Rules of the PhD Program 2023/2024

Department of Economics

Boston University

August 2023

These rules apply to all students beginning the PhD program in or after the 2022/2023

academic year. Some are university rules; the remainder are those of the Economics

Department. Departmental rules are administered by the Director of Graduate Studies

(DGS) and a Graduate Instruction Committee (GIC) comprised of several departmental

faculty members. It is understo od that special circumstances may warrant exceptions to

these rules. As such, students may petition to waive any departmental rule or any ruling

by the GIC. Denial of such a petition may in turn be appealed to the full Department

faculty by petition. For more information, see the Graduate School Bulletin.

1 Overview

The program contains a series of requirements each with its own deadline. A student

who satis…es each requirement by its speci…c deadline is in good standing. All o¤ers

of …nancial support by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GRS)

are conditional on a recommendation by the department that the student is

in good standing. Any additional supplement o¤ered by the department is

conditional upon the student remaining in good standing. Financial support

typically takes the form of teaching fellowships or research fellowships: continuation of

such awards is conditional on good performance of the asso ciated duties of these positions.

If a student fails to meet some requirement, he/she is placed on probation. In excep-

tional circumstances, upon approval by the GIC, a student on probationary status may

still be recommended to maintain a fellowship or other …nancial support. Students placed

on probation will remain on probation for at least the balance of the current semester.

After that, the student may be restored to good standing by the DGS if he/she determines

that the student is again in compliance with program requirements.

Finally, students who fail to meet certain crucial deadlines will be subject to dismissal

from the program.

The following section describes the sequence of the most important program require-

ments and the sanctions associated with failure to meet speci…c deadlines.

2 Program Requirements

2.1 First Year

In the …rst year of study, students must take and pass at least the six core courses in

economic theory and econometrics. These courses are:

701 — Advanced Microeconomics I

702 — Advanced Macroeconomics I

703 — Advanced Microeconomics II

704 — Advanced Macroeconomics II

707 — Advanced Statistics for Economists

708 — Advanced Econometrics I

In addition, students must take and pass EC 705 Mathematical Economics/Computation.

In rare cases, a student will have su¢ cient preparation to not need some core courses.

Such a student may petition the DGS for relief from the relevant course requirements.

Graduate courses are graded by letter grades. “A" is the highest grade; “B-" is

the lowest o¢ cial passing grade; and grades of “C+" or lower are failing grades. In

addition, a “permanent incomplete”(see Section 3.5) is considered a failing grade. While

passing, “B-" grades are considered unsatisfactory. See Section 2.9 for an explanation of

how grade point averages are computed. Students are expected to have a grade

point average of 3.15 or b etter in the six core courses and a grade point

average of at least 3.0 in all courses.

To be in good standing at the end of the …rst year, a student should pass the core

courses with a grade point average of 3.15 or better. More precisely, the requirement of

passing all core courses and EC 705 is essential; the grade point average of 3.15 is largely a

(temporary) substitute for passing one core exam in June or August, as explained below.

To be precise, the department will recommend to the GRS that the student be dismissed from the

program. In general, these recommendations are followed. All subsequent references to dismissal should

be understood to mean a recommendation of dismissal.

(Good grades in the …rst year are also useful for maintaining the grade point average

requirement in the second year; see below.)

In June following the …rst year of study, all students take the core examinations in

micro and macro theory (the “quali…ers”). Each quali…er has three possible grades: pass

with distinction, pass, and fail. A student may pass micro only, macro only, both, or

neither. Students who fail the micro and/or macro core examinations will normally be

allowed to retake the relevant exam(s) in August. Students who have not passed both

exams by June of the second year will b e dismissed from the program.

Decisions regarding …nancial aid are generally made in June for the Fall semester and

in August for the Spring semester, while decisions regarding continuation in the program

are usually made in August. Hence in June, the key issue is whether the student is in

good standing or not; in August, the key issue is whether the student is dismissed or not.

