Applied Economics and Management Ph.D.

The M.S. and Ph.D. programs are research oriented, and each requires a thesis or dissertation. Students are normally expected to obtain the M.S. or equivalent degree before entering the Ph.D. program. The Ph.D. student must take at least one minor in another field, such as Economics.

Concentrations by Subject

• environmental, energy, and resource economics (EERE)
• food and agricultural economics (FAE)
• international and development economics (IDE)
• management

Requirements Summary:

An undergraduate major in agricultural economics is not required for admission, but a lack of intermediate-level economics is a deficiency that will lengthen the student's program. First-year calculus is also important for Ph.D.-level work. Applicants must submit GRE general test scores.*

• all Graduate School Requirements, including the TOEFL or IELTS Exam for Non-Native English Applicants
• two recommendations
• GRE general test*

*GRE scores are optional for the 2021 admissions cycle. Students who do not submit GRE score will not be disadvantaged and the admission committee will look for evidence of excellent academic preparation from other
required application documents.

Learning Outcomes

The crucial outcome of graduate study in the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management is the identification, conceptualization, resolution of, and recommendations for important economic problems of a local, regional, national and global nature. To this end, the Dyson graduate student is trained in a problem centric environment to examine issues from an economic point of view, generating hypotheses based on economic principles, and empirically testing these hypotheses. The key learning objective is to create lifelong learners and independent thinkers with a toolkit of sufficient sophistication to adapt to problems as they arise.

At the MS level, we seek sufficient rigor in thesis research as a transitional phase to doctoral research or employment in the private or public sectors. At the doctoral level we seek the highest quality of research with the aim of publishing research in high quality journals and making sure that our students can be placed in leading academic departments.

Proficiencies that are required to be demonstrated by the candidate (both MS and PhD):

Make an original and substantial contribution to the discipline:

• Show your ability of independent thinking and creativity

• Identify new research opportunities in field

The ability to acquire and communicate advanced research skills

• Bring together existing knowledge, identify, and seek out resources, information

• Evaluate and apply your own research findings as well as those of others. Apply research findings as appropriate

• Master and/or innovate research methodologies, and techniques

• Master communication skills for oral and written information exchange

A commitment to advancing scholarship

• Maintain familiarity with advances in the field

• Engage and communicate findings via professional publications, participation in professional societies, research seminars and other modes of communication

• Support learning—through teaching, collaborative inquiry, mentoring, or demonstration

Demonstrate professional skills

• Advance ethical standards in the field

• Listen, give, and receive feedback effectively