PhD in Economics

About the Program

Doctor of Philosophy: 60 credits (Post-Master's degree)
Doctor of Philosophy: 90 credits (Post-Bachelor's degree)

Drexel's PhD program in Economics is designed to prepare economists for careers in academia and industry by providing a solid background in economic theory, quantitative analysis, and analytical tools at the advanced level. Requirements for the MS in Economics are satisfied if the coursework associated with the first and second years of the PhD program are complete.

The PhD in Economics offers three fields of study:

• Industrial Organization
• International Trade
• Open Economy Macroeconomics

Students typically complete their coursework in two years and the PhD degree in five. Students work as research and teaching assistants under the supervision of a faculty member. After their second year, students can teach independently.

Additional information can be found online at the PhD Program in Economics page as well as in the LeBow College of Business PhD Programs Handbook.

Admission Requirements/Financial Aid

The LeBow College of Business seeks applicants with exceptional ability and motivation who can succeed in a research-oriented program. Admission to this full-time program is competitive and highly selective.

In reviewing an applicant's credentials, the faculty will consider the following factors:

• Prior Academic Accomplishments: The faculty will examine all course work taken prior to application, paying particular attention to the specific courses that have been completed. Applicants should have attained a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for all undergraduate course work completed. They also should have attained a minimum 3.3 average for any graduate-level course work taken. The faculty generally expects applicants to demonstrate a substantially higher level of accomplishment than these minimum requirements. A master's degree is not a requirement.
• Graduate Management Admissions (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE): Applicants are required to submit GRE scores. GRE scores are not accepted if they are more than five years old.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not already received a degree from a U.S. university must also submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
• Personal Statement/Essay: Each applicant must submit a personal statement. The personal statement should explain the applicant's educational and personal experiences that have influenced the decision to pursue a PhD and should discuss the candidate's career plans and goals. The faculty are especially interested in learning about an applicant's prior research experience and the commitment to future research in the applicant's area of specialization.
• Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation must be submitted in support of the application. Applicants are strongly encouraged to seek recommendations from academics or other professionals who can assess the applicant's likelihood of success in a research-oriented PhD program.

Admission Procedures
The PhD Program in Economics admits students each fall. To be considered for admission, the completed application must be received by the LeBow College of Business Office of Graduate Admissions no later than January 15th. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all transcripts, test scores and letters of recommendation, as well as the application form and the personal statement, are received by Drexel University no later than January 15th.

Assistantships and Financial Aid
The LeBow College of Business strives to provide a graduate assistantship to each entering PhD student. Therefore, each applicant to the PhD program is automatically considered for a graduate assistantship as well as for admission into the program. First-year graduate assistants are assigned to work with a faculty member on research activities. During the second and subsequent years, graduate assistants are generally assigned a combination of teaching and research responsibilities. Assistants receive a stipend and 27 credits of tuition remission per academic year. Doctoral students who are making satisfactory progress toward the degree can expect to be provided with an assistantship for four years.

To obtain an application, please contact:

Graduate Admissions Office
Bennett S. LeBow College of Business
Drexel University
3141 Chestnut Street
Matheson Hall 207
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2875
(215) 895-6952
lebowphd@drexel.edu

Degree Requirements

PhD: 60 credits (Post-Master's degree)
PhD: 90 credits (Post-Bachelor's degree)

The PhD in economics, housed in the Department of Economics and International Business, prepares economists for careers in research, teaching, business, and government. It is designed to provide students with not only a broad understanding of modern economics, but also the opportunity to explore a number of specific fields of study including industrial organization, international economics, and health economics.

In the second year of study, the PhD in Economics offers three fields of specialization: Industrial Organization, International Trade, and Open Economy Macroeconomics. Students complete courses in two of these fields of specialization.

Degree Requirements

• 27.0 credits of first year core courses
• 18.0 credits of economics field requirements
• 15.0 credits (minimum) of dissertation research
• 30.0 additional dissertation research credits for students without a Master's degree

Core Program

All PhD students pursue a common set of core courses. The following courses are all completed during the first year, with the exception of ECON 942 Econometrics III, which is completed in the second year.

