Admission to the Program
Candidates for the Haslam’s Ph.D. in economics apply directly through the Graduate School. There is no separate department application process. The program generally enrolls six to eight students per year.
We evaluate each application individually and comprehensively. Therefore, all information submitted with the application — including recommendation letters, completed coursework, research interests, research experience, GRE scores, writing skills and programming ability — carry significant weight in admission decisions. Complete applications include a GRE score, but we do not have a minimum GRE score requirement. We encourage all applicants with a talent for quantitative reasoning, an interest in engaged learning opportunities and a preference for a collegial environment to apply.
| Priority Deadline | February 1 (applications considered until class is filled) |
| Undergraduate Degree | All accepted, economics preferred |
| Master’s Degree | Not required |
| Acceptance rate | 30-35% |
| Mean GPA | 3.6 undergraduate, 3.8 graduate |
| Mean GRE–Quantitative | 85th percentile |
| Mean GRE–Verbal | 68th percentile |
| English Language Proficiency | |
| TOEFL | |
| *IBT 100 or higher | |
| *PBT 600 or higher | |
| IELTS 7 or higher | |
We prefer the GRE although the GMAT is also acceptable. The TOEFL or IELTS is required for non-native English speakers, except students who have earned a degree from a U.S. institution within two years prior to enrollment. The application deadline for international students is February 1.
Prerequisites
| *Intermediate Microeconomic Theory (Econ 311 or equivalent) |
| *Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory (Econ 313 or equivalent) |
| *Introduction to Econometrics (Econ 381 or equivalent) |
| *Introduction to Statistics (Stat 201 or equivalent) |
| *Calculus I & II (Math 141 & 142 or equivalent) |
| *Matrix Algebra I (Math 251 or equivalent) |
Additional coursework in economics, statistics and mathematics is of course desirable.
New students are required to take a three-credit course in mathematical economics (ECON 581), which begins approximately three weeks before the first semester.
Oral Proficiency Exam
All students (including U.S. citizens and permanent residents) whose native language is not English are required to take the OPIc (Oral Proficiency Interview computer). Admission to the program does not depend upon the results of the OPIc. Test results will be used in advising, coursework determination and in making work assignments.
Financial Aid
Applicants indicate as part of the admissions application whether they wish to be considered for funding. There is no separate application form.
We award approximately 7 assistantships each year on a competitive basis. Assistantships pay approximately $22,300 per academic year. Assistantships also include a tuition waiver, health insurance, and mandatory fees (i.e., library fee, technology fee, etc.).