Program Requirements:
Business Economics
Students in Business Economics generally complete the program in five years.
YEAR 1 - Economic Theory Preparation and Quantitative Methods
1. Economic theory courses (3 courses)
All courses should be completed with a grade of B or better.
- Econ 2010a. Economic Theory - Microeconomics
- Econ 2010b. Economic Theory - Microeconomics
- Econ 2010c . Economic Theory - Macroeconomics
2. Quantitative methods courses
Two one-term courses in graduate quantitative methods (Econ 2110 and Econ 2120) or a more advance course in econometrics (per faculty advisor approval) are required.
3. Additional graduate level course (1 course)
- Econ 2010d. Economic Theory- Macroeconomics (or) any other preparatory course for advanced economics 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 graduate courses in Statistics, Mathematics, Psychology, or elsewhere, with the consent of their advisor.
4. Microeconomics General Exam
A written general exam in microeconomic theory is required; students must pass this exam with a grade of B or better.
YEAR 2 - 3 - Special Field Preparation
1. Business history requirement (1 course)
Students are required to take one of the following courses:
- HBS 4810. Business History Seminar or
- HBS 1122. Coming of Managerial Capitalism (MBA course)
2. MBA courses (if applicable, 5 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. MBA course requirements should be completed by the end of the third year.
3. Special Field Examination
The Special Field Exam, also called "Orals", is completed at the end of second year or the beginning of third year. The exam is taken in three areas of concentration. There are three faculty examiners - at least one from FAS and at least one from HBS. The faculty examiners for the concentrations are chosen by the student. The student and each examiner construct a reading list which defines the scope of the examination and serves as a guide in preparing for it.
The reading list can be drawn from or expand upon the reading list of a course the student has taken. Typically, each concentration will cover material that is equivalent to two terms of coursework. Doctoral courses and seminars, reading courses with individual faculty members, and second-year MBA courses are the typical sources for preparation for the orals. The three areas, taken together, should demonstrate good breadth of preparation.
Once the lists are agreed upon by the student and the examiner they must be approved by the program Faculty Chair. Approval should be obtained well in advance of the scheduled examination in order to allow time for adjustments to be made, and for coordination among the examiners, if necessary.
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.
