Program Statistics
Visit Master's Program Statistics and PhD Program Statistics for statistics such as program admissions, enrollment, student demographics and more.
Economics
Degree Types: MA, PhD
The PhD Program in Economics prepares students for careers in college teaching and research, government and international agencies, or private business. The curriculum covers all principal areas of economic study and research.
Advanced courses, seminars, and research opportunities are offered in the fields of applied microeconomics, development economics, econometrics, economic history, economic theory, industrial organization, international economics, labor economics, macroeconomics, and public finance. Weekly workshops provide a forum for faculty, students, and distinguished economists from around the world to meet and present their research.
The PhD program in Economics shares courses, faculty, and seminars with Kellogg School of Management doctoral programs in Finance and Managerial Economics and Strategy.
The Department and the Finance Department of the Kellogg School of Management jointly offer a combined PhD in Financial Economics.
The Department does not normally admit students for a terminal MA degree. An MA degree is only available to Economics PhD students who have successfully completed the first year of the doctoral program, to students enrolled in other doctoral programs at Northwestern, and to undergraduate students who are completing a combined BA/MA degree.
Additional resources:
Program Contact
Contact Rita Savakis/Lola Ittner
Graduate Program Assistant/Graduate Program Manager
847-491-5694
Degree Requirements
The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.
Master's
The department does not normally admit students for a terminal MA degree.
Economics and Financial Economics PhD Students
Doctoral students in the Economics and Financial Economics PhD programs who complete ECON 410-1 Microeconomics, ECON 410-2 Microeconomics, ECON 410-3 Microeconomics, ECON 411-1 Macroeconomics, ECON 411-2 Macroeconomics, ECON 411-3 Macroeconomics, ECON 480-1 Econometrics, ECON 480-2 Econometrics and ECON 480-3 Econometrics with a Grade Point Average of 3.0 are eligible to receive the MA degree.
Students in Other PhD Programs
The following requirements apply to students who are enrolled in other doctoral programs and to Economics and Financial Economics doctoral students not completing the first-year sequences.
Total Units Required: 9 of which at least six are at the 400 level
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Core Courses | |
| ECON 410-1 | Microeconomics |
| ECON 411-1 | Macroeconomics |
| ECON 410-2 & ECON 410-3 | Microeconomics and Microeconomics |
| or ECON 411-2 & ECON 411-3 | Macroeconomics and Macroeconomics |
| ECON 480-1 & ECON 480-2 & ECON 480-3 | Econometrics and Econometrics and Econometrics |
| or ECON 381-1 & ECON 381-2 | Econometrics and Econometrics |
| Economic History | |
| One of those listed below | |
ECON 315-0 | Topics in Economic History |
ECON 323-1 | Economic History of the United States Before 1865 |
ECON 323-2 | Economic History of the United States 1865 to Present |
ECON 324-0 | Western Economic History |
ECON 420-1 | American Economic History |
ECON 420-2 | European Economic History |
| Electives | |
| Additional Economics (300- or 400-level) courses approved for graduate credit, excluding ECON 310-1, ECON 310-2, ECON 311-0 and ECON 499-0. | |
Students cannot double count classes to meet the requirements of the Economics MA and their PhD. If any of these classes are also used to meet their PhD requirements, it is permissible to substitute another Economics 400-level class.
Other MA Degree Requirements
- Examinations: none specified
- Research/Projects: none specified
- Master's Thesis: none specified
- Other: paper in one course carrying graduate credit
Degree Requirements
The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.
PhD
Total Units Required: 18
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Core Courses | |
| ECON 410-1 | Microeconomics |
| ECON 410-2 | Microeconomics |
| ECON 410-3 | Microeconomics |
| ECON 411-1 | Macroeconomics |
| ECON 411-2 | Macroeconomics |
| ECON 411-3 | Macroeconomics |
| ECON 480-1 | Econometrics |
| ECON 480-2 | Econometrics |
| ECON 480-3 | Econometrics |
| Nine Approved Field Courses 1 | |
- 1
must include:
- At least one course in Economic History (ECON 420-1 American Economic History (or) ECON 420-2 European Economic History), and
- Three field sequences of at least two-quarters each. A field sequence consists of two or three quarter-length courses as determined by the department.
Other PhD Degree Requirements
- Examinations: satisfactory grades in each of the three core areas (microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics); oral examination for approval of dissertation prospectus
- Research/Projects: two research papers presented in the student seminar (ECON 501-0 Graduate Student Seminar) or equivalent
- PhD Dissertation: original, independent research
- Final Evaluations: oral dissertation defense