The standing of a student in the program as of June or August following the …rst

year is determined by which of the following criteria are met:

1. Passing all core courses and EC 705 if not waived.

2. Having a grade point average of at least 3.15 in the core courses.

3. Passing the micro core exam

4. Passing the macro core exam.

Standing in June:

1. Good standing: To be in good standing as of June of the …rst year, a student must

satisfy the …rst and at least one of the last three criteria above. This ensures funding for

the Fall semester of the second year. (Formally: this ensures that the Department will

recommend the student for funding in the Fall semester to GRS).

2. Probation: Any student who is not in good standing in June of the …rst year is on

probation. Funding is not guaranteed for the second year.

Standing in August:

1. Good standing: To be in good standing as of the end of August after the …rst year,

a student must satisfy the …rst and at least two of the last three criteria above. This

ensures funding for the Spring semester of the second year. (Formally: this ensures that

the Department will recommend the student for funding in the Fall and Spring semesters

to GRS).

2. Probation: A student who is not in good standing is on probation as of the end of

August after the …rst year if at least one of the last three criteria above is satis…ed.

3. Dismissal: A student who has not satis…ed the …rst and at least one of the last three

criteria above by the end of August after the …rst year will be dismissed.

In summary: (1) plus any two of (2)-(4) in June guarantees funding for the Fall

and Spring semesters of the second year; (1) plus any one of (2)-(4) in June guarantees

funding for the Fall semester of the second year; (1) plus any two of (2)-(4) in August

guarantees funding for the Spring semester of the second year. A student is dismissed

from the program in June if (1) is not satis…ed, in August if none of (2)-(4) is satis…ed.

2.2 Second Year

By the end of the second year, students should have

(1) Passed the core exams in micro and macro theory. A student will be dismissed from

the program if he/she has not passed b oth by June after the second year.

(2) Passed EC709. A student will be dismissed from the program, if he/she does not

pass EC 709 in the second year.

(3) Passed two di¤erent two-course …elds. To pass a …eld, a student must pass the two

courses in the …eld with a grade of at least B.

(4) Passed at least seven of the eight required elective courses. See Section 2.5 for details.

(5) Achieved an overall grade point average of at least 3.0.

Sometimes …eld courses are not o¤ered every year, making it di¢ cult for a student to

comply with requirements (3) and (4) above. In this case, the student can petition the

GIC to have these requirements waived. However, the two …elds and the eight required

elective courses must be completed by the end of Year 3, with no exceptions (See Section

2.3).

In addition, each student must prepare a research paper during the second year and

the following summer. By April 1 of the second year, the student must ask a faculty

member to serve as an advisor on this paper; have this faculty member agree to serve in

this manner; and inform the DGS of the topic of the paper and the advisor’s name. The

paper is due in the third year as described in the next subsection.

Summary: A student is dismissed from the program if he/she has not passed EC 709

and both the micro and macro core exams by June following the second year. Otherwise:

1. Good Standing. To be in good standing in June of the second year, a student must

have an overall grade point average of at least 3.0, have passed two two-course …elds by

earning at least a B in each course in each of the two …elds, and have submitted the

required information on the research paper to the DGS.

2. Probation. A student who is not in good standing in June of the second year will be

on probation if he/she (1) has either passed at least one two-course …eld or has an overall

grade point average of 3.0 or above and (2) has submitted the required information on

the research paper to the DGS.

3. Dismissal. Otherwise, the student will be dismissed from the program.

2.3 Third Year

By the end of the third year, a student should have:

(1) Received a passing grade on the research paper. The paper is due by October 1. By

October 15th of that year, the faculty advisor must provide (i) a grade for the paper;

and (ii) a brief written evaluation the paper. These documents will be sent to the DGS

and the student.

(2) Passed two di¤erent two-course …elds. To pass a …eld, a student must pass each

course in the …eld with a grade of at least B.

(3) Completed all the required elective courses (see Section 2.5 for details).

