UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ACADEMIC SENATE- Merced Division
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Economics Graduate Group
Ph.D. AND/OR MA DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Revised: March 25, 2020; October 25, 2021; December 15, 2021
Graduate Council Approval: December 17, 2021
Table of Contents
A. Introduction
1) Aims and Scope
2) Admissions Requirements
a) Prerequisites
b) Deficiencies
3) General Committees
a) Executive Committee
b) Admission Committee
c) Education Policy Committee
B. Master’s Degree Requirements
1) Degree Plan II- Non-thesis
a) Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
b) Course Requirements
i) Core Courses
ii) Summary
c) Advancement to Candidacy
d) Preliminary Exam
e) Capstone Paper
2) Advising Structure and Mentoring
3) Committees
a) Preliminary Exam Committee
b) Capstone Review Committee
4) Normative Time to Degree
5) Typical Timeline and Sequence of Events
6) Sources of funding
C. Doctoral Degree Requirements
1) Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
2) Course Requirements - Core and Electives
a) Core Courses
b) Elective Courses
c) Summary
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3) Special Requirements
4) Dissertation Plan
5) Advising Structure and Mentoring
6) Committees
a) Preliminary Exam Committee
b) 3
rd
year Paper Committee
c) Dissertation Committee
7) Advancement to Candidacy
8) Dissertation Requirements
9) Normative Time to Degree
10) Typical Timeline and Sequence of Events
11) Sources of Funding
12) Leaving the Program Prior to Completion of the PhD Requirements.
D. General Information
1) PELP, In Absentia and Filing Fee status.
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A. Introduction
1) Aims and Scope:
Economics is a social science discipline focused on the study of human behavior,
markets and the allocation of scarce resources. The discipline is increasingly problem-
centered and evidence based, with the goal of informing policy decisions both in the
private sector and the public sector. Consequently, contributing to the frontier of the
discipline requires a mastery of an expansive economic theory incorporating insights
from multiple perspectives in addition to rigorous training in state-of-the-art
quantitative methods. The goal of the Ph.D. program in economics at UC Merced is to
impart these skills and create researchers able to model complex real-world phenomena
and marshal available evidence in order to advance our understanding of human
behavior and facilitate efficient public and private policy. The program prepares
students for careers in research or public policy.
The program consists of a core set of classes in economic theory and quantitative
methods, followed by an econometrics-focused preliminary exam at the end of the first
year. After the completion of coursework, students choose a field specialization in
consultation with the Graduate Group Chair as well as a primary advisor. Field
requirements are satisfied through additional coursework and, ultimately, a dissertation
consisting of novel research which advances the frontier of scientific knowledge.
The Ph.D. program is designed to be full-time, and we do not accept students seeking
to attend on a part-time basis. The M.A. degree is offered as an option for students
admitted to the Ph.D. program, but we will not admit students seeking an M.A. as a
terminal degree.
2) Admissions Requirements:
All students seeking admission to the Economics Graduate program must complete a
formal application for admission. Applicants will use an on-line application to
streamline the process. Applications are reviewed by the Graduate Studies Committee,
which makes recommendations on admission to the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate
Education (VPDGE) (see Appendix B). The VPDGE makes final decisions on admission.
The deadline for receipt of applications is December 15 for enrollment in the Fall
semester. Enrollment in other semesters will not be typical, but may be considered on
an individual basis.
Materials to be submitted include:
• Official application form
• Application fee
• Official transcripts from all prior university or college attendance
• An official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score report (only the general tests are
required)
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• A statement of research interests and career goals
• Three letters of recommendation from instructors or supervisors who can comment
on the applicant's scholarly ability and promise as a researcher (letters from faculty are
preferred).
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language
Testing Service (IELTS) (where applicable). Any applicant who spent the majority of
their primary and secondary education in a nation/territory where English is not the
primary language must take an approved English proficiency examination prior to
admission. Proficiency in English may be demonstrated by passing one of two
standardized, internationally administered tests: TOEFL (the Test of English as a
Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Passing
scores are defined below. The applicant should take one of these tests at the earliest
available date to ensure that the scores are reported in time to meet application
deadlines. Applicants will not be admitted if they lack an acceptable proficiency score.
The minimum requirement for graduate admission to UCM is a bachelor's degree with
a grade point average of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale. Students who are required to take
the TOEFL or IELTS exam must score at least 550 on the paper-based TOELF score, 80
on the internet-based TOEFL exam (TOEFL iBT), or 7 on the IELTS exam. Performance
on the GRE, undergraduate grades, courses taken, accomplishments in undergraduate
research, and letters of recommendation will also be evaluated as important
determinants of an applicant's potential for success in graduate education. Students
with undergraduate degrees in Economics normally have a background that is well
suited to the graduate study in Economics; however, applicants with other degrees (e.g.,
Mathematics, Engineering, Political Science, Psychology) are strongly encouraged to
apply.
3) General Committees:
a) Graduate Studies Committee:
The Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) serves as the Executive Committee for the
Economics Graduate Group. As such the GSC subsumes the responsibilities of the
Executive Committee, Membership Committee, Educational Policy Committee and the
Admissions Committee. The GSC shall, in consultation with the Economics faculty,
determine and implement policy for the good of the Group, establish and guide the
educational requirements of the Group, and represent the interests of the Group to the
University and other agencies. The GSC shall consist of three elected members (two
core faculty members and the Graduate Group Chair). The GSC will make
appointments to ad hoc committees (e.g., Preliminary Exam Committee and 3rd year
paper committees) of the Group. The term of service to the GSC for each member will
be three years. Members can serve multiple terms subject to the voting requirements
for the GSC. The GSC will be chaired by the Graduate Group Chair. Voting rights for
all matters pertaining the duties of the GSC will be retained by the three members.
