MA / PhD in Economics: photo of the globe and numbers.

Application Requirements

Prerequisites

Applicants with a bachelor's degree may apply directly to the Ph.D. program. To be admitted as a regular M.A. or Ph.D. student, applicants must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or better for all undergraduate work completed. Applicants must also complete the general aptitude portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and receive a minimum combined score of 1000 for the verbal and quantitative sections and a minimum score of 3.0 for the analytical writing section (Note: applicants must take the new version of the GRE, which has been offered since October 1, 2002). International students must submit their scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or, alternatively, the scores on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

In addition, applicants are required to complete one semester of each of the following courses: intermediate microeconomic theory, intermediate macroeconomic theory, calculus, and statistics. Grades in these courses play an important role in admission and assistantship decisions.

The entrance requirements are minimum requirements for regular admission. Since there is limited space in each year's class, meeting these entrance requirements does not guarantee admission. Applicants not meeting all entrance requirements may be admitted on a provisional basis, subject to certain performance conditions during their first semester in residence. Applicants are strongly encouraged to take additional math courses beyond the required minimum. In particular, the second course of a calculus sequence and a course in mathematical economics would be quite useful.

GRE, TOEFL (or IELTS), and TSE

Applicants must take the general aptitude portion of the GRE and have official scores reported directly to West Virginia University. (Note: applicants must take the new version of the GRE, which has been offered since October 1, 2002). See the web site at www.gre.org for dates and locations of tests. This useful web site also includes sample tests and other preparation materials. (For additional practice materials check www.testprepreview.com ). The GRE must be taken by February 10 to be assured of its reaching West Virginia University by March 1. You can also obtain the GRE's Registration and Information Bulletin from the WVU Office of Admissions and Records, the Department of Economics, a college or university near you, or by contacting:

Graduate Record Examinations

Educational Testing Service
P.O. Box 6000k Princeton, NJ 08541-6000
Tel. # (609) 771-7670

Students whose first language is not English must obtain a score of at least 213 on the TOEFL exam (550 under the old grading system) or a score of at least 6.5 on the IELTS test to be admitted to graduate study. Go to www.toefl.org or www.ielts.org to register and find out more about the test.

WVU now requires graduate assistants who are not native English speakers to pass a "Speak Test" before they are allowed contact with undergraduate students. Even for research assisants, effective communication is important. For these reasons, the Department of Economics now requires all graduate assistants to pass the Speak Test by May of their first year as a condition for renewal of the Graduate Assistantship. Every Graduate Assistant will have at least three chances during the year to pass the test. The Speak Test is equivalent to the Test of Spoken English (TSE) administered internationally. Any students with a score of 50 or higher on the TSE will be exempted from taking the Speak Test. Generally, evidence of proficiency in spoken English will be considered a plus, but will not be a requirement for initial graduate assistantship awards. Go to the TSE site at www.toefl.org/edabttse.html#abttse for more information.

Letters of Recommendation and Statement of Goals

Three letters of recommendation, a résumé, and a statement of goals are required. Letters of recommendation should be completed on letterhead and either sent directly to the Department of Economics or sealed in an envelope with the writer's signature over the seal and included with the other application materials sent to the Department of Economics. Please include other supporting materials you wish to have considered with your application.

Graduate Assistantships

The application deadline to guarantee full consideration for an assistantship applications is March 1. Since applications for a graduate assistantship will only be considered after the applicant has been admitted to the graduate program, it is important that program admission credentials be submitted by the end of January. Most awards of graduate assistantships for the coming academic year are made in early March. To apply for an assistantship, simply check the appropriate box on the Economics Supplement for Admission Application below.

A limited number of graduate assistantships is available to full-time students enrolled in the Ph.D. program in economics. These positions are awarded to academically outstanding students on a competitive basis, using prior academic background and performance, and GRE scores as major criteria. Assistantship positions usually start in the fall of each year and conclude at the end of the spring term. The normal expectation is that assistantships will be renewed for a total of four years.

For international applicants we would like to point out a recent change in University and Departmental rules. WVU now requires Graduate Assistants to pass a "Speak Test" before they are allowed contact with undergraduate students. Even for research assistants effective communication is important. For these reasons, the Department of Economics requires all Graduate Assistants to pass the Speak Test by May of their first year as a condition for renewal of the Graduate Assistantship. Every Graduate Assistant will have at least three chances during the year to pass the test. The Speak Test is equivalent to the Test of Spoken English (TSE) administered internationally. Any students with a score of 50 or higher on the TSE test will be exempted from taking the Speak Test. Generally, evidence of proficiency in spoken English will be considered a plus, but will not be a requirement of initial Graduate Assistantship awards.

A graduate assistant works up to 20 hours per week assisting a faculty member in teaching or research efforts. Some graduate assistants may be assigned to teach selected undergraduate courses.

Graduate assistantships pay a stipend of a minimum of $9,000 for the academic year 2005-2006, fall and spring terms and include a waiver of tuition and most student fees. Several assistantships offer substantially higher stipends. Optional fees may be paid to obtain University services such as health benefits and entrance to athletic events. A health fee is required of international students.

Early applicants will be considered for University Doctoral fellowships.

Doctoral Fellowships

The W.E.B. Du Bois Fellowship for Black Graduate and Professional Students provides a stipend of $11,250 annually plus remission of tuition and mandatory fees for the academic year beginning August 16 and ending May 15. These fellowships are available to African-American graduate and professional students. Fellows are required to be full-time resident students for the entire calendar year. Students must be nominated by the faculty of the graduate or professional program admitting the student and recommended for the award by the dean of the college. Nominations by faculty must be received by March 1. Awards will be given April 1. Applications may be obtained from Donna Buckhalter, Office of Academic Affairs and Research, West Virginia University, PO Box 6203 Morgantown, WV 26506-6203; or Stuart Wells, Office of Admissions and Records, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6009, Morgantown, WV 26506-6009.

Arlen G. and Louise Stone Swiger Doctoral Fellowships award $20,000 annually plus remission of tuition and mandatory fees. The first priority goes to students planning to begin doctoral studies at West Virginia University in the fall semester. Second priority is for students currently enrolled at West Virginia University who will have completed less than one full year of study in the doctoral program. The fellowship is available to U.S. citizens based on academic merit. The award is given for one calendar year with renewal for a maximum of three years for beginning doctoral students and two years for students who will have completed up to one year of study in the doctoral program. Renewal is dependent on satisfactory academic performance. Recipients must be full-time resident students for the entire calendar year. Students must be nominated by the faculty of the doctoral program admitting the student and recommended for the award by the dean of the college. Nominations by faculty must be received by February 1. Fellowships are awarded on March 15. Applications may be obtained from the Office of Academic Affairs and Research or the Office of Admissions and Records (see contact information above).