(4) Achieved an overall grade point average of at least 3.0.

Any student who fails to complete these requirements by June following the third

year will be dismissed from the program. In light of the value of focusing on research

early, it is recommended that all students complete their course requirement

no later than the Fall of the third year.

Starting in the third year, students must enroll in one of the research workshops each

semester until completion of all degree requirements, and present their work at least one

time during each academic year (Exceptions are granted for students who are on leave of

absence or are conducting research away from campus.)

By the end of the third year, students should have identi…ed a faculty member who

will serve as the primary advisor on their dissertation. The main advisor agrees to serve

in this role by …lling a “Statement of Research Progress”(see next subsection) at the end

of each academic year.

2.4 Third Year and Beyond: Research Progress

Beginning in the third year, students start to work on their dissertation under the super-

vision of a faculty advisor or advisors. The dissertation committee is composed of three

faculty members: one main advisor and two additional readers (see Section 2.7). It is

strongly advised that students have a complete committee of three faculty

members by the end of the fourth year.

In order to encourage timely progress on the dissertation, students must comply with

the following two requirements:

1. Students in year 3 and beyond must present their work at least one time during each

academic year in a dissertation workshop, a research seminar or other Departmental

workshops (e.g., a lunch seminar).

2. Students in year 3 and beyond must submit a one or two page summary of their

research activity to the DGS at the end of each academic year. This needs to include

a summary of each paper already completed, an outline of the progress made during

the year and the date(s) in which the work was presented in a Departmental Student

Workshop or Seminar (or other venues). This document must be submitted to the

DGS and the main advisor by May 1 of each year.

3. Students also must request that their main advisor …ll in a “Statement of Research

Progress”pertaining to their views about the progress of the student with respect

to research. This form must be submitted to the DGS by May 15 of each year. For

students in years 4 and above, the Statement of Research Progress must

be signed by the main advisor and by two additional faculty memb ers

who will represent the student’s dissertation committee.

A student who repeatedly fails to present and/or is judged by his/her advisor to be

making very minimal progress will be determined to not be in good standing.

2.5 General Course Requirements

To complete the Ph.D., students must pass:

 Eight compulsory courses. These are the six core courses (EC701, EC702, EC703,

EC704, EC707, and EC708); EC705, and EC709. Under exceptional circumstances,

students with very strong backgrounds in mathematics and/or statistics may obtain

a waiver from EC705 and/or EC707. See Section 3.6.

 Eight elective courses. Four of these must be …eld courses (two courses per …eld).

The remaining four courses are electives, at least two of which must be taken outside

of the two …eld specializations.

The course EC790 Writing and Communication in Economics does not count towards

the 8-elective course requirement.

2.6 Dissertation Prospectus

Before graduating, a student must complete a dissertation prospectus.. The prospectus

is a written document, no longer than 10 pages, outlining the three chapters of the disser-

tation. The practice in the economics department is to hold a meeting (the “disseration

proposal”) with all three dissertation advisors (“the committee"), and present the out-

line of the three chapters of the dissertation. At the end of the proposal, the student’s

committee must unanimously decide whether the prospectus is accepted or rejected. If

a 2-1 split occurs, the decision is referred to the Graduate Instruction Committee.

Once approved, the student should submit the Dissertation Prospectus Approval Page

to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences O¢ ce. The dissertation prospectus approval

page should be delivered to GRS as soon as it is approved, and no later than six

months before the date of the Final Oral Eaxmination (the “dissertation de-

fense,”see below). If one plans to graduate in May, the last day to hold the dissertation

defense is typically in early April. This means that the last date to hold the dis-

sertation proposal and submit the dissertation prospectus is early October of

the year preceding the year in which you plan to graduate.

The dissertation proposal is the opportunity for students to have all the committee

together and tell them about their dissertation. Therefore, even if the deadline for holding

the proposal is in early October, it is very strongly encouraged to schedule the

proposal at the beginning of the summer of the year preceding the year in which you

plan to graduate.