The GSC shall have the following duties:
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• Hear student grievances. Student grievances requiring adjudication may stem from
disputed examination results, GSR appointment termination, or other issues. Students
have the right to pursue grievances with the GSC, which will assemble, review pertinent
information, and provide a written summary to the Graduate Group Chair within 30
calendar days of notification of the student grievance. Extensions may be granted in
writing by the Graduate Group Chair when warranted by key parties on either side of
the grievance (e.g., extended travel obligations, illness). GSC members who have a
conflict of interest, for example if they are members of the examination committee that
a student grievance involves, will recuse themselves from the review process, but may
be interviewed by the remaining committee members. The Graduate Studies Committee
will rule on the case. Students have the right to appeal this ruling to the Vice Provost
and Dean of Graduate Education (VPDGE) within 30 calendar days. The VPDGE may
request that the graduate group’s Lead Dean and/or other appropriate parties
investigate the student's concerns or grievances and determine appropriate resolutions.
Ultimately, the final resolution of all disputes lies with the Dean of the Graduate
Division as described in UC Merced's Graduate Advisors Handbook. In the event that
the dispute involves the Graduate Dean in her/his role as a faculty member, then the
final resolution of all disputes resides with the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor.
• Establish and maintain documentation on the Economics Graduate Group
Curriculum.
• Prepare and execute all reviews of the Economics Graduate Group program, including
the seven-year review, WSCUC substantive changes, and other evaluations specified in
this document.
• In consultation with the program faculty, coordinate and document proposed changes
in programmatic requirements of the Economics Graduate Group program, and
presenting proposed changes to the voting body, Graduate Council and WSCUC as
needed. All changes to the programmatic requirements of the Economics Graduate
Group curriculum and associated requirements must be approved by vote of the eligible
Graduate Group Faculty.
• Review applications for admissions. The GSC will make recommendations for
admissions to the Dean of Graduate Studies and explore graduate student support
mechanisms.
• Recommend the allocation of intramural financial assistance, fellowships, and
awards for new and continuing students. The GSC will create and staff additional
committees as needed. Responsibility for the GSC duties may be delegated to an ad
hoc committee (e.g., Preliminary Exam Committee and 3rd year paper committees) as
GSC members see fit.
b) Duties of the Chair:
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Duties of the Chair:
• Oversee the progress of graduate students through the program, including
satisfaction of degree requirements and advancement to candidacy, in coordination
with group advisors, faculty and staff.
• Represent the group faculty in all matters related to the degree program(s) to the
Lead Dean, the Graduate Dean (VPDGE), the Graduate Council, and School Executive
Committee(s).
• Determine resource needs and administer program budget, in consultation with
group faculty, Lead Dean, and Graduate Dean.
• Oversee graduate student recruitment, graduate program website, admissions, and
financial aid, in consultation with group faculty, Lead Dean, and Graduate Dean.
• Determine graduate course offerings each semester, including curriculum changes,
in consultation with group faculty, and school staff and faculty involved in course
scheduling and teaching assignments.
• Determine graduate course resource needs for equipment, staff support, and other
resources, in consultation with faculty and Lead Deans.
• Serve as graduate group Faculty Accreditation Organizer by overseeing annual
program assessments and periodic program review, to monitor and maintain
academic excellence.
• Consult with Deans in selecting and reviewing graduate support staff.
• Coordinate participation of the graduate group in School and University program
activities, including graduate student fellowship and award programs.
• Develop and maintain a plan for promoting diversity among matriculated graduate
students.
• Manage and respond to program feedback and inquiries from faculty, students,
staff, and reviewers.
B. Master’s Degree Requirements
1) Degree Plan II- Non-thesis:
The Master’s of Arts in Economics (Type II) is not intended as a stand-alone degree, but
rather as an option for students admitted to the Ph.D. program. The optional M.A.
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serves as recognition of advancement in the degree program, though it is not a
prerequisite for advancement. Ph.D. students will have the option to obtain a Master’s
of Arts in Economics (Type II) degree, either en route to a Ph.D. degree (non-terminal),
or in lieu of a Ph.D. degree (terminal) if a student exits the graduate program prior to
fulfilling the Ph.D. requirements. The recipient of an M.A. degree is understood to
possess knowledge of a broad field of learning that extends well beyond that attained
at the undergraduate level but is not expected to have made a significant original
contribution to knowledge in Economics or to be able to use sophisticated
methodological tools to conduct independent research.
Requirements to receive the optional M.A. are:
• Complete at least two semesters of academic residency at UC Merced.
• Complete ECON 201A, ECON 201B, ECON 203A, ECON 203B, ECON 204/247
and ECON 210. Alternative equivalent courses may be substituted with the
approval of the Graduate Group Chair.
• Complete 24 units of graduate coursework, all taken for a letter grade.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Receive a “Master’s level pass” on the Economics Preliminary Exam.
• Complete a Capstone paper and receive a grade of “Pass” from all members of
the Capstone Review Committee. For students who have advanced to the third
year of the program, they may use successful completion of the 3
rd
year paper
to satisfy this requirement, as long as they obtain an overall grade of at least
Intermediate on the 3
rd
year paper from all members of the 3
rd
year paper
Committee.
a) Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
Recipients of the M.A. degree will demonstrate a thorough understanding of a
broad field of knowledge and provide evidence of accomplishment in the
economics discipline. In keeping with this goal, M.A. recipients will:
1. Have demonstrated knowledge and proficiency in economic theory and
econometrics.
