Is doctoral study right for you?
In the past, students who obtained a Ph.D. in Economics primarily pursued careers in academia, government, or with nongovernmental organizations. Today, the private sector, including hedge funds and technology firms, demands large numbers of individuals with Ph.D.s in Economics and related disciplines, with Amazon alone hiring hundreds of Economics Ph.D.s. Students with a passion for learning the most advanced theoretical and empirical techniques, undertaking original research, or teaching should consider obtaining a Ph.D.
If you are wondering whether graduate school in Economics or a related field such as Finance is right for you, we encourage you to reach out to Professor Felipe Goncalves for advice and to do so early in your undergraduate career. Preparation for graduate school takes time. Professor Goncalves can help you make the right decisions when selecting courses and majors, as well as when choosing the right graduate programs.
Build a strong quantitative foundation
In general, students who are pursuing an undergraduate Economics degree should be sure to supplement their economics coursework with additional math preparation beyond that required for a B.A. in Economics.
An undergraduate degree in Mathematics/Economics or Mathematics would also be useful preparation for graduate work in Economics.
Gain experience before applying
Research experience
We advise students interested in applying to Ph.D. programs to seek out opportunities to engage in research through:
- Work as a research assistant for faculty in the Economics Department
- The Undergraduate Research Fellows Program
- Writing an honors thesis
Departmental Scholars Program
Although spots are limited, you might also consider applying to our Departmental Scholars Program, which allows undergraduate students to take Ph.D.-level coursework and simultaneously pursue a B.A. and an M.A. degree in Economics. In addition to the academic training, this program will allow you to experience the tenor of a Ph.D. program.
UCLA Career Center resources
The UCLA Career Center offers personal assistance and programs on the graduate school application process.
For instance, the Letters of Reference Service at the UCLA Career Center allows UCLA undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni who pay an annual activation fee to store their letters of reference for graduate and professional school programs, as well as for faculty and postdoctoral research positions at the college and university level.
Recommended mathematics preparation
In addition to the standard courses required for the major, students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. program in Economics should include additional coursework in mathematics and statistics, particularly Linear Algebra, Real Analysis, and Differential Equations. Consider the following courses offered by the UCLA Mathematics Department:
Learn more about Economics Ph.D. programs
For additional information about applying to a Ph.D. program in Economics, please visit the resources below.
