Students must register for Ec 3000 in the spring term of their second year. The Ec 3000 paper must be complete and physically present in the student's file in the department's graduate office before the oral general exam can be taken. Advising Students in the first year of study are assigned a faculty advisor by the director of graduate studies. In subsequent years, students may either remain with the first year advisor or choose an advisor on their own. Within one year of passing the oral exam, students must assemble a thesis committee consisting of at least two faculty members.
Most students choose to have a member of their thesis committee also serve as their advisor.
This, however, is not required. Students choose the thesis committee which is responsible for conducting the dissertation defense and approving the thesis. This committee typically consists of three faculty members, one of whom must be a senior faculty member. One of the faculty members on the thesis committee may also serve as the student's main advisor. The General Written Exams General written exams in micro and macro economics are taken in the spring of the first year.