Ph.D. Program

The Arizona State University Ph.D. program in Economics is a full-time program intended to prepare students for teaching and research positions at four year institutions of higher education, as well research positions in public agencies or private business organizations. The Ph.D. program is relatively small in size with about 40 doctoral students in residence at any time. The low student-faculty ratio allows us to provide greater faculty attention and mentoring compared to larger programs. Students are involved in teaching, research, and seminar activities, becoming valued members of the department. Most of our Ph.D. students are supported through teaching and research assistantships for four years. Stipends are highly competitive with any graduate program in the country. We are currently accepting applications until January 15, 2009 for the Fall, 2009 class.

For detailed information concerning the Ph.D. program in Economics see:

2008-09 Graduate Student Handbook

Economics Program of Study

The Ph.D. program is designed to provide rigorous training in microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, and econometrics. Additionally, students in our program are provided the opportunity to select a primary area of specialization for study. The current fields of specialization in economics:

• Macroeconomics
• Theory
• Econometrics
• Industrial Organization
• Financial Economics
• International Economics
• Labor Economics
• Environmental and Resource Economics

Admission Criteria

All applicants to the Ph.D. program in Economics must have a bachelor's degree or the equivalent. Each applicant must submit an application form, fee and other materials to the ASU Division of Graduate Studies Admissions; an application packet and list of guidelines are available from Graduate Admissions. The Department of Economics requires applicants to send scores from the aptitude portion of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Applications will not be reviewed until the GRE score is received. Applicants whose first language is not English must also submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score unless he/she received a degree from a U.S. college or university. In addition, all applicants are required to submit three letters of reference to the Ph.D. Program Director, Department of Economics. Our admissions policy weighs several factors including letters of reference, overall GPA, GRE scores, and performance in selected mathematics and economics courses. We have no absolute standards for any of the factors, but performance on each clearly should suggest academic potential that is far above those of the normal undergraduate student. Application deadline for Fall admission is January 15, 2009.

Recommended Background

Students need not have an undergraduate degree in economics to enter and successfully complete the Ph.D. program. As a general guide, an entering Ph.D. student should have a minimum of two years of calculus (including advanced calculus and differential equations), real analysis, linear algebra, statistics, and intermediate microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. For applicants whose native language is not English, a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) requirement is 550 (PBT) or 213 (CBT) or 83 (iBT).

Financial Aid

ASU offers a full range of scholarships and student loans through the Division of Graduate Studies. In addition, the Department of Economics has teaching or research assistantships available on a competitive basis to qualified students in the Ph.D. program. These assistantships offer students the opportunity to work with faculty in their research and teaching activities, often allowing students to participate in original research and to gain recognition for their work through coauthorship of publications. Ph.D. students may receive as much as $14,500 for the academic year. Additional summer stipends are available for students who maintain satisfactory status. All assistantships automatically include out-of-state tuition waivers and presently also cover in-state registration fees. Applicants who are interested in an assistantship should indicate their intention on their application forms. Satisfactory progress in the program may enable Ph.D. students to renew funding for three years beyond the initial year.

Information on financial opportunities are available through:

Division of Graduate Studies Financing Graduate Study

Division of Graduate Studies Application for Graduate Research/Teaching Assistantship