 First-Year Examination

After the completion of the core coursework, students are examined on their competence in the core material and their readiness to proceed.

 Electives

In addition, students can take elective courses from the Economics Department, from any other departments in the College of Business, and from departments in other Colleges of Drexel University. The following is a set of sample electives:

Candidacy Examination

At the completion of their coursework, students take written and oral candidacy examinations. These examinations test each student's preparation for dissertation research. Once the candidacy examinations are passed, the student is recognized as a PhD candidate.

Doctoral Dissertation

The doctoral dissertation is a piece of original research designed to make a contribution to the student's chosen discipline. Each candidate selects a dissertation adviser and an advisory committee of additional faculty members is formed. The candidate prepares a detailed dissertation proposal that is defended before the University community. After successfully defending the proposal, the candidate conducts the research (12-credit minimum) and prepares a written dissertation. The completed dissertation is then defended in a final oral examination.

 Dissertation Format Review

In addition to meeting the Thesis Advisory Committee's standards of originality and scholarly content, all doctoral dissertations must conform to university format requirements. Students should obtain a copy of the Thesis Manual from the Graduate Studies Office or from the Thesis Reviewer in 5038 MacAlister Hall.

Degree Requirements: Master of Science in Economics

Master of Science: 45.0 - 48.0 quarter credits

The Master of Science program in Economics admits students through the PhD Program in Economics program. Students are not admitted into the master's program directly. Requirements for the MS in Economics are satisfied if the coursework associated with the first and second years of the PhD program are completed.

Students who pursue the MS in Economics have the option of completing a master's thesis. For advanced students who have reached candidacy status, the thesis could consist of a previously completed research done in the course of dissertation research under the supervision of their advisor. For students who have not yet reached candidacy, research will be conducted with a faculty member of the Economics Department who will serve as a master's thesis advisor.

 First-Year Examination

After the completion of the core coursework, students are examined on their competence in the core material and their readiness to proceed.

Electives
In addition, students can take elective courses from the Economics Department, from any other departments in the College of Business, and from departments in other Colleges of Drexel University. The following is a set of sample electives

Facilities

Major advances in the technologies used in the corporate world are being constantly matched by upgrades on campus. LeBow College classrooms and seminar rooms are designed as professional-quality settings for student discussions and presentations.

Centers of Excellence are catalysts for research and innovation, think tanks for nationally significant trends and issues, and incubators for opportunities in business and integration among disciplines. LeBow's Centers of Excellence provide students with meaningful experiential learning and impact the performance of business in our region and around the world.

• Center for International Business and Economics
• Center for Corporate Governance
• Sovereign Institute for Strategic Leadership
• Laurence A. Baiada Center for Entrepreneurship in Technology
• Center for Research Excellence
• Center for Teaching Excellence

The LeBow Network sponsors forums, lectures and events. These events enhance the educational experience and provide opportunities for students to meet and interact with fellow professionals

Student organizations such as LeBow Graduate Student Association (LGSA) and Drexel Women in Business (DWIB) make the LeBow experience more comprehensive.

Leonard Pearlstein Business Learning Center
Housed in the Center for Corporate and Executive Education in the state-of-the-art Leonard Pearlstein Business Learning Center at 33rd and Market, the Executive MBA program is LeBow's accelerated and integrated program designed to enable experienced professionals to leverage valuable work experience to maximize their leadership potential.

Made possible by a generous gift from George Krall '58 and his wife, Lois, the Center features the latest in classroom decor and technology, flexibly designed to comfortably accommodate business professionals.

Thanks to the gracious generosity of Drexel Trustee Melba Pearlstein and her family, LeBow students now have the distinct advantage of learning the intricacies of business in an ultramodern facility that combines high technology classrooms with a sophisticated corporate learning environment.

The Pearlstein Center includes:

• State-of-the art classrooms, flexibly designed to comfortably accommodate executives in classroom instruction.
• A multi-purpose room for breakout sessions, buffet lunches, or an additional classroom.
• A workroom where students may send/receive faxes, photocopy materials, prepare and revise classroom assignments and presentations.