2.7 The Final Oral Examination

After the dissertation itself has been written and has received preliminary approval by

the candidate’s advisors, the Final Oral Examination (also referred to as the “dissertation

defense”) is scheduled.

The …nal oral examination committee must be composed of a total of four or more

members. It usually consists of the three advisors plus one (or more) additional faculty

member. Each committee also must designate a chair who can serve either as one of

the four committee members (although the …rst reader cannot serve in the role of the

committee chair), as an additional committee member, or solely as the chair of the

committee. Following the examination, the faculty members vote on …nal approval of

the dissertation.

A student intending to defend must submit to the DGS his/her abstract and the

preliminary composition of the committee at least six (6) weeks prior to the planned date

of defense (the earlier the better). The student must inform the DGS of any committee

member who may not be present in the room physically during the defense or who is not

a member of the Boston University Faculty. At the same time, the major advisor must

inform the DGS that he/she approves the abstract and the composition of the committee.

By signing the abstract approval page, the major advisor certi…es that he/she approves

the wording of the title and the abstract and that it is in proper format and good English.

For more information on the dissertation and the …nal oral examination, see http://

www.bu.edu/cas/current-students/phd-mfa-students/graduation-information. In

particular, the Graduate Scho ol of Arts & Sciences requires that at least two of the com-

mittee members (not including the chair) be from the student’s department or graduate

program. If, by special arrangement with the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, the

committee’s …rst reader is not from the student’s department or program, then both the

chair and the second reader of the committee must be from the student’s department or

graduate program. A majority of the committee members must be Boston University

faculty who do not require a special appointment.

If a PhD student has not completed all degree requirements within seven years, the

university requires that they p etition each year to extend the time to complete the degree.

The initial petition must be submitted before the conclusion of the seventh year. Petitions

to extend the time to complete the PhD are given serious review and are only approved if

a compelling case is made that signi…cant progress is being made and that completion is

expected in the very near future. See https://www.bu.edu/academics/grs/policies/

failing-grades/

2.8 Other Grounds for Dismissal

In addition to the reasons a student may be dismissed speci…ed above, the DGS can

dismiss a student from the program for either of the following reasons:

 Eight or more credits of failing grades.

 Having a grade point average so low that, even if all subsequent grades were “B+",

the …nal average at the end of the program would be lower than the minimum

required.

 Failure to ful…ll the research or teaching fellowship duties in a satisfactory manner.

2.9 Computation of Grade Point Averages

For the purpose of computing grade point averages, the following numerical values are

given to the grades:

A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- F

4.0 3.7 3.3 3.0 2.7 2.3 2.0 1.7 0.0

Only the grade obtained in the …rst attempt at any course is counted in averaging. If

a student retakes a course (because of a failing grade on the …rst attempt, for example)

or takes a course equivalency for a course (s)he has taken previously for credit, the newly

obtained grade cannot be used to change the average.

2.10 Academic Conduct Code

According to the BU Student Academic Conduct Code, “All students entering Boston

University are expected to maintain high standards of academic honesty and integrity.”

The Graduate School states that “Any attempt to be dishonest or deceptive in the

performance of academic work, in or out of the classroom, or any attempt to alter

academic records or any collaboration with another student or students in an act of

academic misconduct, constitutes an o¤ense.” For more information on violations of

the code, their punishments, and the procedures for review of alleged o¤enses, see

.https://www.bu.edu/cas/files/2017/02/GRS-Academic-Conduct-Code-Final.pdf

2.11 Professional Conduct Code

All Ph.D. students are expected to abide by the American Economic Association’s Code

of Professional Conduct. https://www.aeaweb.org/about-aea/code-of-conduct.

In particular, the AEA encourages the “perfect freedom of economic discussion.”

