Pursuing Graduate Studies in Economics
A Ph.D. in economics prepares
you for a variety of careers, including those in academia, finance, consulting,
and public policy. Most graduate programs are designed to train you for careers
in economic research. So, graduate
school is a nice option for those who not only love economics but also enjoy
conducting independent, original research.
It is never too early to
start planning for graduate school. The first step is to contact a member of
the economics faculty, who can help you determine if graduate school might be a
good option for you, as well as help you plan out your course selections. You
may also find the following information helpful.
How can I prepare now for graduate school?
1)
Take lots of
math. Without an adequate training in math,
you will have little to no chance of being admitted to a good graduate program.
Here is a list of Notre Dame math courses that
students interested in graduate work are strongly encouraged to take.
2)
Take graduate
courses. After completing the core
requirements for the undergraduate economics major, enroll in courses in our
graduate economics program (note: you must receive approval from the instructor
to enroll). The first-year graduate
economics courses offered in the Department of Economics are:
ECOE
60001(2) Mathematics for Economists
I(II)
ECOE
60101(2) Microeconomic Theory I(II)
ECOE
60201(2) Macroeconomic Theory I(II)
ECOE
60301 Probability and
Statistics
ECOE
60302 Econometrics I
Talk
to a faculty member to determine which of these courses are most appropriate
for you.
3)
Write an honors
thesis through the Undergraduate
Economics Honors Program. This
year-long, six-credit-hour project will provide valuable research experience
and will help you determine whether a career in research is right for you.
Also, a strong research project can help make your applications to graduate
school more attractive. To start,
develop a relationship with a faculty member who will supervise your thesis.
Other opportunities
Bernoulli Awards: If your honors thesis includes statistical analyses,
you may submit it for the Bernoulli
Awards competition, which recognizes outstanding research papers that use
statistical methods to analyze an applied problem. First prize is $5,000!
NSF Fellowships: At the beginning of your senior year, you should
apply for the NSF
Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
These fellowships are extremely competitive, but they are also very
prestigious.
Additional resources
There is plenty of
information available on the web for those considering graduate school. Here are just a few helpful links.