Program Requirements

Coursework and Research Preparation

Students complete the following required courses during the first year of the program: Core macroeconomic and microeconomics series: Econ2010a, 2010b, 2010c, 2010d; Quantitative Economics: Econ2120 and Econ2140.

During the G2 year, students designate two fields of interest and complete two approved courses in each of the two fields. Fields include: Behavioral Economics, Contracts and Organizations, Development, Econometrics, History, Financial Economics, Industrial Organization, International Economics, Labor Economics, Macroeconomics, Political Economy, Public Economics, and Theory.   Although "Applied econometrics" is not a field at Harvard, this department considers a student qualified in "applied econometrics" if they have taken one second year econometrics course and one empirical elective. In addition to field courses, students are also required to complete 1.5 additional courses in any of the fields outside their two designated fields. 

As a G3, students enroll in a Research Preparatory course and complete a research paper (Econ2001) under the guidance of their faculty advisor. Students must email their papers to their advisor, with a copy to the Graduate Office (Brenda Piquet), by May 15. Students who need an extension must request one from the Graduate Office and their advisor(s), copying the DGS, Jeff Miron, at least two weeks prior to May 15. The deadline may be extended until September 1. Students who do not meet the May 15 deadline and have not requested an extension will receive a letter indicating that they are not in good standing and must submit a paper by September 1. Students who do not meet the September 1 deadline may be withdrawn from the program. 

Graduate Student Workshops

Students are required to begin presenting in a Graduate Student Workshop during the Spring semester of the third year. Students continue to attend and present in at least one workshop each semester. 

Teaching

Graduate students are expected to teach during their careers at Harvard, usually beginning in year three of the program. First-time teaching fellows must participate in at least one Bok Center Teaching Conference. Students in their third and fourth years have priority for teaching fellowship appointments.

Research Proposal

Students are required to present and submit their research ideas to a committee comprising of at least two faculty members. The committee will provide feedback and decide if the student is making satisfactory progress toward the degree. Students will receive coordinated advice from faculty regarding their progress and be given detailed recommendations for future research plans, particularly with respect to possible job market paper and dissertation. 

Research proposals must be emailed to the Graduate Student Office (Brenda Piquet) and the student's advisor(s) by December 15 of the fourth year. Students who need an extension must request one from the Graduate Office and their advisor(s), copying the DGS (Jeff Miron) at least two weeks prior to December 15. The deadline may be extended until May 30. Students who do not meet the December 15 deadline and have not requested an extension will receive a letter indicating that they are not in good standing and must submit by May 30. Students who do not meet the May 30 deadline may be withdrawn from the program.

The Dissertation

The student selects a faculty dissertation committee consisting of three members of the Harvard faculty; two of whom must be members of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Under the dissertation committee’s advisorship, the student will proceed to complete the dissertation research. The dissertation should demonstrate the candidate’s ability to perform original research that develops in a scholarly way and is a significant contribution to the knowledge and understanding in the chosen special field. For the student to meet the requirement, analysis and evaluation of relevant data must yield significant and independent conclusions.

Advising

Regular guidance through contact with faculty advisors is an essential component of doctoral education. Students should maintain close contact with their official advisor(s) throughout their enrollment in the program. Students are encouraged to develop informal advising relationships with several faculty members in addition to their official advisor. 

The First-year advisor provides assistance during the initial stages of the program, but do not necessarily advise the student throughout their studies. During the second year of the program, students are matched with advisors based on their research interests. As students familiarize themselves with program faculty during coursework, research work, seminars/workshops, and other activities, they may change their official advisor(s) as their academic and research interests develop.