Business Economics: Curriculum
YEAR 1 Economic Theory Preparation and Quantitative Methods
Students in Business Economics take courses in microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, probability and statistics, econometrics, and other graduate level course. A written general exam in microeconomic theory is required.
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
The dissertation should demonstrate the candidate's ability to perform original research that develops in a scholarly way a significant contribution to the knowledge and understanding in the chosen special field. The requirement is that the analysis and evaluation of relevant data yield significant and independent conclusions.
See Program Requirements for detailed curriculum information.
