The Department of Economics and Finance offers a PhD in Economics with specializations in the following fields:

1.    Econometrics
2.    Financial Economics
3.    Resources, Environment and Energy
4.    Development and Growth
5.    Applied Microeconomics

Administrative Staff

Chair
Johanna Goertz (725 MacKinnon, Ext. 56339)
jgoertz@uoguelph.ca
Graduate Program Coordinator
Ilias Tsiakas (737 MacKinnon, Ext. 53054)
itsiakas@uoguelph.ca
Administrative Assistant
Jessica Kannenberg (726 MacKinnon, Ext. 53235)
jessica.kannenberg@uoguelph.ca
Academic Assistant
Patience Akankwasa (726 MacKinnon, Ext. 53898)
gradecon@uoguelph.ca

Graduate Faculty

This list may include Regular Graduate Faculty, Associated Graduate Faculty and/or Graduate Faculty from other universities.

PhD Program

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the PhD program should have a master's degree in economics with a minimum average of 80% (A-) in their postgraduate studies. Applicants without a master's degree but with an outstanding record at the baccalaureate level, may be admitted initially to the MA program in economics. For students who achieve a superior record and show an aptitude for research, The Board of Graduate Studies, on the recommendation of the Department, may authorize transfer to the PhD program without requiring the student to complete a master's degree.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the program, students will have the capacity to:

1. Demonstrate mastery of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory through the formulation and analysis of a variety of economics models.
2. Obtain a deep understanding and proficiency in econometrics through the application of mathematical and statistical techniques.
3. Demonstrate mastery of an applied field within the discipline of economics by critically surveying the literature and articulating a problem.
4. Formulate, design, and analyze empirically and/or theoretically an original question in economics.
5. Recognize, adapt to, and engage with disciplinary norms by developing professional behaviours specific to an economic environment.
6. Demonstrate an ability to communicate complex economic arguments effectively both orally and in writing.

Program Requirements

The objective of the PhD program is to train individuals who already have a strong background in economics to become independent and skilled researchers, in preparation for a career in academia, government or the private sector. Course offerings cover a broad range of topics in theoretical and applied economics. PhD candidates may write a dissertation in any of the areas of expertise of the graduate faculty in the Department.

Graduates are expected to have demonstrated competence at an advanced level in the core areas of Microeconomic theory, Macroeconomic theory, and Econometrics, to have demonstrated competence at the cutting edge of knowledge in their area of specialization and advanced competence in at least one other area, and to have demonstrated mature scholarship, research and communication abilities.

The program requires the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 6 core courses covering theory and, econometrics, and 4 elective field courses. The 6 theory and econometrics courses are taken in the first year. The remaining 4 courses are normally taken in the student’s second or third year and must be selected in consultation with the student’s Advisory Committee. Students with an existing master’s degree awarded by the Lang School of Business and Economics, who have already successfully completed some of the required courses as part of their graduate program, may have those course requirements waived with the permission of the Graduate Program Coordinator. In addition, students must complete a seminar course in the Fall and Winter semesters of their second and third year. Participation in the seminar course is encouraged in the fourth year.  The following sequence of milestones represents the typical path through the PhD program.

Year I: Core Courses

Students must complete the following courses in preparation for the comprehensive examinations in economic theory:

The comprehensive examinations in economics theory are written at the end of Year 1.

Year II: Dissertation Proposal

After the theory comprehensive exams are passed, students must prepare a PhD proposal under the supervision of a faculty member. Proposals are presented to the Department at a symposium, and upon acceptance the Graduate Program Coordinator will notify the Assistant Vice-President (Graduate Studies) that the student has passed the "Qualifying Examination" requirement as set out by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. At this point, the student becomes a "candidate" for the PhD.

Students are also required to complete the ECON*6900 Doctoral Research Seminar in the Fall and Winter semesters.

Year III and IV: Thesis

Submission and defence of an acceptable thesis on a topic approved by the student's advisory committee completes the requirements for the PhD. The thesis is expected to be a significant and original contribution to knowledge in its field and must demonstrate scholarship and critical judgement on the part of the candidate. 

Students are also required to complete ECON*6900 Doctoral Research Seminar in the Fall and Winter semesters of their third year and are encouraged to participate in their fourth year.

Collaborative Specializations

International Development Studies

The Department of Economics and Finance participates in the International Development Studies (IDS) collaborative specialization. Applicants for this collaborative specialization enter through one of the participating departments; course selections are based, in part, on the applicant's primary discipline. Those faculty members in the Department of Economics and Finance whose research and teaching expertise includes aspects of international development studies may serve as advisors for these MA and PhD students. Please consult the International Development Studies listing for a detailed description of the collaborative specialization including the special additional requirements for each of the participating departments. 

Courses