Business Economics & Public Policy

Prerequisites

All entering BEPP doctoral students are expected to have an acceptable background in mathematics and economics.  Students lacking in this knowledge will be required to take the requisite course(s) from the Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and/or Economics.

Program of Coursework

Doctoral students majoring in Business Economics are required to complete a minimum of 18 credit hours of doctoral level coursework. These credit hours must include G651, G652, G750, G751, and G752. The remaining credit hours, as well as any additional coursework, should be selected by the student in consultation with the Business Economics Doctoral Student Advisor. As with the other business majors, these courses will be supplemented by Minor and Methods & Analysis courses that are appropriate for the particular student based on consultation with the Business Economics Doctoral Student Advisor.

In addition to the formal coursework requirements, a student is required to originate a research project by the end of the second year of the program. The research will culminate in a research paper presented to and accepted by the Business Economics and Public Policy faculty during a seminar in the fall of the student’s third year. Expectations are that the paper will demonstrate the student’s ability to originate and complete a research project. It is expected that the student will establish a dissertation committee in advance of presenting the research paper. A student is also required to complete a dissertation proposal by the end of the third year of the program.  

Teaching Load and Responsibilities

First and second year students will be assigned as research assistants to Business Economics Faculty members according to the school’s requirements. Every effort is made to match the research interests of students with those of faculty.  

Students appointed as AIs are required to accumulate 6 credit hours of teaching credit prior to completing the program. An AI typically fulfills his or her teaching requirements by leading discussion sections and/or teaching one or two courses.

Qualifying Exam

The qualifying exam process for Business Economics and Public Policy is as follows:

1. An exam following the first year, and
2. A research paper and presentation in the fall of the third year.
3. A successful dissertation proposal by the end of the third year.

The exam covers all areas of economics but focuses on those topics covered in the 12 hours of required courses. A student failing a qualifying examination may elect to retake the examination, but a second failure on the qualifying examination will result in dismissal from the Doctoral Program.