Economic Analysis and Policy: Program Structure
Our Strength: Our Program
The Rotman PhD in Economic Analysis and Policy includes a full year of mandatory microeconomic, macroeconomic and econometrics courses, a year of economic field courses, a research project, comprehensive examinations and a final dissertation. Read on to discover what's involved in being a doctoral student in Economic Analysis and Policy at the Rotman School.
The main components for the successful completion of the program are:
A typical program of studies takes four to five years. The bulk of the course requirements, as well as the research project are completed during the first two years. Comprehensive examinations are taken in the summer of the first year. The last two to three years of the program are focused on the thesis research.
Prior to Entering Program
- Students complete pre-qualifying requirements.
First Year
- Students complete qualifying courses and required courses in their minor fields.
- Students demonstrate outstanding performance in their required courses.
- Students complete Comprehensive Exams.
Second Year
- Students complete required course work in Business Economics.
- Students begin attending research seminar.
- Students begin original research paper in collaboration with faculty advisor.
Third Year
- Students present second-year research paper.
- Students constitute a thesis committee consisting of a supervisor and two other members of the graduate faculty to oversee their dissertation.
- Students get their thesis topic approved by their committee and the Ph.D. coordinator.
- Students begin their dissertation work, aiming to complete a thesis proposal and present it in a workshop for the faculty and their supervisory committee by the end of the academic year.
Fourth Year and Onwards
- Students present their research in an Area seminar.
- Students complete their dissertation.