skip to content

Bulletin Archive

This archived information is dated to the 2008-09 academic year only and may no longer be current.

For currently applicable policies and information, see the current Stanford Bulletin.

Graduate Programs in Economics

In this section:

Master of Arts in Economics

Doctor of Philosophy in Economics

Joint Degree Programs in Economics with the School of Law

Up one level:

Economics

Graduate programs in economics are designed to ensure that students receive a thorough grounding in the methodology of theoretical and empirical economics, while at the same time providing specialized training in a wide variety of subfields and a broad understanding of associated institutional structures. Toward these ends, the program is arranged so that the student has little choice in the curriculum at the outset but considerable latitude later on.

Students admitted to graduate standing in the department are expected to have a strong background in college-level economics, mathematics, and statistics. Preparation ordinarily consists of a college major in economics, a year-long calculus sequence that includes multivariate analysis, a course in linear algebra, and a rigorous course in probability and statistics.

GRADUATE FIELDS

A. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

To receive credit for this field, students must complete two from 214, 216 and 217, and submit a paper from one of these courses. Students wishing to do research in the field are advised to take courses in international economics, such as 266, and in comparative institutional analysis.

B. ECONOMIC HISTORY/INSTITUTIONS

The requirement for the field is one research paper on a subject approved by one of the faculty teaching any of the following courses: 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229.

C. MONETARY THEORY AND ADVANCED MACROECONOMICS

Requirements for this field are completion of two from 233, 234, and 235.

D. PUBLIC FINANCE

To receive credit for the field, students must complete 241 and 242 by passing the final examinations, and submit an acceptable research paper on a topic approved by the instructor for either course. Students may take Public Finance as a field and still count 243 and/or 244 toward satisfying their distribution requirements.

E. ECONOMICS OF LABOR

To receive credit for this field, students must complete two from 246, 247, and 248.

F. ECONOMICS OF INDUSTRY

To receive credit for the field, students must complete 257 and 258 and submit one research paper, the subject of which has been approved in advance by one of the faculty teaching 257, 258, or 260.

G. INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS

To receive credit for this field, students must complete 265 and 266. Taking one or more of 267, 268, or 269 is recommended. A research paper from any of these courses must also be submitted.

H. ECONOMETRICS

A student may satisfy the requirements for the econometrics field by completing the requirements of one of two subfields:

H-1: Theoretical Econometrics: To receive credit in the theoretical econometrics subfield, students must complete 273A and 273B.

H-2: Applied Econometrics: To receive credit in the applied econometrics subfield, students must complete 273A and either 274 or 275. Students must also complete a course or set of courses that is empirically oriented. The last requirements must be approved by the Director of Graduate Study in consultation with the instructor of 274 or 275.

I. MICROECONOMIC THEORY

To receive credit for this field, students must complete two courses from the following: 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 286, 287, 289, 291.

OTHER PROGRAMS

Other programs leading to dual degrees may be arranged. For example, the Ph.D. in Economics combined with one or two years of study in the School of Law, leading to the nonprofessional Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) degree. A dual degree program does not permit counting any courses toward both the Economics and the Law degrees. For more information, see http://www.law.stanford.edu/program/degrees.

FELLOWSHIPS AND ASSISTANTSHIPS

The department awards a number of fellowships for graduate study. Many first-year and a few second- or third-year students are awarded full fellowships, including a stipend and tuition. All students whose records justify continuation in the program may be assured support for the second through fourth years in the form of employment as a teaching or research assistant. These half-time appointments provide a stipend and tuition allowance. Entering students are not normally eligible for research or teaching assistantships.

© Stanford University - Office of the Registrar. Archive of the Stanford Bulletin 2008-09. Terms of Use | Copyright Complaints