CRITERIA FOR
RECOMMENDING RENEWAL OF ASSISTANTSHIPS
The faculty of the Department of Economics
wish to ensure that as many students as possible complete the requirements for
their doctoral degree in a timely manner (four to five years). The criteria for renewing assistantships
described below reflect that objective.
As long as students meet these criteria, they will keep on track for a
timely completion of their Ph.D. requirements and may be reasonably assured of
retaining financial aid through their fourth year in the program, unless
otherwise specified in the initial offer letter. If there is strong evidence that a student
will complete all degree requirements during the fifth year, the department
makes every effort to provide financial support; but such funding is less
certain.
Academic
Criteria for Renewal of Assistantships: The criteria set out
below are guidelines. Exceptions may be
made, especially when there are unusual circumstances.
1.
At all times, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA
of 3.00 for all coursework and for all 700-level economics coursework taken
while in the graduate program.
2.
Successfully complete Economics 701, 702, and 721 in Fall of Year 1.
3.
Successfully complete Economics 711, 712, and 725 in Spring of Year 1.
4.
Attempt the Microtheory and Macrotheory comprehensive exams in Summer
at the end of Year 1. Pass both theory
comprehensive exams by January of Year 2.
5.
Successfully complete Economics 726 and two field courses in Fall of
Year 2.
6.
Successfully complete Economics 727 and the second courses of two fields
in Spring of Year 2, and enroll in
the dissertation workshop at least one semester in Year 2.
7.
Attempt two field comprehensive exams during Summer
at the end of Year 2. Pass both field
comprehensive exams by January of Year 3.
8.
Successfully complete at least one of the two graduate level elective
courses by Fall of Year 3.
9.
Successfully complete the last graduate level elective course (if this
has not been completed previously) and register for the dissertation workshop
(Economics 709) in Spring of Year 3.
Choose a dissertation chair by Spring of Year 3 at the latest.
10.
Successfully defend a dissertation proposal preferably by May of Year 3,
but in any event by November 15 of Year 4.
11.
Make acceptable progress on a dissertation as attested to by the
dissertation advisor.
Other
Criteria for Retaining an Assistantship
1. Discharge assistantship duties in a
satisfactory fashion.
2.
Do not hold any other form of paid employment during the fall or spring
semester without the written consent of the Chairperson of the Department of
Economics and the Director of Graduate Programs of the
3.
Do not hold more than one position of employment with the University at
any given time.
4.
Maintain continuous registration as a full-time student (nine
credit-hours each semester).
The latter two
criteria are University regulations that cannot be waived by the Department of
Economics or the
Financial
assistance is always contingent on availability of funds and, therefore, could
be affected by budget reductions. To
date, however, the department has not had to unexpectedly withdraw or fail to
renew an assistantship solely due to funding cuts.
Approved October
1996
Revised course
numbers, April 2002