Prospective Students - Graduate

Economics

Areas of Study and Research

The Ph. D. program focuses on a solid core curriculum in economic theory and econometrics. In addition, a number of specialized fields of study are offered: economic development, economic history, human resources and demography, industrial organization and game theory, international trade and finance, labor economics, natural resource and environmental economics, public economics, urban and regional economics, and advanced theory and econometrics.

Degrees Offered

PhD
The satisfactory completion of a total of 48 semester hours of course work and 30 hours of dissertation research are required. First year courses include Microeconomic Theory I and II, Macroeconomics Theory I and II, Mathematical Statistics for Economists, and Econometrics. These courses are followed by three preliminary exams prior to the start of second-year course work. In the second year students take Advanced Economic Theory and five upper level electives. In year three, two additional electives and two semesters’ research colloquium are required. Students then complete an oral comprehensive exam. Conducting dissertation research and completing a dissertation are the final steps for completion of the degree.

Admission

Graduate School Minimum Admissions Standards
Individual graduate departments may have additional or more restrictive standards by which they evaluate graduate applicants. However, the Graduate School at CU-Boulder has established minimum standards for graduate admission. Applicants must:

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, or have done work equivalent to that required for such a degree.
   
2. Show promise of ability to pursue advanced study and research, as judged by the student’s scholastic record.
   
3. Have adequate preparation to enter graduate study in the chosen field.
   
4. Have at least a 2.75 (2.00=C) undergraduate grade point average. Note: Applicants who cannot meet this undergraduate standard may still secure regular admission if they have completed 9 semester hours of relevant graduate course work with at least a 3.25 average.
   

Economics Admissions Requirements
In addition to the Graduate School requirements, applicants must:

1. Carefully review information contained on the graduate webpage for the Department of Economics: www.colorado.edu/Economics/graduate
2. Have a solid background in mathematics.
3. Submit verbal and quantitative GRE scores. Note: we typically do not admit students with verbal scores less than 500 or quantitative scores less than 740.
4. All international applicants must submit TOEFL scores unless English is the native language in their country. Minimum TOEFL requirements: 525 pbt or 193 cbt or 70 ibt. A speaking score of at least 23 is required for those seeking funding.
5. Provide three letters of recommendation.
6. Provide a Statement of Purpose.

Minimum Standards for Applicants
Preapplication or pre-evaluation is not required as long as students meet the minimum Economics admission requirements.

Financial Support Available
Financial support is available to PhD students in the form of teaching and research assistantships, instructorships and fellowships.

Application Information and Deadlines   Fall admission Yes Application deadline February 1 International application deadline:    PhD December 1 Financial assistance application deadline February 1   Spring admission No   Summer admission No

Contact Information

University of Colorado at Boulder
Department of Economics
Economics 222
256 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0256
Phone: 303-492-6396
Fax: 303-492-8960
e-mail: econ@colorado.edu
web site: www.Colorado.EDU/Economics/