Managerial Economics and Strategy PhD

Degree Requirements

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.

Requirements can also be found in the Program Guidelines for Managerial Economics & Strategy PhD students issued by the Kellogg School of Management.

Master's

The goal of our doctoral program is the awarding of a PhD degree. En route to this goal, a Master of Science (MS) degree can be awarded to currently enrolled, qualified Kellogg doctoral students who are in good academic standing and have successfully completed at lest nine quality letter-graded courses (ABC, not P/NP or S/U) authorized for graduate credit with a cumulative 3.0 GPA.

PhD

Total Units Required: 18

Students in the PhD program are required to take (at least) the following nine courses in their first year (at least 3 courses in each of the fall, winter, and spring quarters).

Course Title
MECS 560-1Static Optimization in Economics
MECS 560-2Dynamic Optimization in Economics
MECS 560-3Research in Economics
ECON 410-1Microeconomics
ECON 410-2Microeconomics
ECON 410-3Microeconomics
ECON 480-1Econometrics
ECON 480-2Econometrics
ECON 480-3Econometrics

In the second year, PhD students register for a minimum of nine courses to fulfill the 18-course requirement. These nine courses must contain at least three sequences – at least two courses within the same area of study. Registration for an Independent Study (MECS 499-0) may count towards the coursework requirement.

Other PhD Degree Requirements

  • Candidacy: Students must demonstrate competence in three core areas of first year courses: microeconomics, econometrics, and optimization. Competency is achieved by obtaining at least a 3.0 GPA in each sequence as described in the program guidelines. Students who have met the competency requirement are passed into candidacy at the end of the first year.  
  • Research/Projects: Completion of an approved second-year research paper submitted in September prior to the beginning of year three.
  • PhD Dissertation: Original and significant research. Topic should be selected in year three, in collaboration with the advisor or advisors; presentation of preliminary results (prospectus) to committee members no later than September 15 prior to the beginning of fourth year.
  • Final Evaluations: Oral final examination on dissertation and submission of an approved dissertation.