2. Be able to communicate economic information verbally in a clear and concise
manner to expert and non-expert audiences.
3. Have demonstrated the professional skills required to participate in the
intellectual and organizational aspects of the economics profession.
b) Course Requirements
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i) Core Courses (total 24 units)
Course Number
Course Name
ECON 201A
Microeconomics I
ECON 201B
Microeconomics II
ECON 203A
Statistics/Econometrics I (or equivalent
approved by Graduate Group Chair)
ECON 203B
Statistics/Econometrics II
ECON 247 or
ECON 204*
Macroeconomics and Growth
Economic History
ECON 210
Applied Research Methods
Note: These courses are offered in alternate years.
ii) Summary:
Students wishing to receive the M.A. in Economics degree must complete all
six core courses listed above. In total, students must complete 24 units of
coursework and be in residency at UC Merced for at least two semesters. No
more than 12 units of graduate-level coursework may be completed in any one
semester. The student must enroll in at least 12 units of coursework each
semester.
c) Advancement to Candidacy:
Students who choose the M.A. degree en route to their Ph.D. (non-terminal) should
complete the relevant portions of the Graduate Division form Application for
Advancement to Candidacy and then the Final Report for the Master’s Degree
following the successful completion of the Capstone paper (or the 3
rd
year paper
may substitute for this requirement). M.A. requirements will have been met at this
point and the M.A. degree will be awarded, provided they meet the above criteria.
Students must be advanced to candidacy for their degree prior to the beginning of
the final semester of enrollment.
Students who opt for a terminal M.A. degree in lieu of the Ph.D. degree should
inform their Faculty Advisor and the Graduate Group Chair of this decision as
soon as possible and complete a change of degree form. Students must then
complete the relevant portions of the Graduate Division form Application for
Advancement to Candidacy.
d) Preliminary Examination:
The Preliminary Exam proctored for those students wishing to obtain a Master’s
of Arts in Economics (Type II) is the same as the Preliminary Exam proctored for
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the Ph.D. program. The Exam is based on the identical set of courses (ECON 203A
and ECON 203B) and will be taken at the end of their 1st year of study. When
students take the Preliminary Exam they must be registered or in current filing fee
status.
This exam consists of statistics/econometrics components and is graded by the
Preliminary Exam Committee. The exam will be offered at least once per year at
the end of the Spring semester; special additional offerings may be provided at the
direction of the Graduate Group Chair. First year students must take the
Preliminary Exam offered at the end of the first year. A grade of “master’s pass”
of the Preliminary Exam requires agreement by all members of the Preliminary
Exam Committee.
The Preliminary Exam Committee will grade all exams using the rubric outlined
in Appendix E5 of the approved proposal. A “master’s pass” will require less
command of the material than a “(Ph.D.) pass” and the Preliminary Exam
Committee must decide the appropriate level of performance. A student must
receive a grade of “master’s pass” grade from all of the Preliminary Examination
Committee members to satisfy the (Master’s) Preliminary Examination
requirement. A student who fails the exam will be allowed to retake it once, prior
to the start of the Fall semester. A student who fails the (Master’s) Preliminary
Examination twice will not be awarded the M.A. degree and will be unable to
continue in the program.
e) Capstone Paper
The final requirement to receive a M.A. degree is to complete a capstone paper. Appendix
E3 describes more fully the nature of the capstone and Appendix E10 provides the rubric
by which it will be graded. The capstone is not required to be an original research project
but to demonstrate a mastery of the economics literature on a particular topic, including
the methods used in that field. The faculty advisor aids the student in choosing a topic
and the final product can be in the form of a literature review, replication or partial
replication of an existing academic paper or other computational exercise. While not a
requirement, the Capstone may develop from a paper prepared in a core or elective
course. It is envisaged that students will draw on the material learned in the core or
elective coursework, and demonstrate their ability to synthesize knowledge and apply it
to a particular topic.
Students who pass the preliminary exam only at the master’s level and who wish to switch
to a terminal master’s degree will work on the capstone in the Summer after completing
the first year courses and submit it on a date set by the Graduate Chair before the start of
the next academic year. Students who wish to and are eligible to continue on in the PhD
program and receive the master’s en route may complete this requirement at a later date
and may also use successful completion of the 3
rd
year paper, obtaining at least a grade of
Intermediate from all of the 3
rd
year paper committee members, to satisfy the Capstone
requirement for the M.A.
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2) Advising Structure and Mentoring:
a. Faculty Advisor
Each incoming student is assigned to the Graduate Group Chair for advising. At
the end of the first year, in consultation with students and faculty, the Graduate
Group Chair will assign each student to a Faculty Advisor. The Faculty Advisor
must be a member of UC Merced’s Economics Department faculty. The Faculty
Advisor is expected to offer guidance in course selection and research foci. A
graduate student must have a recognized Faculty Advisor at all times.
The faculty recognizes that under certain circumstances there may be valid
reasons for a graduate student to want to change Faculty Advisor. Examples
may include personality conflict, changes in research interests, and resignation
of the Faculty Advisor from the faculty. If a student requests a change in Faculty
Advisor, the faculty members in the Economics Department are expected to
ensure a smooth transition that takes into account the needs of both the student
and the faculty involved.
