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Department of Economics | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Simon Fraser University Calendar | Spring 2025

Economics

Doctor of Philosophy

The Department of Economics offers a doctor of philosophy (PhD) program that prepares students for a research career. The program combines coursework in the core fields of microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics, elective coursework in a variety of fields, and substantive original research.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the University admission requirements as stated in Graduate General Regulations 1.3 in the SFU Calendar. Also required is a master of arts (MA) degree, with graduate work in core areas that are equivalent to ECON 802, 807, 835 and 836. Any core area deficiency must be filled by completing the appropriate course(s) in addition to the course work normally required. In certain cases, students may be transferred into the doctor of philosophy (PhD) program from the MA program after meeting MA core and unit requirements (16 courses beyond the BA honours is required for such a PhD program).

Program Requirements

This program consists of required courses, elective courses, comprehensive exam, and a thesis for a minimum of 62 units. Normally a student must complete at least five courses of regularly scheduled course work within this department; exceptions to this rule must be approved by the student's supervisory committee and the graduate program committee.

Students must complete all of

ECON 803 - Microeconomic Theory I (4)
ECON 804 - Microeconomic Theory II (4)
ECON 808 - Macroeconomic Theory I (4)
ECON 809 - Macroeconomic Theory II (4)
ECON 831 - Mathematical Economics (4)
ECON 837 - Econometric Theory I (4)
ECON 838 - Econometric Theory II (4)

and two of

ECON 984 - Comprehensive Examination in Econometrics (0)
ECON 985 - Comprehensive Examination in Microeconomic Theory (0)
ECON 986 - Comprehensive Examination in Macroeconomic Theory (0)

and four graduate elective ECON courses

and a field paper

ECON 900 - PhD Field Paper (0)

and a comprehensive field exam

ECON 987 - Field Comprehensive Examination (0)

and a thesis

ECON 990 - PhD Thesis (18)

Program Length

Students are expected to complete the program requirements in 15 terms.

Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations

All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations, as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled.