This economics department page is focused on preparation for academic studies in economics (or closely related disciplines such as finance). Wesleyan’s Gordon Career Center maintains in general, with a particular focus on preparation for non-academic careers. The GCC page will help students who are interested in degrees such as terminal masters degrees, MBAs, and JDs; this page will help only those students who are interested in PhDs.

 

General advice about graduate studies in economics

  • American Economic Association
  • The Committee on the Status of Women in the Economic Profession recently published this .
    • Please see in particular the article that begins on page 5 of the report outlining the five pathways students typically follow to graduate studies in economics.
    • It is increasingly common for students to do a pre-doctoral fellowship or research assistantship in between undergraduate and graduate studies. is the central clearinghouse for pre-doctoral fellowships. The NBER maintains a good list of.
  • prepared by the American Economic Association
  • prepared by Professor Jevay Grooms

 

Academic research preparation

  • All upper-level electives and Econ 300: have a mandatory substantial research project, which typically is a long research paper.
  • Honors theses: this is an opportunity for students to explore a topic in depth over an extended period of time.
  • Summer: Students may participate in research with professors, not just in economics, through the Quantitative Analysis Center Summer Apprenticeship. Interested students should ask faculty about possible openings in Dec-Feb, and may also want to talk with Professor Kaparakis of the QAC.
  • Academic year: There is no formal listing of such roles. Interested students should ask faculty about opening as far in advance as possible.
  • Post-graduation: is the central clearinghouse for pre-doctoral fellowships and the maintains a list of research assistant positions

 

Math preparation

  • for graduate studies
  • Wesleyan economics faculty have compiled the following recommendations based on recent alumni who were or were not accepted to PhD programs in economics. We note that some students may be admitted to some graduate programs without these classes but they may then have to play catch-up during the first year of graduate school, a year which is already quite demanding.

 

WesMaps Course

Subject

Essential

Very useful

Extra

Econ 385

Econometrics

***

 

 

Math 121-122

Calculus

***

 

 

Math 221 or 223

Vectors and Matrices or Linear Algebra

***

 

 

Math 222

Multivariable Calculus

***

 

 

Math 225

Real Analysis

***

 

 

Math 228

Discrete Mathematics

 

**

 

Math 229

Differential Equations

 

**

 

Math 231

Probability

*

*

 

Math 233

Stochastic processes

 

 

*

Math 244

Topology

 

**

 

Math 273

Combinatorics

 

*

*

Note: each asterisk denotes roughly 3-5 faculty who expressed a particular opinion

 

Alumni in the profession

This page includes all the alumni whom we know received a masters or PhD in economics (not professional/vocational degrees such as MBAs).

Please notify the department chair or administrative assistant if you know of any omissions.

 

Programs to support under-represented students

Note: Wesleyan’s Mellon Mays and McNairs programs exclude economics as an eligible field of study.

This is probably a very incomplete list of programs that are operational now. Please notify the department chair or administrative assistant if you know of any omissions.