When a student decides a change in Faculty Advisor is in his/her best interest,
he/she must obtain a clear commitment by the new Faculty Advisor to take on
this responsibility. The new Faculty Advisor then needs to inform the former
Faculty Advisor and the Graduate Group Chair of this change. A student should
typically have an advisor at all times but, in unusual circumstances during a
transition period, the student may nominate the graduate group chair to serve
as their advisor for a period of no more than two months. After this time, if the
student cannot find an advisor, they will be considered to be making
unsatisfactory progress in the program.
b. Graduate Group
The Graduate Group Chair, who is appointed by the Vice Provost and Dean of
Graduate Education, is a resource for information on academic requirements,
policies and procedures, and registration information. The Graduate Group
Coordinator assists students with navigating university resources and general
university policies. The Economics Graduate Group has adopted the Mentoring
Guidelines approved by the UC Merced Graduate Council, which can be found
at:
https://graduatedivision.ucmerced.edu/sites/graduatedivision.ucmerced.edu/fil
es/page/documents/ucm_mentoring_guidelines-_gc_approved_9_23_14-
2_1.pdf
3) Master’s Degree Committees:
a) Preliminary Exam Committee:
The Preliminary Exam Committee is a three-member committee appointed by the
Graduate Group Chair. Each member of the committee must grade the exam on a
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pass/master’s pass/fail basis. A student must receive a grade of “master’s pass” or
higher from at least two members of the Preliminary Exam Committee to satisfy
the Preliminary Exam requirement. Preliminary Exam performance is considered
by the faculty as part of the first annual review of the student’s progress in the
program.
b) Capstone Review Committee:
The Capstone Review Committee is a three-member committee appointed by the
Graduate Group Chair. Each member of the committee must grade the exam on a
pass/ fail basis. A student must receive a passing grade from all members of the
committee to be awarded the Master’s degree.
4) Normative Time to Degree:
Students should complete all coursework requirements for the Master’s degree in two
semesters total.
5) Typical Timeline and Sequence of Events:
Year One
Fall
Spring
ECON 201A –
Microeconomics 1
ECON 201B – Microeconomics II
ECON 203A – Statistics /
Econometrics I
ECON 203B – Econometrics II
ECON 247 –
Macroeconomics and Growth
*or* Econ 204 – Economic
History
ECON 210– Applied Research Methods
Preliminary Exam – two attempts
For terminal master’s students: Complete
Change of degree & Advance to Candidacy
Forms. Then complete the Capstone Paper
before start Fall semester next academic
year
6) Sources of Funding:
All students admitted to the Ph.D. program who are in good standing may be eligible
for year-round financial support, including payment of fees and tuition. Teaching
assistantships normally provide initial funding that can be supplemented by research
assistantships, fellowships or other forms of financial assistance including travel
awards.
C. Doctoral Degree Requirements
1) Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
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Recipients of the Ph.D. degree will demonstrate a thorough knowledge of a broad field
of learning and provide evidence of distinguished accomplishment through an original
contribution to the knowledge within the discipline. Consistent with this goal, Ph.D.
recipients will:
1. Have demonstrated knowledge and proficiency in economic theory and econometrics
at a level to make an original contribution to the discipline.
2. Apply their knowledge of the relevant theories and methodologies used in the
student’s major and minor specialization to critically evaluate the literature and identify
productive research questions.
3. Be able to communicate economic information verbally in a clear and concise manner
to expert and non-expert audiences.
4. Be able to conduct independent research in the economics discipline that makes an
original contribution to the literature.
5. Have demonstrated the professional skills required to participate in the intellectual
and organizational aspects of the economics profession.
2) Course Requirements - Core and Electives (total 52 units)
a) Core Courses (total 36 units)
Course Number
Course Name
Units
ECON 201A
Microeconomics I
4
ECON 201B
Microeconomics II
4
ECON 247
Macroeconomics and Growth
4
ECON 203A
Statistics/Econometrics I (or
equivalent approved by the
Graduate Group Chair)
4
ECON 203B
Econometrics II
4
ECON 204
Economic History
4
ECON 270
Applied Econometrics
4
ECON 210
Applied Research Methods
4
ECON 294
Paper Development
4
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Six of these courses must be taken in the first year unless otherwise approved by
the Graduate Group Chair. While courses taken toward a graduate degree at
another institution cannot be transferred for credit toward a Ph.D. at UCM, a
course requirement may be waived if an equivalent course was completed
satisfactorily at another institution. Students may petition the Graduate Group
Chair to waive any of these requirements. The General Petition form should be
used for all requests for waivers of course work.
b) Elective Courses (total 16 units)
Course Number
Course Name
Units
ECON 2XX
Field course 1, Field 1 (e.g., Labor)
4
ECON 2XX
Field course 2, Field 1 (e.g., Labor)
4
ECON 2XX
Field course 1, Field 2 (e.g., Public)
4
ECON 2XX
Field course 2, Field 2 (e.g., Public)
4
Students must take at least four 2XX-level elective courses, two courses for credit
toward each of two specializations, or “fields.” These field courses can be chosen
from among predefined two-course sequences associated with standard fields,
such as Labor economics. With the approval of the Graduate Group Chair and
with the student’s primary advisor, however, custom fields can be constructed
from two-course sequences taken wholly or partially outside of the Economics
department’s offerings. All field courses should nonetheless be 4-unit graduate-
level offerings. Enrollment in courses outside of the Economics department will
require approval of the host department’s Graduate Group Chair as well as the
faculty member teaching the course.
c) Summary:
In total, the Ph.D. program requires 52 total units of coursework: 36 units of
required core courses are common to all students in addition to 16 units of elective
field courses, two 4-unit courses in each of two fields. Each of these four field
courses, as well as the two fields, must be approved by the Graduate Group Chair
as well as by the student’s Faculty Advisor.
