Business Economics
Program of Study
• Each candidate’s program of study will be developed in consultation with the chair of the Programs and Admissions Committee. The normal program is outlined below.The First Two Years
The First Year
• Three one-term courses in economic theory (Econ 2010 a, b, and c); and• Two one-term courses in graduate quantitative methods (Econ 2110 and 2120) or a more advance course in econometrics are required
• One additional one-term graduate level economics course is required. This could be Econ 2110d or any other preparatory course for advanced course work in the second year. The advisor’s approval of the course selected for this requirement is necessary. The course could be, for example, additional mathematics, statistics, or psychology, at the graduate level.
• All courses should be completed with a grade of B or better.
• A written general exam in microeconomic theory is required; students must pass this exam with a grade of B or better.
Advising
• The Policy and Admissions Committee designates faculty members at the Business School and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as sponsors for each student upon entrance into the Business Economics program. The sponsors, in conjunction with the Doctoral Programs office at Harvard Business School (HBS), will assist the student in deciding which courses to take and how to fulfill various degree requirements. It is expected that students will establish relationships with other faculty members, and it is possible that the major academic advisory role may be assumed by different faculty members in the dissertation stage of a candidate’s program. However, students are strongly advised to consult with the sponsors and with the officers of the PhD programs during all stages of PhD work.The Second Year
• A one-term course in business history is required.• Students without an MBA should begin to take some of the five MBA elective curriculum courses they are required to complete. Students with an MBA are required to take one HBS/MBA general management elective.
• The preparation of the special field begins. The special field should represent some synthesis of an area or areas of study in business administration with appropriate complementary areas of economics. In preparing the special field, the student nominates an ad hoc committee consisting of three faculty members (including one member from the Department of Economics and one from the Business School) to supervise the field preparation and administer the special field examination. The student will then prepare the special field by taking appropriate courses and readings, and by consulting with the Special Field Committee.
• Successful completion of the oral Special Field Examination.
Subsequent Years
MBA Courses• Students without an MBA should complete the required five MBA one-term courses by the end of their third year.
Teaching
• The student either will work with a member of the HBS faculty as a course assistant for a one-term MBA course, or with a faculty member of the Department of Economics as a course/teaching assistant for a one-term course.
The Dissertation
• After passing the Special Field Examination, the student is assigned a faculty dissertation committee consisting of three members of the Harvard faculty; two of whom must be members of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (one must be in the Department of Economics and one must be from the Business School).• The dissertation proposal should be completed within one year of the successful completion of the Special Field Examination.
• After the proposal has been approved by the dissertation committee, the student will proceed to complete the research. The dissertation should demonstrate the candidate’s ability to perform original research that develops in a scholarly way a significant contribution to the knowledge and understanding in the chosen special field. The requirement is that the analysis and evaluation of relevant data yield significant and independent conclusions.
• Students writing their dissertations are required to present their research in progress before a working seminar in either the economics department or the Business School. Students often make several such presentations, at least once a year.