Economics Ph.D. Learning Outcomes

PLO 1. Core Knowledge

Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate a general knowledge of economics as would be expected of a faculty member of a research university.
• Demonstrate specialized knowledge of economics sufficient to carry out substantive independent and original research.

PLO 2. Research Methods and Analysis

Students should be able to:

• Understand the array of tools available for research in their fields of economics. Such tools include theoretical modeling and empirical analysis (econometric and/or experimental).
• Understand and critically evaluate research in their fields of economics.
• Identify and pursue an independent research project guided by previous research in theory and applied work.

PLO 3. Pedagogy

Students should be able to:

• Communicate effectively to audiences in pedagogical settings such as discussion formats and possibly large lectures.
• Assess students’ understanding of material covered in lecture, including developing and using appropriate measures and rubrics.

PLO 4. Scholarly Communication

Students should be able to:

• Structure a coherent academic argument that rigorously presents and evaluates evidence to support their claims.
• Review and cogently synthesize the relevant literature.
• Write at a level and style of English consistent with that found in leading academic journals.
• Understand and properly use styles of citing, referencing and formatting found in economics research outlets.
• Make clear and cogent oral presentations of their research.

PLO 5. Professionalism

Students should be able to:

• Prepare manuscripts that meet the standards of specific economic journals and respond appropriately to recommendations for revision.
• Select appropriate fellowship or grant opportunities and prepare competitive proposals for them.

PLO 6. Independent Research

Students should be able to:

• Develop their own research projects that meet high standards of theoretical and methodological rigor.
• Produce scholarship that is comparable in scope and format to articles that appear in leading peer-reviewed journals.

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