PhD experience in the US Eric J Wailes L.C. Carter Professor of Market Policy University of Arkansas

Overview Admission requirements Product differentiation Program requirements Evolution of PhD programs Careers and assessment of programs

Admission requirements Graduate Record Exam (GRE) – Quantitative – Verbal – Analytical TOEFL – foreign students Transcripts Statement of purpose

Key similarities among programs Economic theory core, typically taught by the economics department Quantitative methods, may be taught by either economics department or ag econ dept. Two or three fields of specialization, typically based on completing 2 to 4 courses in the sub- discipline. Most students funded as research assistants (teaching, project research, thesis research)

Product differentiation Key differences among Ph.D. programs – Relative strengths in sub-disciplines: marketing, production, natural resources, policy, international trade, institutional (journal pubs are useful indicators) – Critical mass of professors in sub-disciplines – Strength of economics programs for econ theory and possibly one field of specialization – Typical to do the M.S. at one university and go to another university for the PhD.

Examples of Program Requirements Univ.# FieldsFields Cornell4MicroMajorMinor Mich St4EconQuant.Spec. Minn4EconQuantSpec. Purdue4EconQuantAppl EcPolicy UC Davis5MicroAppl MicEcmetric2 Spec. Florida3 + 2EconQuantSpec.2 minors

Coursework requirements 1 year PhD level micro theory Min. 1 semester macro theory 1 year econometrics Specialization: 3 – 4 courses Minor specialization 2 – 3 courses Seminar

Course and Comprehensive Exams Course exams – midterm, final, term paper Comprehensive exams – Micro theory – Quant methods – varies – Specialization – written/oral – Oral defense Dissertation defense

Time requirements for PhD Typical minimum 3 years following 2 year M.S. degree Typical 4 – 5 years Maximum 7 years

Number of programs PhD in agricultural economics or sub-field 29 plus Size of programs – Students: 10 to 50+ – Faculty: 15 to 50

Evolution of content of U.S. PhD programs More quantitative: math stat, econometrics, positive programming, More theoretical: Econ departments become gatekeepers Structure of dissertation – Option to have 3 published journal articles Trend to joint degree programs with Econ departments

Demand for US PhD’s in Ag Econ Government/institutions – USDA/ Economic Research Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, – Congressional Budget Office, General Accounting Office – Office of Management and Budget International – IFPRI, World Bank, OECD, etc.

Demand for US PhD’s in Ag Econ Universities – Research/teaching – Extension NGOs – International – Environmental

Questions?

Importance that is/should be placed on curriculum components (Likert 1=most) Source: Lass (1997) * * Indicates significant difference * ** * *

Importance that is/should be placed on skill components (Likert 1=most) Source: Lass (1997) * * ** ** * Indicates significant difference