Courses that fulfill any of the program’s core or elective course requirements must
be taken for a letter grade. Moreover, no course resulting in a grade of lower than
B- can be used to satisfy these requirements. Once course requirements are
completed, students can take additional classes as needed, although the 12 units
per semester are generally fulfilled with a research class (ECON 295, ECON 299)
and seminars (ECON 292). Students in their third year and above should usually
be enrolled in the 4-unit class ECON 292 each semester and attend research
seminars (exceptions from this norm can be made when students have planned to
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work on their research at another location for an agreed period of time, in
consultation with their Faculty Advisor and the Graduate Chair). Note that
Graduate Division requirements stipulate that graduate students who receive
TA/GSR support must be enrolled in at least 12 units of upper division or
graduate-level units per semester and that per UC regulations students cannot
enroll in more than 12 units of graduate level courses per semester.
3) Special Requirements:
a) Teaching Requirement: N/A
b) Language Requirement: N/A
c) Preliminary Examination Requirement: All students must pass the Preliminary
Exam before the Fall semester of their 2nd year. This exam consists of written
questions covering statistics/econometrics and is graded by the Preliminary Exam
Committee. The exam will be offered at least once per year at the end of the Spring
semester; special additional offerings may be provided at the direction of the
Graduate Group Chair. First year students must take the Preliminary Exam offered
at the end of the first year. A grade of at least “pass” requires agreement by all
members of the Preliminary Exam Committee.
d) A graduate student must obtain a grade of (Ph.D.) pass on the Preliminary Exam by
the end of their
1
st
year in order to continue in the program. If a student fails to pass
the exam on the first offering, it will be offered a second time before the Fall semester
of their 2nd year. Failure to obtain a grade of (Ph.D.) pass on the exam at its 1st
offering will result in the student being declared to not be meeting satisfactory
progress in the program and potentially lose funding. Failure to obtain a (Ph.D.)
pass on the exam after two attempts will result in the student being disqualified
from the Ph.D. program (students may still receive a M.A. passing grade on the
Preliminary Exam and obtain an M.A. degree as described above). Students may
appeal the decision rendered by the Preliminary Exam Committee with all final
decisions rendered by the Graduate Group Chair.
e) 3
rd
Year Paper Requirement: All students must enroll in ECON294 in Fall semester
of their third year, a 4-unit class. They will submit a proposal for their paper at
the start of the Fall semester. Satisfactory progress during the Fall semester
involves submission of a final paper by the end of that semester. It is envisaged
that this paper will form the core of the dissertation proposal which is used to
advance to candidacy by the end of Spring of the 3
rd
year but this is not a
requirement. Students must receive a mark of “Advanced” or better from all
members of the paper committee in order to advance in the program. Grading of the
3rd year paper will be conducted by the 3rd year Paper Review Committee
appointed by the Graduate Group Chair.
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Students submit the 3
rd
year paper proposal to their Faculty Advisor at the beginning
of Fall semester of their 3
rd
year. It is the Faculty Advisor’s Responsibility to ensure
that the student is making progress throughout the semester towards successful
completion of the paper.
f) GPA Requirement: All students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Following
the first semester a student does not meet this standard, he or she will receive a
Notification of Unsatisfactory Performance and may be subject to academic
disqualification if satisfactory progress is not achieved within one semester. In
addition, students who have not demonstrated satisfactory academic progress are
not eligible for any academic appointment/employment and may not receive
fellowship support or other awards.
4) Dissertation Plan:
In accordance with University of California policy, a minimum of four semesters in
academic residence is required prior to awarding the Ph.D. Typically, a longer period
of study, four to six years, is required for completion of all degree requirements. It is the
responsibility of the Graduate Group to inform the student upon admission to the
program of the expected degree time. All graduate students are considered resident
graduates not candidates for a degree, unless admitted to candidacy after completion of
all candidacy requirements and approval by the Graduate Division after formal
application. A student advances to candidacy for the Ph.D. upon successfully
demonstrating a high level of scholarship at the Ph.D. level, and upon completing all
preparatory work and demonstrating readiness to proceed to the dissertation phase.
5) Advising Structure and Mentoring:
a. Faculty Advisor
Each incoming student is assigned to the Graduate Group Chair for advising. At
the end of the first year, in consultation with students and faculty, the Graduate
Group Chair will assign each student to a Faculty Advisor. The Faculty Advisor
must be a member of UC Merced’s Economics Department faculty. The Faculty
Advisor is expected to offer guidance in course selection and research foci. A
graduate student must have a recognized Faculty Advisor at all times. In the
event that a graduate student loses his or her Faculty Advisor for any reason, the
Graduate Group Chair will serve in this capacity until a new Faculty Advisor is
appointed, for a period of up to two months.
Student progress will be evaluated on a biannual basis. To this end, each student
and their Faculty Advisor will fill out a Progress Report at the end of the Fall
and Spring Semesters (see Appendix E8). It is expected that the Faculty Advisor
will consult with the faculty teaching courses in the sequence prior to preparing
the students biannual Progress Report. In the Spring semester of each year the
Graduate Studies Committee will also review the student’s Progress Report.
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Biannual Review continues until the student has completed an approved
Doctoral Dissertation.
A meeting is convened between the student and his/her Faculty Advisor prior
to the end of each semester, in which feedback is provided to the student both
orally and in writing. As part of each review, a determination must be made
whether the student’s progress on the whole is Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
This determination is then clearly communicated in written form and signed by
the Faculty Advisor. The student also signs the evaluation indicating
understanding of the evaluation and is given a copy of the evaluation. In the
Spring semester the Graduate Studies Committee must also sign off on the
Faculty Advisor’s assessment of the student’s Progress Report. In the case that
the Graduate Studies Committee feels changes need to be made to the student’s
Progress Report, these changes will be made in consultation with the Faculty
Advisor. The original is retained in the Economics Graduate Group files.
