Business Economics: Curriculum
YEAR 1 Economic Theory Preparation and Quantitative Methods
Microeconomics Econ 2010a and 2010b
The final exam for these courses serves as the microeconomics general exam. The microeconomics general exam is required.
Macroeconomics Econ 2010c
And either Econ 2010d or any advanced economics course that prepares the student for advanced course work that will be covered in the Special Field Exam. Economics 2010d is recommended for students who work in Finance. Other students can take a course in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Psychology, or elsewhere, with the consent of their advisor.
Quantitative Methods
Econ 2110 (Probability and Statistics) and Econ 2120 or 2130 or 2140 (Econometrics)
YEAR 2 Special Field Preparation
Special Field Examination, also called "Orals", is completed at end of second year or beginning of third year.
Preparation for the special field exam may be in the form of Ph.D.-level courses in economics and doctoral seminars; second-year MBA courses; doctoral courses offered elsewhere at Harvard or M.I.T.; and reading courses.
YEAR 3 Management Requirements
Business history requirement: either the "Business History Seminar" or the MBA elective course "Coming of Managerial Capitalism."
MBA courses: Students who do not have an MBA are required to either take the first semester of the MBA program or five second-year MBA courses. Students with a non-HBS MBA are required to take one approved second-year MBA course in general management.
YEARS 4-5 Dissertation research and writing
Dissertation proposal due at least one year from the completion of the special field exam.
6 years is the maximum time limit for program completion.