PhD student research
The AAE Ph.D. program provides a rigorous background in economic theory and analysis, combined with applied economics courses in the areas of Development, Natural Resources and Environment, Agriculture and Community Economics. Students will enjoy small class sizes, a supportive atmosphere, and strong relationships with their major advisor and the AAE community.
The program takes 4-5 years to complete. The Ph.D. curriculum relies on the doctoral core in theory and econometrics offered by Wisconsin’s outstanding and highly ranked Department of Economics. When matched with the department’s applied courses, students learn how to use advanced methods to conceptualize and answer contemporary economic problems. This strong core training prepares students for a variety of challenging careers.
Required Coursework:
- Economic theory (9 credits)
Microeconomics Theory I (Econ 711, 3 credits)
Microeconomic Theory II (Econ 713, 3 credits)
Macroeconomic Theory (Econ 712, 3 credits) - Statistics and Econometrics (6 credits)
Economic Statistics (Econ 709, 3 credits)
Econometrics (Econ 710, 3 credits) - Major field courses (6 credits)
2 courses from advanced applied economics area courses - Minor field courses (9 credits)
3 courses from one outside department or 3 courses from two or more departments including AAE - AAE 780: Research Colloquium, 3 credits
- AAE 781: Research Writing Seminar, 1 credit
- 51 credits are required for the PhD. After coursework, the remainder of credits are taken as independent research credits, AAE 990, 17+ credits.
Active department seminar and workshop series complement formal classroom instruction.
Preliminary examinations are required in microeconomic theory and a major field. Students receiving grades of B or better in the microeconomic theory core courses can choose not to sit for the microeconomics preliminary exam. The microeconomic theory preliminary exam is administered and graded by the faculty in Economics. Pass rates for AAE students have historically been around 95%. The major field preliminary exam is administered and graded by the AAE faculty.
The Ph.D. also requires a dissertation. Most students’ dissertation work includes a period of primary data collection and field work either in this country or abroad, often in the developing world.
Accepted candidates are offered funding in the form of Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships or Fellowships.
The following video features an AAE Ph.D. student and his research.
