Applied Economics and Management Ph.D. (Ithaca)

Field of Study

Applied Economics and Management

Program Description

A Ph.D. in the SC Johnson College of Business is a research-focused degree in one of our main faculty areas of specialization as listed below. These are disciplines that are key to any business and are taught at different course levels by expert faculty in each of our three schools. The choice of which of our three school-oriented fields of study to apply into depends on your interests and long-term plans. A Ph.D. in the Dyson School’s Applied Economics and Management field has a strong economics focus in its coursework, a Ph.D. in the Nolan School’s Hotel Administration field applies core business disciplines to hospitality contexts, and a Ph.D. in the Johnson School’s Management field appeals to students pursuing traditional business topics. Students in all three fields regularly work with faculty from across the entire college. 

The field of Applied Economics and Management’s STEM designated M.S. and Ph.D. programs are research oriented, and each requires a thesis or dissertation. Students are normally expected to obtain the M.S. or equivalent degree before entering the Ph.D. program. 

As part of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, PhD students in the field of Applied Economics and Management have many opportunities to collaborate across schools, where our faculty work and innovate together in targeted disciplines through faculty areas in:

• Applied Economics and Policy
• Accounting
• Finance 
• Management and Organizations
• Marketing and Management Communication
• Operations, Technology, and Information Management
• Services Management 
• Strategy and Business Economics 

These are disciplines that are key to any business and are taught at different course levels by expert faculty in each of our three schools. To learn more about the PhD programs in the SC Johnson College of Business and our targeted discipline areas and research faculty, please visit the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business Website.

Contact Information

351 Warren Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-7801

Concentrations by Subject

• behavioral finance (M.P.S. only)
• behavioral marketing (M.P.S. only)
• business of food (M.P.S. only)
• environmental, energy, and resource economics (EERE) (M.S., Ph.D.)
• food and agricultural economics (FAE) (M.S., Ph.D)
• international and development economics (IDE) (M.P.S., M.S., Ph.D.)
• management (M.S., Ph.D.)
• sustainable business and economic policy (M.P.S. only)

Tuition

Visit the Graduate School's Tuition Rates page.

Application Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadlines:

Fall, Dec. 15

Requirements Summary:

An undergraduate major in agricultural economics is not required for admission, but a lack of intermediate-level economics is a deficiency that will lengthen the student's program. First-year calculus is also important for Ph.D.-level work.

• all Graduate School Requirements, including the English Language Proficiency Requirement for all applicants
• two recommendations required

Learning Outcomes

The crucial outcome of graduate study in the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management is the identification, conceptualization, resolution of, and recommendations for important economic problems of a local, regional, national and global nature. To this end, the Dyson graduate student is trained in a problem centric environment to examine issues from an economic point of view, generating hypotheses based on economic principles, and empirically testing these hypotheses. The key learning objective is to create lifelong learners and independent thinkers with a toolkit of sufficient sophistication to adapt to problems as they arise.

At the MS level, we seek sufficient rigor in thesis research as a transitional phase to doctoral research or employment in the private or public sectors. At the doctoral level we seek the highest quality of research with the aim of publishing research in high quality journals and making sure that our students can be placed in leading academic departments.

Proficiencies that are required to be demonstrated by the candidate (both MS and PhD):

Make an original and substantial contribution to the discipline:

• Show your ability of independent thinking and creativity
• Identify new research opportunities in field

The ability to acquire and communicate advanced research skills

• Bring together existing knowledge, identify, and seek out resources, information
• Evaluate and apply your own research findings as well as those of others. Apply research findings as appropriate
• Master and/or innovate research methodologies, and techniques
• Master communication skills for oral and written information exchange

A commitment to advancing scholarship

• Maintain familiarity with advances in the field
• Engage and communicate findings via professional publications, participation in professional societies, research seminars and other modes of communication
• Support learning—through teaching, collaborative inquiry, mentoring, or demonstration

Demonstrate professional skills

• Advance ethical standards in the field
• Listen, give, and receive feedback effectively