Navigating your way through the PhD program

Students may enter the doctoral program either with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Students entering with a Master’s degree will take six courses, or 24 semester hours of credit. Students entering with a Bachelor’s degree will take six master’s-level courses before beginning their doctoral coursework, for a total of 48 semester hours of credit.

Core courses at the master’s and doctoral level are focused on developing an advanced theoretical and quantitative foundation (Macroeconomic, Theory, Microeconomic Theory, and Applied Econometrics). The remainder of the coursework is focused on the sophisticated application of analytical tools in the chosen field of concentration. Completion of the core courses must precede completion of field courses.

We expect all PhD students to take three classes per semester as necessary to complete coursework in the minimum number of semesters. Sample sequences for students entering with an MA and with a BA are below. Students funded by other means do not necessarily have to follow the exact sequences below.

Sample PhD Sequence for students entering with a BA
SEM 1SEM 2SEM 3SEM 4SEM 5
ECON 5105ECON 5120ECON 7710ECON 7720FIELD 1 (a)
ECON 5110ECON 5140ECON 7740FIELD 1FIELD 2 (a)
ELECTIVEFIELD 2
Sample PhD Sequence for students entering with a MA
SEMESTER 1SEMESTER 2SEMESTER 3
ECON 7710ECON 7720FIELD 1 (a)
ECON 7740FIELD 1FIELD 2 (a)
ELECTIVEFIELD 2

Electives include ECON 7200 – 7299 & ECON 7976

F-1 students who receive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees, and who meet other requirements  are eligible to apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT. Information about eligibility is available at https://www.northeastern.edu/ogs/24-month-stem-extension