Preparation for Graduate Studies

Graduate study in economics requires special preparation and advanced planning. Interested students should try to take ECO 310, 311 and 312 in the sophomore year and meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Smita Brunnermeier in the sophomore spring term to discuss further preparation for a PhD in economics.

Preparation for graduate school should include the following:

• The more mathematical versions of the core courses, which include ECO 310, 311, and 312
• Two years of calculus, up through MAT 202, 204, or 218
• An introductory course in Analysis, MAT 215, followed by further quantitative courses in MAT or ORFE tailored to your interests
• An advanced econometrics or theory course such as ECO 313 or 317 or 418

Students may find the Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics . the Program in Statistics and Machine Learning, or the Program in Engineering and Management Systems an interesting option. It is not necessary to be an Economics concentrator to enter a graduate economics program, but the Economics courses listed above are highly recommended.

The graduate courses in Economics (500 level) are open to qualified undergraduates. These courses are very demanding and must be started in the fall term. Taking one of these courses can be useful for students who intend to enter an economics graduate program because it begins the student’s advanced training, gives the student a flavor of graduate school, and provides evidence during the admissions process of the ability to do advanced work in economics.