Qualifying Examinations

Students must demonstrate competency in each of the three first-year core fields: microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics. Students may satisfy this requirement in each field through their first-year course grades or, if they do not meet the grade standard, by passing a written qualifying examination.

A student satisfies the requirement through course grades in a field by either:

• earning at least a B+ in every first-year core course in that field; or
• earning no more than one B and attaining a GPA of at least 3.5 across the field’s core courses.

Students who meet this standard in a field do not take the qualifying examination in that field. A student may satisfy the grade standard in one, two, or all three fields.

Students who do not meet the grade standard in a field must take the corresponding written qualifying examination. The examinations are administered and graded separately and are offered in September before the start of the fall quarter. Each examination covers the material taught in the first-year core courses in that field.

A student who does not pass a qualifying examination must repeat the associated first-year core coursework during the second year and earn grades that satisfy the standard described above. The qualifying examination may not be retaken. A student who does not satisfy the grade standard after repeating the relevant coursework cannot continue in the Ph.D. program.

At the discretion of the faculty administering a qualifying examination, an incoming student with a strong background in a core field may take the examination to waive the corresponding first-year course sequence. This option is intended for students who wish to proceed directly to advanced field courses and research.

The University also requires an oral qualifying examination for advancement to Ph.D. candidacy. See Advancement to Candidacy for additional information.