's reference.
Before the preliminary examinations are given, the supervisory committee may require the student to prepare and submit to the committee for its approval a syllabus detailing the subject matter for the examination.
In the event a student fails a preliminary examination, the student may not retake the examination for at least three months. Two failures in a particular preliminary examination will result in dismissal from the Ph.D. program unless the student successfully appeals to the Joint Graduate Committee for a third and final attempt.Branch examinations will be prepared and graded by faculty members with expertise in the particular branches, subject to supervisory committee approval. Related field examinations will be prepared and graded by the department responsible for the field, subject to supervisory committee approval. Grades will be pass or fail. It is the student's responsibility to arrange for the administration of branch and field examinations.
Some branch areas and the courses that have been covered on these branch examinations are:
Development Economics 860, AGEC 815
Econometrics 830, 930, and one of the following:
915, AGEC 905, AGEC 923, AGEC 936, STAT 770
Industrial Organization 947, 948
International Economics 823, 981
Labor Economics 920, 927
Monetary Theory and Policy 801, 915
Regional/Transportation Economics 925, 955
This list is not exhaustive. For each branch, it is the responsibility of the student to assemble at least two courses that constitute a cohesive area. ECON 890 (Seminar in Economics) is often used as a course covered in a branch examination. The courses constituting a branch must be approved by the supervisory committee before the branch examination is taken.
The preliminary examinations must be completed at least 7 months before the final oral defense of the dissertation. The preliminary examinations may be scheduled after the program of study is filed and at a time deemed appropriate by the supervisory committee. Students must be enrolled the semester that preliminary examinations are taken. Once the supervisory committee and the student set an examination date, the student should complete the Graduate School form Request For Preliminary Examination Ballot , Appendix D, one month in advance of the preliminary examination. If all requirements have been met, a ballot will be sent to the major professor by the Graduate School.
For more details and restrictions see the Graduate Handbook .