Grad Handbook - PhD Requirements

Requirements for the Ph.D. are as follows:

1. Complete a plan of study approved by the Graduate Program Director (GPD)

A minimum of 43 course credits beyond the B.S. or B.A. degree, plus 18 credits of dissertation research is required (RES-ECON 899). 

Specific requirements for the Ph.D. are as follows:

No double counting of requirements is permitted. Equivalent courses taken elsewhere can be substituted for Ph.D. requirements with the approval of the Graduate Program Director, provided a grade of B or better was earned.

2. Pass Qualifying Examinations in Microeconomic Theory and Quantitative Methods

These are normally taken as soon as the microeconomic theory courses (RES-ECON 711, RES-ECON 712, and either ECON 700, ECON 701 or ECON 702) and quantitative methods courses (RES-ECON 701, 702, 703) have been completed. They must be taken prior to the start of the fourth semester. Upon failure of any exam, the Graduate Program Director will require a formal agreement for additional study to be performed before a retake. After two failures of any examination, a third attempt may be made only upon the recommendation of the faculty members of the Graduate Studies Committee. Three failed attempts will result in dismissal from the program. For students entering in Fall 2021 or later, these exam requirements may be waived if they have demonstrated proficiency in relevant coursework with at least a 3.5 average GPA across all semesters of that course sequence AND at least a grade of B in each semester. Thus, to waive the Microeconomic Theory qualifying exam, a student would need to meet these standards in RES-ECON 711 and RES-ECON 712. To waive the Quantitative Methods qualifying exam, a student would need to meet these standards in RES- ECON 701, RES-ECON 702, and RES-ECON 703.

3. Complete a 2nd-year paper [for students beginning in Fall 2021 or later] 

The student will be asked to write a short version of a full research paper on a topic of their choosing. This “very short paper” or VSP will include all elements of a typical journal article: abstract, introduction, literature review, data description, basic data analysis, and conclusion/discussion. This VSP, with further development, may later become part of the student’s prospectus and/or dissertation. The student will also be required to present this work in our departmental symposium or seminar series. In some special cases, a full paper may not be feasible given the nature of the student’s research. In cases like these, the VSP may take the form of a well-developed research proposal through joint agreement between the student’s adviser and the Graduate Studies Council.

4. Pass a preliminary comprehensive examination

The comprehensive exam consists of a written examination in the major field. The comprehensive exam will normally be administered during January of the third year in the PhD program. The comprehensive exam committee will be assigned by the Graduate Program Director and will comprise at least two members of the graduate faculty in the candidate’s field. As a comprehensive exam, it may also include questions about basic concepts of microeconomic theory and quantitative methods. Additional topics/readings may also be assigned by the exam committee. Graduate School policy limits the number of attempts to pass the comprehensive exam to two.

5. Select a Dissertation Committee and write and defend the dissertation prospectus

The Committee will consist of three or more Graduate Faculty, with at least one member from outside the Department and at least two members, including the Chair, from within the Department. The outside member must be a member of the University Graduate Faculty. The dissertation prospectus is completed after selecting a dissertation advisor and committee.

The Graduate School requires that the prospectus, approved and signed by all Committee members and the Graduate Program Director, be submitted to the Graduate School at least seven months before the Dissertation Defense. However, the Department requires that the prospectus be completed by spring of the third year. The student may request an extension for this defense; in this case, the student submits such request to the Graduate Studies Committee explaining the reasons for the extension. Such request must be approved by dissertation chair.

The prospectus serves to establish the student’s research plans and to guide the completion of the dissertation. The prospectus should be developed in concert with the dissertation advisor to ensure that the student’s research objectives are consistent with those of Department faculty and resources. The student, dissertation advisor, and committee determine the format of the prospectus. At a minimum, the prospectus must contain a definition of the research problem(s), a justification for the proposed research, a review of relevant literature, identification of the research objectives, and proposed methods.

Ph.D. students may choose to complete either a traditional research dissertation or a three-essay dissertation. If the student chooses the three-essay option, the prospectus should identify the essays as three specific research objectives, with a justification, literature review, and proposed methods for each essay.

Upon completion of the dissertation prospectus, the student defends the prospectus. A model of casual formality is encouraged, taking form largely as thoughtful conversation among the candidate and committee members. The candidate will typically introduce the research objectives and procedures in 15-30 minutes. Committee members then interact with the candidate and each other to determine whether the plan will likely bear fruit in the form of a completed dissertation and subsequent publications. If not, the conversation centers on how best to adjust plans. Other faculty and graduate students are encouraged to sit in, and may be given the opportunity to ask questions or make contributions if time permits. This is an excellent opportunity for the student to gain experience presenting professional work and to receive feedback from committee members and Department faculty on the proposed dissertation.

6. Master of Science Degree

Students who do not have an M.S. degree may earn their Master of Science Degree as an intermediate degree toward the Ph.D. To receive this degree, students must complete a minimum of 28 course credits, and complete a Research Field Essay of 3 credits (RES-ECON 698). Students should register for RES-ECON 698 during the Spring of their second year. During the summer of the second year, the student will complete a first draft of the dissertation prospectus. When the draft prospectus is accepted by the student’s research advisor, it will be accepted by the Graduate Program Director as the student’s research field essay.

7. Complete the dissertation

Responsibility for preparing the dissertation rests with the student. The style must conform to the Graduate School’s Guidelines for Master’s Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. An electronic version of the dissertation must be submitted to the Graduate School. The Department requires an electronic version of the dissertation for the department’s electronic library. It is expected as a matter of courtesy that an electronic file will also be provided to the Chair of the Dissertation Committee.

8. Defend the dissertation

The Graduate Program Director announces the time and place of the Defense to the Graduate School at least six weeks in advance. All members of the Graduate Faculty of the University of Massachusetts are entitled to attend a Dissertation Defense, but the Dissertation Committee alone determines the outcome. Presentation of a departmental seminar on the research is a part of the Defense.

9. Submit to the Department

• Electronic version of the dissertation
• Resource Economics Exit Survey 

(Note: Both of these items are required for signature of the Degree Eligibility Form by the Graduate Program Director)

10. Submit to the Graduate School

• Dissertation electronically filed with ScholarWorks@UMassAmherst
• One signature page with original signatures submitted to the Graduate School
• Survey of Earned Doctorates form
• Degree Eligibility form
• Copyright Registration (optional)
• Payment (by credit card, personal check, or money order)
  • For: Microfilming fee
  • Copyright fee (optional)