Economics PhD
If you are considering a graduate degree in economics, we highly recommend starting your preparation by reviewing this grad school guide. The guide has the following sections:
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Is Graduate School for Me? A Look at the Nature and Rigor of Graduate Work in Economics
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So you want to get a PhD? Preparing for Graduate School
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The Application Process
Graduate-level economics involves a high level of math competency, heavy research, and at least five or six additional years of school. Preparation involves extra considerations that may impact your undergraduate studies.
In the words of the grad school guide, "If you feel unsure about graduate work, you should start preparing to go to graduate school, and the preparation process should help you to see clearly if graduate school is really what you’d like to do. As you start the process of preparation, not only will the work you do help you to understand more about graduate work, but your interactions with faculty and other students will also give insights into the nature of graduate work. Many students don’t firmly decide on doing graduate work until their second or third year at BYU, but if you’ve already started preparing, it will be to your advantage."
Academic Coursework
Once you've decided on pursuing a graduate degree in economics, there are classes that will be crucial for you to complete during your undergrad. For example, you need to complete all the 500-level economics courses, some upper-level mathematics courses, and potentially some computer programming courses to prepare for graduate work. Some recommended courses are listed below.
Econ Classes
Math Classes
A comprehensive list of recommended courses can be found in the grad school guide in the "Academic Coursework" section.
Please note that you will need to do well in your undergraduate courses to be a competitive applicant for grad schools.