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Letter from the Director of Graduate Studies
Thank you
for your interest in the graduate economics program. This web site describes
our program and faculty. Let me begin with a brief description of our graduate program. The Ph.D.
program provides training for careers in both teaching and research by emphasizing
theory, quantitative methods and early involvement in research.
The success of the program is reflected in our graduates' job placements, which include major universities, such as Chicago, Columbia, UCLA, Michigan
State, and excellent undergraduate institutions, such as Carleton and
Brandeis. In a recent survey, UVA ranked fourteenth among graduate
programs in academic placement. Many students
also find summer or permanent employment in the nearby Washington area,
e.g., at the International Monetary Fund and the Federal Reserve Board
of Governors.
About twenty-five people enter the graduate program each year. At any
given time there are approximately one hundred students in residence.
Classes are small and students are able to work closely with faculty.
Graduate students are provided with computer labs, equipped with up-to-date
PCs, and a wide selection of software.
Besides taking the core courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and
econometrics, doctoral students choose two fields of specialization from: Industrial
Organization, International Economics, Macroeconomics, Public Economics,
Econometrics, Theory, and Labor. Virtually all graded courses can be completed by the end of the second year, so that
students can begin dissertation research at an early stage (typically in the summer after the second year). During
the third and fourth years, students are active in one or more of the
regularly scheduled workshops: Theory, Applied Microeconomics, Macroeconomics,
Public Economics, Econometrics, Development and International Economics.
Let me make a few comments on the application process. First of all, we do not offer a terminal master's degree in economics. If you seek a terminal master's degree, ours is not a program you should be considering.
Applications and all credentials must be submitted through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The Graduate
School routinely returns applications if they lack a signature below the
honor system statement at the bottom of page 3 or if the application fee
of $60.00 has not been included. The Department of Economics does
not waive the fee of $60.00, although the Dean of Admissions may in special
circumstances. Please contact me directly if you think that your
application may arrive late or if your application is returned to you
for a reason that you think is inappropriate.
If you decide to apply for financial aid, it will not affect your chances
for admission. Several forms of financial assistance are available
to beginning graduate students in the Ph.D. program. Teaching assistantships
are usually reserved for students with a strong background in mathematics,
economics and demonstrated a proficiency in English. We typically offer fellowship money to supplement the teaching assistant stipend. TAs also receive a tuition waiver and health insurance. If you wish to
apply for a fellowship or other financial aid for the academic year beginning
September 2009, your application and all supporting documents should reach
the Dean of the Graduate School by February 1, 2009. We admit students
only for the fall semester. Most financial aid decisions are made
in early April. Please note that you will need to present scores
from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), but the GRE advanced test
in economics is not required.
I look forward to seeing your application after the Dean reviews it.
Leora Friedberg
friedberg@virginia.edu
Director of Graduate Studies
If your inquiry is fairly routine, save a step by reviewing our Frequently Asked Questions. If your question is not answered here, please send an e-mail to
Patty Futrell, the Graduate Secretary, at plf6n@virginia.edu.
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