Type of Courses

The International Ph.D. program in Economics offers three major types of classes: (1) Lectures, (2) Non-lecture Courses, and (3) Research Practicum. In addition, (4) Prerequisites, courses typically offered at the Master’s level and recommended by the student’s committee, are available to fill in gaps in fundamentals.

1. Lectures (2 credits for one semester)

These are lectures by a faculty member or faculty members. Two major types of lecture exist:

  • International Ph.D. Program in Economics’ courses taught by a faculty member or faculty members.
  • Graduate School of International Social Sciences’ courses on thesis writing, presentation & discussion skills in English.

2. Non-lecture Courses

There are three types of non-lecture courses or interactive teaching courses.

  • Seminars Ⅰa, Ⅰb, Ⅱa, Ⅱb (2 credits for one semester)
    These are led by the student’s main advisor and can include directed reading, dissertation advising, etc.
  • Workshop Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ (1 credit for one semester)
    • Typically more than one faculty members and guest speakers participate in these. The student must take part in workshops, held on campus or off campus, designated by the main advisor.
    • Students are advised to register for workshops in the first year.
  • Workshops Ⅰand Ⅱare in the fields of International Economics and Labor Economics and must be taken in pairs. Workshops Ⅲ and Ⅳ are in the field of Comparative Economics and International Political Economy and must be taken in pairs.
  • Field Work Ⅰ, Ⅱ(1 credit for one semester)
    • Credits are awarded for field study, practice, and training, either domestic or overseas.
    • Field Work Ⅰand Ⅱmust be taken in pairs.

3. Research Practicum Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ (2 credits for one semester)

  • An approval by the student’s committee is required for course registration.
  • Up to 4 Research Practicum credits can substitute for lecture credits. Prerequisites and Research Practicum credits can total no more than 6 credits in all.
    • Research Practicum Ⅰis a research practice in such projects as joint study with government or industry, international joint study, and Field Work overseas. Research Practicum Ⅰis a prerequisite for Research Practicum Ⅲ.
    • Research Practicum Ⅱis a teaching practice in the master’s program.
    • Research Practicum Ⅲ is a conference presentation of research output from Research Practicum Ⅰ.

4. Prerequisites

These are courses, typically offered at the Master’s level (courses offered at the Bachelor’s level possible) and recommended by the student’s advising committee, to fill in gaps in fundamentals. The student must take prerequisite courses judged by the committee as necessary for the student to fill in gaps in fundamentals.


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