This goal requires an environment where all can freely participate and where each idea

is considered on its own merits. Economists have a professional obligation to conduct

civil and respectful discourse in all forums, including those that allow con…dential or

anonymous participation. The AEA seeks to create a professional environment with equal

opportunity and fair treatment for all economists, regardless of age, sex, gender identity

and expression, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability,

health condition, marital status, parental status, genetic information, political a¢ liation,

professional status, or personal connections.

Failure to abide by the professional code of conduct will result in disciplinary sanc-

tions.

2.12 Residency Requirements

The Graduate Bulletin states that “Each student must satisfy a residency requirement of

a minimum of two consecutive regular semesters of full–time graduate study at Boston

University." The university also requires that a student be enrolled during the two

semesters immediately preceding receipt of any degree.

2.13 The MAPE Degree

Students have the option of obtaining an MA in Political Economy (MAPE) while com-

pleting the requirements for the Ph.D. A student who wishes to earn the MA in Political

Economy must pass at least 15 courses and have a performance on the core micro and

macro theory exams (the “quali…ers”) meeting a prescribed standard.

Before applying for the MAPE degree, students should consult with the Director of

Graduate Studies.

3 Other Rules

3.1 Faculty Advisors

Each student will have a faculty advisor who will help in selecting the most appropriate

plan of study. Each semester, the faculty advisor must approve the student’s selection of

courses and sign registration forms. The faculty advisor must be continuously informed

about the student’s progress and must approve changes in programs, adds, drops, and

Incompletes. All incoming students will be assigned a faculty advisor. When a PhD

student feels ready, the student may switch to a consenting advisor of his/her own choos-

ing. This selection should be made no later than the beginning of the third year but can

be subsequently changed. The …rst reader of a PhD thesis is almost always the faculty

advisor.

3.2 Course Selection

Each semester, students who have not yet completed their course requirements normally

select and register for four courses (16 credits). Selection should be made with a clear

view of a consistent long-term study program leading to the successful completion of all

course requirements. Students may drop and/or add courses during the speci…ed periods

at the beginning of each semester if the original selection of courses turns out to be

inappropriate for some reason. If a student is unable to complete a course (because of

the work requirement associated with an extra load of courses and duties or personal

circumstances, for example) a grade of incomplete may (with the explicit consent of the

course instructor as to how the course will be completed) be preferable to a drop.

3.3 Repeating Courses

Generally, students cannot receive university credit for taking the same course twice;

however, students who fail a course (“C+" or less) can either retake it for credit or

satisfy a departmental requirement by a course equivalency.

3.4 Nonstandard Fields

Apart from the standard …elds o¤ered regularly by the Economics Department, a student

can petition the Graduate Instruction Committee to create a special “nonstandard”…eld

from within or outside the Economics Department. In each such case, the scope of

the …eld must be de…ned as part of a cohesive program. A student should not take a

course for a nonstandard …eld before his/her petition has been approved by the Graduate

Instruction Committee.

3.5 Grades of Incomplete

An incomplete grade (I) is used only when the student has conferred with the instruc-

tor prior to the submission of grades and o¤ered acceptable reasons for the incomplete

work. The instructor and student must sign the Incomplete Grade Report form (http:

//www.bu.edu/reg/files/2017/06/Incomplete-Grade-Form.pdf) indicating the na-

ture of the work and a date by which all course requirements must be completed.

Incomplete grades must be resolved within the time period allowed by the individual

school or college of enrollment, or the maximum of one year (whichever comes …rst), at

which time the grade will be converted to the …nal grade indicated on the Incomplete

Grade Report form, or F if no grade is indicated.

For further information, see the GRS Bulletin page on incomplete coursework: http:

//www.bu.edu/academics/policies/incomplete-coursework/.

