Ph.D. in Economic Education
The University of Delaware offers a new innovative Ph.D. in Economic Education, run jointly by the Department of Economics and the School of Education and designed to train the next generation of leaders in this important and fast-growing field.
Traditionally, professionals and scholars in Economic Education have been trained in either Economics or Education, with little or no meaningful formal training in the other area. This is no longer an adequate model for training economic educators: the increasing complexity and importance of economics in today’s world requires a new generation of scholars and leaders who have a deeper understanding of both economics and education. Economic Education includes two distinct competencies, one in Education that involves primarily the teaching of economics in K-12 settings and one in Economics that involves education public policy issues (i.e., school financing, vouchers, testing, human capital development) and also the education production process at both the K-12 and post-secondary levels. This innovative new PhD program in ECONOMIC EDUCATION, jointly run by the Department of Economics and the School of Education, will bridge the gap between these related disciplines.
Graduates of the program will have a wide range of professional and academic employment opportunities, including University Departments of Economics and Education; Centers for Economic Education (approximately 300 nationally, most affiliated with universities); education units within regional Federal Reserve Banks and other private sector businesses and foundations with an interest in economic and financial literacy; school districts and state departments of instruction; and education consulting and evaluation firms.
The curriculum is evenly balanced between core coursework in Economics and in Education, including theory, research methods, and applied topics. Electives allow students to specialize in one area or the other, depending on student interests and strengths. The program can realistically be completed in four years following a B.A. or in two or three years for a student with substantial prior graduate training in Economics or Education. Program details are here. The program draws on the substantial strengths in graduate programs in Economics and Education at the University of Delaware and on the nationally recognized University of Delaware Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship.
Students do not need any special undergraduate preparation, although exposure to coursework in economics and statistics is strongly recommended. Strong students will be considered for financial aid. For more information or to initiate an application, contact Saul Hoffman, Chair, Department of Economics, or Gail Rys, Assistant Director, School of Education.
The application deadline is February 1.
Requirements
COURSEWORK IN EDUCATION:
- EDUC805 & EDUC806 – Proseminar in Education I and II
- EDUC850 & EDUC852 – Research Methods
- EDUC840 – Research Colloquium in Education
- Two of EDUC860, EDUC846, EDUC863, EDUC854 or other approved electives
COURSEWORK IN ECONOMICS:
- ECON801 & ECON802 – Microeconomics and Macroeconomics
- ECON803 & ECON804 – Applied Econometrics I and II
- ECON820 – Economics of Education Policy
- ECON829 – Design of Economic Education Curricula
- Three approved electives
FREE ELECTIVES (Education or Economics) - Two Courses
DISSERTATION
