Master of Arts

The M.A. program has a course structure similar to that of the Ph.D. program, although it requires fewer credits. Students must complete a total of 36 credits, of which 15 must be devoted to general course requirements: 206-200, 206-202, 206-204, 206-210, and 206-211; 6 to thesis work; and 15 to the area of concentration.

Students who do not wish to write a thesis must take 6 additional credits of course work, 3 of which must be the seminar in the area of specialization. Each thesis will be directed by an adviser, read by at least one other faculty member, and followed by an oral defense.

Following are the individual areas of specialization and their course requirements: Developmental Economics-206-220, 206-266, two other courses in the area, and one elective course in Economics; Urban Economics -206-230, two other courses in the area, and two electives in Economics; Monetary/Fiscal Economics-206-271, 206-272, and three courses from 206-240, 206-241, 206-242, 206-245, 206-249, and 206-273; Human Resources Economics-206-261, 206-262, and three courses from 206-233, 206-234, 206-247, 206-248, and 206-251, 206-263.

Students must pass the comprehensive examinations, offered in February and September, which cover the following three areas: price theory, macroeconomic theory, and an area of specialization. The student may elect to take examination in all subjects or take the theory examinations first and the field of specialization at another time. If the student chooses the latter, he or she must pass the theory examinations before taking the field of specialization at the next sitting.

If the student elects to take examinations in all three subjects the first time, he/she must pass at least two. Otherwise, he/she will be required to take all three examinations again on the second sitting.

      There is no language requirement.

Doctor of Philosophy

Students must earn a minimum of 72 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree, of which 12 must be devoted to dissertation work, 33 to electives and to the area of concentration, and 27 to the following general course requirements: 206-200, 206-201, 206-202, 206-203, 206-204, 206-210, 206-211, 206-212, and 206-213. Students may earn up to 6 credits in an internship program.

Following are the individual areas of specialization and their course requirements: Development Economics-206-220, 206-221, 206-228, 206-244, 206-245, plus any of the four courses out of 206-216, 206-222, 206-223, 206-224, 206-225, 206-226, 206-227, 206-240, 206-241, 206-242, 206-250, 206-260, and two courses outside of the field based on the student's interest; Urban Economic Development-206-230, 206-231, 206-237, plus any of the six courses out of 206-216, 206-232, 206-233, 206-234, 206-235, 206-242, 206-250, 206-251, and two courses outside of the field; Monetary Fiscal Economics-206-240, 206-271, 206-272, 206-273, 206-216 plus any of the four courses out of 206-274, 206-216, 206-222, 206-240, 206-242, 206-245, 206-269, 206-250, and two courses in related fields; Human Resources Economics-206-261, 206-262, 206-223, 206-263, 206-216, plus any four courses out of 206-214, 206-233, 206-234, 206-247, 206-248, 206-250, 206-251 and two courses outside of the field.

Students must pass the comprehensive examinations offered in February and September, in the following four areas: price theory, macroeconomic theory, quantitative economics, and an area of specialization.

Students are required to take the Ph.D. comprehensive examinations in both microeconomic theory and macroeconomic theory as soon as they have successfully completed the required macro- and microeconomic theory courses. If the student passes both of these examinations, that student will become eligible to take the comprehensive examinations in quantitative methods and the approved area of concentration.

Ph.D. students must also demonstrate in a formal examination a reading proficiency in French, Spanish, German, Russian, Chinese, or Japanese. Under exceptional circumstances, the department may permit students to substitute for a language an advanced course that provides skills relevant to dissertation research, such as computer programming or mathematics. The language requirement must be fulfilled before the student is admitted to candidacy.

Master of Arts

Graduate assistantships are available for full-time M.A. students and carry a stipend. Students receiving such assistantships are required to take at least 12 credits per semester. Applications for assistantships should be sent to the chairman of the Department of Economics.

Doctor of Philosophy

Full-time students admitted to the Ph.D. program may apply for research assistantships which carry a stipend.

After having passed the comprehensive examinations, Ph.D. students are eligible to enroll in the internship program and may earn up to a total of 6 credits during the academic year (3 each semester). Internship opportunities are available in government agencies, private research institutions, and Howard University-affiliated institutions.

Master of Arts

A student must be physically in residence in the Graduate School for at least two semesters in order to be recommended for the M.A. degree.

Doctor of Philosophy

The completion of minimum course requirements or credits does not guarantee receipt of the degree. The student must have at least four semesters of residence and full-time study (at least 9 credits per semester) or the equivalent in the Graduate School, Howard University. Two of these four semesters of residence and full-time study, or the equivalent, have to be consecutive. No graduate student will be permitted to take more than 15 credits per semester.