3.6 Waivers

The policy of the Department of Economics is to allow waivers only on an exceptional

basis, when the case can be made that a student has already taken a course that can

be considered as an equivalent at the PhD level and at the same level of rigor as a

course o¤ered at Boston University. The most common cases are for students with a

prior Masters degree who have extensive training in mathematics and statistics, in which

case it is possible to obtain a waiver for EC705 and/or EC707. Waivers can be obtained

in one of two ways: (a) Successfully passing a placement exam at the beginning of the

…rst semester; OR (b) Submitting a petition because of an equivalent course taken at

another institution. Petitions to waive a course must be accompanied by a reading list

and syllabus/syllabi of the equivalent course/s taken at other institutions, an o¢ cial

transcript, and, if possible, a copy of the …nal examination.

In the academic year 2022-2023, it is not possible to waive EC705 Mathematical

economics/computation.

3.7 Transfer of Credit

Under exceptional circumstances, students may submit p etitions to transfer credits for

courses taken at other institutions. Students are advised that p etitions to transfer credit

will be accepted only if it is determined that the course in question equals or exceeds the

standard required of graduate Economics courses at Boston University. To assist in this

determination, each petition must b e accompanied by a reading list and syllabus, and, if

possible, a copy of the …nal examination.

For the speci…c rules set by GRS on the transfer of credits, see https://www.bu.edu/

academics/grs/policies/transfer-of-credits. Students must submit a “Transfer of

Credit Request”using the form available at https://www.bu.edu/cas/current-students/

phd-mfa-students/transfer-credits/. A successful petition will reduce the number

of courses required to complete the Ph.D.

3.8 Courses outside the Economics Department

Sometimes a student wishes to take a graduate course that is o¤ered outside the Eco-

nomics Department, intending that the course be counted towards his/her degree re-

quirements. Whether the graduate course is one given in another department or school

at Boston University or is a graduate course given in a school outside Boston Univer-

sity, permission must be granted beforehand. To get permission for a Boston University

course, the student must: a) submit a written petition to the Graduate Instruction Com-

mittee; b) include a copy of the course syllabus, and, if possible, a copy of a past …nal

examination; c) include a current transcript; and d) obtain a written endorsement by a

faculty member. For a course taken outside of Boston University, the student must also

submit a “Transfer of Credit Request”form, the syllabus, and an o¢ cial transcript from

the outside university after the Graduate Instruction Committee has approved the course

and the student has received the grade. Permission will only be granted in exceptional

circumstances: the course in question must be substantively di¤erent from any course

o¤ered in the Department of Economics at Boston University and is deemed essential to

the student’s research.

3.9 Leaves of Absence

The Graduate School Bulletin states: “Normally, students must register for each regular

semester until completion of all degree requirements. Upon written request to the Grad-

uate School of Arts and Sciences, a student will be allowed up to two semesters of leave

of absence without committee consideration. Leaves of absence beyond two semesters

may be granted in cases of substantiated illness, one semester maternity or paternity

leave, or military service. In exceptional cases, the student should petition the associate

dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences with approval of the chairman of the

department or division of concentration.” A Leave of Absence form, obtainable from the

Graduate School, should be completed before leaving.

A student who overstays a leave of absence and wishes to return must reapply for

admission and may be required to satisfy course and examination requirements a second

time.

A student who returns from a leave of absence of more than two years’duration and

who had passed the core examinations more than …ve years prior to returning may be

required to retake and pass the core examinations within three semesters of returning.

3.10 Parental Leave

The University’s policy for childbirth and adoption accommodation for full-time PhD

students can be found on the GRS website: http://www.bu.edu/academics/policies/

childbirth-and-adoption-accommodation. The policy applies equally to both male

and female students. The policy states that a student is eligible for a p eriod of accommo-

dation of 60 days, in which s/he will remain registered as a full-time student, and will be

excused from all course requirements. Special assignments such as qualifying exams will

be rescheduled as appropriate to provide reasonable time for preparation and comple-

tion. Students will continue to receive their stipend during the period of accommodation.

Students will generally be eligible to one semester free of teaching or service obligations.

A second semester of reduced teaching or service load may be granted, upon approval by

the GIC. The length of a multi-year stipend commitment made at the time of admission

and the total time allowed to obtain the degree will generally not be extended by the

period of accommodation.