School of Economics

The goals of the Research Development & Presentation Workshop are threefold. First, the workshop provides an extra incentive for students to start working early on the topic of their third year paper, since students will present papers closely related to their third year papers to peers and the instructor. Second, the workshop provides each student with regular feedback from the instructor and peers on the student’s ability to deliver lectures. Third, the workshop serves the purpose of enhancing the student’s ability of writing a research paper. Students will not only present papers closely related to their own, but will also discuss papers presented by peers, evaluate their peers regarding presentation skills and present the first drafts of their third year papers at the end of the term.

School Seminars provide students with an opportunity to get involved in the research life of the Department. They also enable students to start acquiring key presentation skills. Each student is required to attend all School seminars each semester, starting in the fall semester of the second year. The Director of Graduate Studies keeps an attendance list, and students will have to submit weekly reports summarizing the papers presented. Absences must be justified in writing – copies of such documents are kept in the student’s file together with other student records. Absences may affect the student’s eligibility for funding or the amount of funding in the subsequent semester. At the end of each semester, the Director of Graduate Studies evaluates the students’ performances and issues “pass” or “no pass” grades. Those who receive pass grades will earn three credits. Each student must earn a minimum of 18 Seminar credit hours to graduate.

In addition to the School Seminar, students must also register each semester for Dissertation Research, starting in the fall semester of the third year. In such a semester, students must register for at least six hours of Dissertation Research. In every subsequent semester, students must register for at least nine hours of Dissertation Research. Students must complete a minimum of 33 Dissertation Research credit hours to graduate.