The Ph.D. Program in Economics at Georgia Tech has research strengths in the applied areas of health, energy and environmental economics, global development, international economics, market design, and game theory. Underpinning all our applied fields are strengths in microeconomic theory and statistical methods. During the first year of the program, students concentrate on the core areas of econometrics and microeconomic theory. In the second year of the program, students choose one or more fields of specialization and begin focusing on their dissertations.
Program Highlights
- Enthusiastic faculty to mentor students
- High faculty-to-student ratio
- Exceptional research opportunities at the Health Economics and Policy Innovation Collaborative (HEPIC), the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), the Atlanta Research Data Center (ARDC), and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Ph.D. Program certification1
- Core curriculum strengths in microeconomic theory and an exceptionally strong econometrics sequence
- Georgia Tech Ph.D. Interdisciplinary Minor
- Tech to Teaching Certificate for the graduate teaching assistants, including opportunities to teach your own courses
- Competitive financial support for select students
- Georgia Tech’s location in the dynamic Midtown area of the city of Atlanta, one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country
Funding
We offer competitive support packages through the Georgia Tech Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantships for select students. Students are encouraged to research outside scholarship opportunities as well.
Non-Georgia Tech Scholarship Resources
Application
Newly admitted Ph.D. students start their program in the Fall semester of each academic year. The application deadline for the Ph.D. in Economics program is Feb. 1 for admission in the Fall semester.
To be considered, applications must be completed with all supplemental materials submitted to the Georgia Tech Office of Graduate Studies by Feb. 1. Please contact Justin Burkett for more information.
The School of Economics does not provide application fee waivers directly; however, there are a number of programs that provide waivers based on the applicant's particular circumstances listed on the Graduate Education website.
Careers
Graduates pursue careers in academia, government, and the private sector, with positions at universities, federal agencies, and leading corporations. Since graduating our first class in 2015, our candidates have received job offers from the following institutions.
Academic (U.S. and Canada)
- Allegheny College (tenure track)
- Arizona State University (postdoc)
- Berry College (visiting faculty)
- Clarkson University (tenure track)
- College of Wooster (tenure track)
- Georgia Tech (tenure track)
- Illinois College (tenure track)
- Harvard University (postdoc)
- University of British Columbia (postdoc)
- University of Texas, Rio Grande (tenure track)
- University of Virginia (visiting faculty)
- Wayne State University (lecturer)
- Widener University (tenure track)
Academic (International)
- Beijing Normal University (tenure track)
- Hunan University (tenure track)
- Shanghai Finance University (tenure track)
- Shanghai International Studies University (tenure track)
- University of International Business and Economics (tenure track)
Government
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (postdoc)
- US Bureau of Economic Analysis
- US Census Bureau
- US Food and Drug Administration
Private Sector
- Cadmus Group
- Citibank
- First Horizons Bank
- Intercontinental Hotel Group
- RBC Insurance
- SunTrust Bank (Truist Bank)
- Wells Fargo
1STEM certification also benefits international students who can, upon graduation, apply for a STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) visa extension that allows them to work in the United States for up to 29 months rather than one year.