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Doctor of Philosophy in Economic Education Degree
Telephone: (302) 831-1165
The PhD program in Economic Education is a joint doctoral program between the School of Education and the Department of Economics. Economic Education includes two distinct competencies, one in Education that involves primarily the teaching of economics in K-12 settings and one in Economics that involves education public policy issues (i.e., school financing, vouchers, testing, human capital development) and also the education production process at both the K-12 and post-secondary levels. Traditionally, professionals and researchers in the field of Economic Education have been trained in either economics or in education, with little or no meaningful cross-training in the other area. The next generation of leaders in this field will need to know far more about economics than is learned in a typical graduate program in Education and far more about educational issues than is learned in a typical graduate program in Economics. This new joint program will bridge the gap between these related disciplines and provide a specialization in Economic Education.
Skills like these will be valuable in a wide range of employment sites: Centers for Economic; education units within regional Federal Reserve Banks and other private sector businesses and foundations with an interest in economic and financial literacy; school districts and state departments of instruction; education consulting and evaluation firms; and universities.
Students may earn an MA in Economic Education degree by successfully completing the following courses: EDUC 805, EDUC 806, EDUC 850, EDUC 852, ECON 801 or ECON 811, ECON 802, ECON 803 or ECON 822, ECON 829 and two restricted electives in Economics or Education. Students must pass all required exams in Economics, including mathematical proficiency, Microeconomic Theory, and Macroeconomic Theory. Additionally, students must pass an examination based on the first year Education Proseminar courses (EDUC 805 and EDUC 806) and EDUC 850.
Requirements for Admission to the Ph.D. in Economic Education Program
Applications for admission must be received by February 1 to be considered for acceptance for the following fall semester.
Students will be admitted to the program based upon enrollment availability and their ability to meet the following minimum recommended entrance requirements.
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Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
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An officially reported GRE score. Students are normally expected to have a minimum score of 1100 on math and verbal sections combined.
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An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
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An officially reported minimum TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based test) or 250 (computer-based test) or 100 (iBT) OR an officially reported minimum IELTS score of 7.0 for applicants whose native language is not English.
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A written statement of goals and objectives, including a statement that clearly identifies the applicant’s interest in the program.
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Coursework in microeconomics and macroeconomics at the intermediate level or above and in statistics and mathematics (calculus) is expected. Otherwise qualified students who lack this background may be directed to appropriate coursework to remedy this deficiency.
Program Requirements for the Ph.D in Economic Education Degree
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Course Work: Students in this doctoral program complete the following courses: EDUC 805, EDUC 806, EDUC 850, EDUC 852, EDUC 840 (2 credits), and 6 credits of EDUC doctoral electives; ECON 801 or ECON 811, ECON 802 or ECON 812, ECON 803 or ECON 822, ECON 804 or ECON 823, ECON 820, ECON 829, and 6 credits of ECON doctoral electives. Additionally, students complete an additional 6 credits of doctoral electives selected with the approval of their advisor. All students must register for and attend ECON 890 (weekly department seminar) in two semesters and meet established course requirements.
Students who terminate their matriculation after completing the M.A. in Economic Education as a terminal degree must complete 3 credits of ECON 868 or EDUC 868 and write a research paper. This requirement does not pertain to students who continue in the Ph.D program at the conclusion of the M.A.
Nine hours of dissertation credit (EDUC 969 or ECON 969) is required of all Ph.D. students. A minimum of 63 credit hours is required to complete the Ph.D. in Economic Education program.
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Residency Requirement: One year in residence (one continuous academic year—9 credit hours per semester) must be completed. Students are strongly encouraged to complete this requirement in the first year.
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Examinations: Students must pass all required exams in Economics, including mathematical proficiency, Microeconomic Theory, and Macroeconomic Theory. The examinations in Microeconomics and Macroeconomics are given twice a year (January and June) and will typically be taken in the semester after the relevant coursework has been completed. Students who do not pass an examination on the first attempt may retake it two additional times.
Students must also pass an examination based on the first year Education Proseminar courses (EDUC 805 and EDUC 806) and EDUC 850. This exam will be administered at the end of the first spring semester. Students who do not pass the examination on the first attempt may retake it one additional time prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
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Dissertation proposal: A written proposal that is defended before one’s advisory committee.
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Dissertation and defense: An original work of scholarship, meeting School, University and professional requirements, plus an oral defense of the work.
Although every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information in the Catalog,
students and others who use the Catalog should note that the policies, rules, regulations,
requirements for graduation, course offerings, and other materials reproduced in the Catalog change
from time-to-time and that these changes may alter the information contained in this Catalog.
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