The faculty recognizes that under certain circumstances there may be valid
reasons for a graduate student to want to change Faculty Advisor. Examples
may include personality conflict, changes in research interests, and resignation
of the Faculty Advisor from the faculty. If a student requests a change in Faculty
Advisor, the faculty members in the Economics Department are expected to
ensure a smooth transition that takes into account the needs of both the student
and the faculty involved.
When a student decides a change in Faculty Advisor is in his/her best interest,
he/she must obtain a clear commitment by the new Faculty Advisor to take on
this responsibility. The new Faculty Advisor then needs to inform the former
Faculty Advisor and the Graduate Group Chair of this change. A Change of
Advisor Form will also need to be completed and submitted to the Graduate
Division for approval, before taking effect.
b. Graduate Group
The Graduate Group Chair, who is appointed by the Vice Provost and Dean of
Graduate Education, is a resource for information on academic requirements,
policies and procedures, and registration information. The Graduate Group
Coordinator assists students with identifying university resources and general
university policies. The Economics Graduate Group has adopted the Mentoring
Guidelines approved by the UC Merced Graduate Council, which can be found
at:
https://graduatedivision.ucmerced.edu/sites/graduatedivision.ucmerced.edu/fil
es/page/documents/ucm_mentoring_guidelines-_gc_approved_9_23_14-
2_1.pdf
6) Doctoral Degree Committees:
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a) Preliminary Exam Committee:
The Preliminary Exam Committee is a three-member committee appointed by the
Graduate Group Chair from among the Senate faculty with at least a 50 percent
appointment in the Economics department at UC Merced. Each member of the
committee must grade each exam on a pass/master’s pass/fail basis. A student
must receive a grade of “pass” from at least two of the three members of
Preliminary Exam Committee in order to satisfy the Preliminary Exam
requirement for the Ph.D. program. Preliminary Exam performance is considered
by the faculty as part of the first annual review of the student’s progress in the
program.
b) 3
rd
Year Paper Review Committee:
This committee will be formed by the Graduate Group Chair and consist of 3
faculty members from the graduate group. They will review submissions from
students enrolled in ECON294 at the end of the Fall semester. Appendix E6
provides a rubric for their grading. If all members award an overall grade of
Intermediate, then the student has satisfied requirements only at the M.A. level,
and if all members award an overall grade of Advanced or better, then the
student is making satisfactory progress towards the PhD.
c) Dissertation Committee:
The student, in consultation with the Graduate Group Chair, must form a
Dissertation Committee. The Dissertation Committee must be composed of three
members. Two of the three members are to be selected from among the Senate
faculty of the Economics group, with one of them serving as the Dissertation
Committee Chair. Either of these two members may be the student’s Faculty
Advisor. The third member of the DC must either be from another academic
institution or from another academic unit at UC Merced. The purpose of the third
member is to introduce the flexibility of providing input from another discipline
and/or to provide additional input on the research from leaders in the discipline
outside of UC Merced.
The first member to be selected is the Dissertation Committee Chair (DCC), who
will work in conjunction with the student to assemble the other two members of
the DC. The members of each student’s DC must be approved by the Graduate
Group Chair in Economics and the Dean of Graduate Studies prior to the
Dissertation Proposal Defense. Requests are formalized using the Request for
Constitution of Committee Membership form, which must be reviewed by the
Graduate Group Chair and Graduate Dean for approval.
The Dissertation Committee (DC) is charged with determining the readiness of the
student to proceed with the Doctoral Dissertation. The DC will review a proposal
of the student’s dissertation, conduct an oral examination of the student’s
competence in the area, and upon approval of the proposal and assurance that all
other requirements have been completed, recommend the student for
advancement to candidacy.
Economics- Policies and Procedures
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The composition of the Doctoral Dissertation Committee may be changed over
time to accommodate changes in the student’s research interests and available
faculty expertise. Any changes in the composition of the Doctoral Dissertation
Committee after its initial formation must be approved by the student’s Doctoral
Dissertation Committee Chair, the Graduate Group Chair and the Graduate Dean.
The Doctoral Dissertation Committee Chair may also be changed subject to the
approval of the Graduate Group Chair and the Graduate Dean. Requests are
formalized on the Graduate Division form Request for Reconstitution of
Committee Membership and must be filed with the Graduate Group Chair and
the Graduate Dean.
Following successful defense of the Dissertation Proposal and advancement to
candidacy, the Doctoral Candidate undertakes and completes the proposed
research under the supervision of their Dissertation Committee Chair.
d) Advancement to Candidacy:
Before advancing to candidacy for a doctoral degree, a student must have completed all
core and elective required coursework, must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all course
work undertaken and must have passed the Preliminary Exam (see Preliminary
Examination Requirements, below). In addition, the student must form a Dissertation
Committee, submit a Dissertation Proposal to this committee and then pass a
Dissertation Proposal Defense.
The Dissertation Committee must consist of two UC Merced Economics department
faculty and one external member, as detailed above. The DC is charged with
determining the readiness of the student to proceed with the Doctoral Dissertation. The
DC will review a proposal of the student’s dissertation, conduct an oral examination of
the student’s competence in the area, and upon approval of the proposal and assurance
that all other requirements have been completed, recommend the student for
advancement to candidacy.
The Dissertation Proposal provides at a minimum:
• a review of the relevant literature in the topical area;
• a clear, actionable statement of the research hypotheses to be investigated in the
Dissertation; and
• a defensible outline of the methodology used to address their research
hypotheses in the Dissertation.
