2025-2026 GRADUATE CATALOG {Editing in Progress}
Business Administration - Economics Concentration, (PhD)
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The Ph.D. in Business Administration with concentration in Economics at the University of Memphis is a 72-credit hour graduate degree with a rigorous curriculum providing core economic theory and applied analytical and empirical methods. We offer small class sizes, individual attention and flexibility in coursework.
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Admission Standards and Procedures
Admission Standards
Required:- A bachelor’s degree.
- Undergraduate grade point average that satisfies the Graduate School requirement of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
- Successful completion of at least one semester of calculus (MATH 1830, MATH 1910 or equivalent).
- At least one semester of statistics (SCMS 2710, MATH 1530 or equivalent).
- Test scores (either GRE or GMAT accepted). A GRE quantitative score of at least 155 is desired, but all applicants are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
- For international students only: if an English Proficiency Exam is needed, a score of at least 80 on TOEFL, 6.5 on IELTS, or 110 on Duolingo.
Suggested (but not required):- Additional semesters of calculus (MATH 1920 or equivalent);
- Intermediate microeconomics (ECON 3310 or equivalent);
- Intermediate macroeconomics (ECON 3320 or equivalent);
- Matrix or linear algebra (MATH 3242 or equivalent).
Also considered when evaluating applicants:- Undergraduate grade point average.
- Grades in math and economics courses.
When to apply
To be considered for funding, we suggest applying by March 31st. Coursework (72 credit hours)
A total of 72 credit hours of graduate coursework must be completed. A minimum of 39 hours must be taken at the University of Memphis. Economics Core Courses (27 credit hours)
Elective Courses (27 - 39 credit hours)
- Choose graduate level courses (7000 or 8000 level) offered by the Economics department (courses starting with prefix ECON).
- Maximum 3 elective course (9 credit hours) at the 6000 level can be taken.
- Graduate level courses offered by other related departments at the graduate level may be eligible. Any such courses must be approved by the PhD coordinator.
- No more than 6 hours of Independent Study (ECON 7910/8910) courses can be taken.
Dissertation Hours (6 - 18 credit hours)
- After completing the Comprehensive Exam, the student may enroll in dissertation hours.
- A minimum of 6 hours of dissertation (BA 9000) must be taken.
- No more than 18 hours of dissertation (BA 9000) credit can be taken.
Comprehensive Exam
The Comprehensive Exam consists of 2 Components: - Qualifying Exams, completed in the Winter of the second year.
- Oral Exam, completed at the beginning of March of the Spring semester of the third year.
See PhD handbook for details. Dissertation
Students must write and defend a dissertation. - Dissertation Committee: consists of at least four members, including the student’s main adviser (Chair) and other members of the graduate faculty. One of these four members must come from outside the Department. The student is responsible for identifying the members of the Dissertation Committee with the help of the adviser.
- Dissertation Proposal: when the idea for the dissertation has been approved by the Dissertation Committee, it must be presented to them.
- Dissertation Defense: After the Dissertation is approved by the Dissertation Committee, the Dissertation Defense must be scheduled according to the Presentation Guidelines. For style, format and submission guidelines and University deadlines, please visit https://www.memphis.edu/gradschool/current_students/tdguide_preparation.php
See PhD handbook for details.
Graduation Requirements
- Fulfill the above program requirements.
- Must be enrolled in the term of intended graduation (Fall, Spring or Summer).
- Must follow the process outlined by the Graduate School by the stipulated deadlines
- Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on all graduate coursework.
- No more than 7 hours of “C+,” “C,” or “C-” will be counted towards the degree.
Typical Sequence
Fall of year 1 - ECON 7300 Economic Theory and Decisions
- ECON 6810: Quantitative Economic Analysis
- ECON 8125: Applied Business and Economics Statistics
Spring of year 1 - ECON 8310 Advanced Microeconomics I
- ECON 6315: Applied Macroeconomics
- ECON 8810: Econometrics
Fall of year 2 - ECON 8320 Advanced Macroeconomics I
- ECON 8811 Applied Microeconometrics
- Elective course
Spring of year 2 - ECON 8812 Time Series Econometrics
- Elective course
- Elective course
Fall of year 3 - Elective course
- Elective course
- Elective course
Spring of year 3 - Elective course
- Elective course
- Elective course
Students are expected to complete the Comprehensive Exam requirement by the end of the Spring of year 3. Starting the fourth year of PhD study, the student is expected to enroll in dissertation hours until the dissertation is completed.
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