Program/Course Requirements

Completion requirement

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements and Faculty of Arts requirements, the Department requires:

The Department of Economics requires that doctoral students take 36 units. Required courses include two courses each in econometrics, ECON705 and ECON715, microeconomic theory, ECON707 and ECON757, and macroeconomic theory, ECON709 and ECON759. In addition, students must take 18 units in “field” areas. Doctoral students must also write and pass a second-year research paper prior to scheduling the Thesis Proposal Oral Examination. For further information see the website: http://econ.ucalgary.ca/graduate/resources-current-students.

Students are also recommended to take a non-credit one-week course in the Fall Session Block Week (the week prior to the start of classes) of the first year in Mathematical Economics.

The Department allows for the possibility that master's-level courses and course work taken at other institutions may be substituted for some of the required doctoral courses. Decisions concerning course substitutions and the transferability of graduate courses from other institutions are made on a case-by-case basis. Students are advised that the required comprehensive field of study exams in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics include material from the core courses listed above.

Graduate students must obtain a grade standing of “B” or better in graduate course work. A grade of “B-“ or less will trigger a departmental review of the student's suitability for the graduate program and may result in a loss of funding.

Additional Program Information

Completion requirement

Advanced Credit

The applicant must make Advanced Credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to bring the grade point average to a required level for admission.

Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade)

The department of Economics will not permit the Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade) for any course that is applicable to their degree; or apply any course awarded a grade of CG towards their graduation requirements.

Students may not choose the CG grade for a course taken extra to load.

The use of the CG grade will affect students' eligibility for internal awards.

Credit for Undergraduate Courses

Credit is not given for undergraduate courses.

Time Limit

Expected completion time for students studying on a full-time basis is five years for the Doctor of Philosophy. Maximum completion time is six years.

Supervisory Assignments, Research Proposal and Required Examinations

Completion requirement

Supervisory Assignments

The process by which students are matched with supervisors is an informal one, based on mutual research interest.

Research Proposal Requirements

Information on research proposals is available from the interim advisor/grant mentor/supervisor.

Required Examinations

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements for Candidacy and Thesis Examinations, the Department requires:

Candidacy

Candidacy must be completed within 28 months from the program start date.

Admission to candidacy is an acknowledgement that a student is fully prepared to devote their full attention to the thesis research.

To enter into candidacy, students must: (1) successfully complete all required courses, (2) pass the microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics comprehensive field of study exams, (3) pass the second-year paper requirement, and (4) have their thesis proposal approved by the Supervisory Committee. For further information, please consult the Department of Economics website: https://econ.ucalgary.ca/graduate/resources-current-students.

Students who do not pass their candidacy requirements by the twenty-eighth month of their program may be required to withdraw from the program. A full description of all candidacy requirements is available at: https://econ.ucalgary.ca/graduate/resources-current-students.

Thesis Examination

Scheduling of the Examination

All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student’s research, including a relevant written sample of the materials related to the thesis, before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee

The Internal Examiner may be internal to the home program.

Financial Assistance

Completion requirement

Financial assistance is available to qualified students. Departmental funding is determined at the time of admission. See the Department of Economics Funding Opportunities website: http://econ.ucalgary.ca/graduate/funding-opportunities-0.

For information on awards, please see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar. Students applying for scholarships must submit their applications to the Department by January 15.

To be eligible for funding beyond the first year, a student must pass field of study exams in microeconomics and macroeconomics by the beginning of classes of their second year. To be eligible for funding beyond the Fall Term of the third year, a student must receive a passing grade on their second-year research paper and their oral thesis proposal by the beginning of Winter Term in their third year.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Economics

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