The Dissertation Proposal should be no longer than 40 pages (double spaced) not
including references and appendices. Prior to conducting the Dissertation Proposal
Defense, the student should work jointly with the Dissertation Committee Chair until
the student and the Dissertation Committee Chair deem the Dissertation Proposal
Economics- Policies and Procedures
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sufficient to pass the Dissertation Proposal Defense. The student is encouraged to
submit the Dissertation Proposal to the other Dissertation Committee members for
informal review, feedback and revisions prior to the proposal defense. When the
finalized Dissertation Proposal is submitted, the Dissertation Committee should have at
least 14 days to review the Proposal prior to the Proposal Defense Meeting.
The student must consult with their Dissertation Committee Chair to schedule a
Proposal Defense meeting, at which all members of the Dissertation Committee must be
present either in person or electronically (Zoom, Skype, conference call, etc.). The
Graduate Group Chair is authorized to waive this requirement should mitigating
circumstances (i.e., sabbaticals) prevent faculty participation. Graduate students are
responsible for securing a room for the Proposal Defense meeting with a minimum of
two hours for the meeting. The Proposal Defense is open to the public and the student
is responsible for ensuring that the appropriate announcements are made regarding
their scheduled Proposal Defense.
The Proposal Defense is overseen and administered by the Proposal Defense Chair, who
is a member of the Dissertation Committee but cannot be the Dissertation Committee
Chair. This individual will oversee not only the execution of the Proposal Defense, but
also be responsible for the completion of all required documentation following the
Proposal Defense.
The Proposal Defense shall consist of an oral presentation of the proposed Dissertation
research conducted by the student, followed by questions from the Dissertation
Committee and possibly other audience members. At the conclusion the Proposal
Defense (not to exceed two hours) the graduate student and all non-Dissertation
Committee members will be asked to leave the room to allow the DC members to make
one of the following recommendations:
Pass: The proposal is passed and the student may commence with the proposed
research; or
Fail: The proposal requires major or minor revision
The vote must be unanimous in order for a student to pass the Proposal Defense. If the
student fails the Proposal Defense they are required to revise the Dissertation Proposal
and resubmit the proposal within three months. A student may conduct the Proposal
Defense only twice. Failure to pass the Proposal Defense on the first attempt may result
in the student being deemed to not be meeting satisfactory progress in the program. If
they do not pass the Proposal Defense on their second attempt they will be dismissed
from the graduate program. However, additional attempts can be granted by the
Graduate Group Chair should they deem the student to be capable of success on a future
attempt. If the proposal is passed the Dissertation Committee immediately extends its
deliberations to determine if the candidate should advance to candidacy.
The Proposal Defense Meeting must be conducted before the end of a student’s 3rd year
in the graduate program in order for a student to maintain satisfactory progress in the
Economics graduate program. The student must file the appropriate paperwork
(Advance to Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor Philosophy Form and Conflict of
Economics- Policies and Procedures
Page 20
Interest Form) with the Graduate Division and pay the candidacy fee in order to be
officially promoted to Ph.D. Candidacy. Students must be advanced to candidacy for
their degree prior to the beginning of the final semester of enrollment.
8) Dissertation Requirements:
a. General Requirements
The Doctoral Dissertation is the culmination of the Ph.D. program. In the Doctoral
Dissertation the Doctoral Candidate demonstrates the capability to conduct
independent research that makes an original contribution to the knowledge base
in their discipline and is of a quality that can be published in a reputable peer
reviewed outlet. The Dissertation Committee, headed by the Dissertation
Committee Chair, is charged with guiding the student in research and in the
preparation of his or her dissertation.
The successful completion of this final requirement is demonstrated through the
production of a dissertation document, describing the research project and its
results, and the defense of the project from challenges offered by the members of
the student’s Dissertation Committee. The quality of the dissertation and the
defense of its thesis are evaluated by the Dissertation Committee in order to
determine if the student has successfully completed this final requirement for the
Ph.D. degree in Economics.
While working on the Dissertation students must enroll in ECON 299. Students
are expected to complete the dissertation by the end of their 5th year of study and
encouraged to complete by the end of their 4th year if feasible.
b. Dissertation
Following successful defense of the Dissertation Proposal and advancement to
candidacy, the Doctoral Candidate undertakes and completes the proposed
research under the supervision of their Doctoral Dissertation Committee Chair.
There are no set criteria for dissertation length or content. Students are expected
to produce a body of work that contains a thorough review of the relevant
literature, is firmly grounded in economic theory and represents a substantial
contribution to the existing knowledge base in Economics. One of two formats is
typically used. Dissertations should be convertible to three separable articles or
represented as one topically related thesis. The format of the Dissertation
manuscript should be approved by all member of the Doctoral Dissertation
Committee, subject to any requirements made by the Economics Graduate Group,
the Graduate School, and the University Archives.
Once the Dissertation document is deemed satisfactory for circulation by the
student’s Doctoral Dissertation Committee Chair, the candidate will circulate the
Economics- Policies and Procedures
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dissertation among the other Doctoral Dissertation Committee members. The
Doctoral Dissertation Committee members should provide comments, possibly
leading to another revision before the final submission and the scheduling of the
Dissertation Defense. These comments should be provided in a timely fashion to
ensure that the candidate has sufficient time to make the suggested changes. The
completed dissertation must be provided to the entire Doctoral Dissertation
Committee at least 14 days prior to the scheduled defense date.
c. Final Examination
Once all members of the Dissertation Committee have read the dissertation and
agreed that it is ready to be defended, the student is expected to coordinate with
the members of the Dissertation Committee and schedule a date and time for the
Dissertation Defense. All members of the Dissertation Committee must attend the
Dissertation Defense in person or, under extenuating circumstances, via
conference call, Skype or Zoom. Graduate students are responsible for securing a
room for the Dissertation Defense with a minimum of two hours for the meeting.
The Dissertation Defense is open to the public and the student is responsible for
ensuring that the appropriate announcements are made regarding their scheduled
Dissertation Defense.
The Final Examination is overseen and administered by the Final Examination
Chair who is a member of the Dissertation Committee other than the Dissertation
Committee Chair. The Final Examination Chair can be the same individual who
served as the Proposal Defense Chair for the Proposal Defense. This individual
will oversee not only the execution of Final Examination, but also be responsible
for the completion of all required documentation following the Final Examination.
The Dissertation Defense is a capstone event in the student’s graduate career. It
consists of an oral presentation highlighting the research methodology and the
academic contribution of the student’s Dissertation. During the oral presentation
questions from the Doctoral Dissertation Committee and other audience members
will be fielded by the candidate. The candidate is tasked with responding to the
questions clearly, concisely and coherently to reflect their expertise. This portion
of the meeting is open to the public. Candidates are responsible for ensuring that
announcement of the Dissertation Defense time and location is made in the
appropriate forums.
At the conclusion of the candidate’s presentation and questions the public portion
of the defense will conclude. The Doctoral Dissertation Committee will excuse the
candidate and all non-Doctoral Dissertation Committee members to discuss the
candidate’s performance during the defense. Each member of the Doctoral
Dissertation Committee makes one of the following recommendations:
Pass: The dissertation and defense are of sufficient quality to warrant the
awarding of a Ph.D. degree from the University of California; or
Economics- Policies and Procedures
Page 22
Fail: The dissertation does not meet the standards of a Ph.D. degree from
the University of California.
In order for the candidate to pass their Dissertation Defense the committee
recommendation for passage must be unanimous. If the Doctoral Dissertation
Committee recommends awarding the Ph.D. degree, the committee members
must sign the Graduate Division form Report on Final Examination for the Ph.D.
Degree, recommending conferral of the Ph.D., subject to final submission of the
approved dissertation for inclusion in the University Archives (see Graduate
Policies &Procedures Handbook, Section VII. B.9).
9) Normative Time to Degree:
Normative Time to Advancement to Candidacy: Students making satisfactory progress
should advance to candidacy by the end of their sixth semester in the program.
Normative Time in Candidacy: After advancing to candidacy, students should schedule
their Dissertation Defense by the end of their tenth semester in the program, i.e., within
four semesters after advancing to candidacy.
10) Typical Timeline and Sequence of Events
For example:
Year One
Fall
Spring (first year exam completed)
ECON 201A - Micro
economics I
ECON 201B -Microeconomics II
ECON 247 – Macroeconomics
and Growth *or* ECON 204 –
Economic History
ECON 210 –Applied Research Methods
Econ 203A – Statistics /
Econometrics I
ECON 203B – Econometrics II
Preliminary Exam (1
st
attempt & retake as
needed)
Year Two
Fall
Spring
ECON 270 – Applied
Econometrics
ECON 2XX – Field 1, Course 2
ECON 2XX – Field 1, Course
1
ECON 2XX – Field 2, Course 1
ECON 202 – Macroeconomics
and Growth *or* ECON 204 –
Economic History
ECON 2XX – Field 2, Course 2
Year Three
Fall
Spring (advancement to PhD candidacy)
Economics- Policies and Procedures
Page 23
ECON 294 – 3
rd
Year Paper
ECON 2XX—Elective course
ECON 292 – Research
Seminar
ECON 292 – Research Seminar
ECON 299 – Dissertation
Development
ECON 299 – Dissertation Development
Dissertation Proposal Defense; Advance
to Candidacy
Year Four-Five
Write dissertation; enroll in ECON 292 (Research Seminar) and ECON 299
(Dissertation Development) as needed.
11) Sources of Funding:
All doctoral students in good standing are eligible for year-round financial support,
including payment of fees and tuition. Teaching assistantships normally provide initial
funding that can be supplemented by research assistantships, fellowships or other forms
of financial assistance including travel awards.
Non-resident international Ph.D. students who have not advanced to candidacy are
eligible to receive a Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition (NRST) award for their first
four semesters to specifically cover the NRST fee charged to their student account based
on the criteria below. They are also eligible for an additional two semesters of NRST
award that may either be used before candidacy, or be used three or more years after
advancing to candidacy (NRST is waived for the first three years post-candidacy for
international students). Ph.D. students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
classified as non-California residents are eligible only during their first two semesters
of graduate study at UC Merced. Please note that NRST awards are not guaranteed and
subject to available funds.
12) Leaving the Program Prior to Completion of the PhD Requirements:
A student admitted for the Ph.D. degree, which, in the judgment of the Economics
Department’s Graduate Studies Committee, should not continue past the master's
degree must be notified in writing by the Graduate Group Chair. A copy of the letter
must be sent to the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Education. In some cases a
doctoral student may choose to leave the program with a master's degree only. It is the
responsibility of the Graduate Group unit to notify the Graduate Division via the
Change of Degree form so that the student's record may be updated to reflect the
student's degree status. This notice must include the student's written permission to
have his/her degree objective changed officially from doctorate to master's.
D. General Information
1) PELP, In Absentia and Filing Fee status.
Information about PELP (Planned Educational Leave Program), In Absentia (reduced
fees when researching out of state), and Filing Fee status can be found in UC Merced
Graduate Policies and Procedures Handbook available on the Graduate Division
website.