Graduate Field
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.
Concentrations
- 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.)
- Strategy and business economics (Ph.D.)
Program Information
- Instruction Mode: In Person
- Location: Ithaca, NY
- Minimum Credits for Degree: 72
Program Requirements
- Minimum Semesters for Degree: 10
Graduate School Milestones
- Responsible Conduct of Research Training: Required
- Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID): Required
- Student Progress Reviews (SPR) begin: First Year
- Examination for admission to candidacy (A Exam): Spring of third year
- Defense of Dissertation (B Exam): Spring of fifth year
Course Requirements
Additional course requirements may be set by the student’s Special Committee as required for developing a research program aligned with the proposed thesis topic, potentially included credits for thesis research from AEM. Program specific requirements that apply to all students are included below.
Year 1 (Fall)
Year 1 (Spring)
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| AEM 7020 | Applied Microeconomics I: Applied Game Theory 1 | 3 |
| AEM 7021 | Applied Microeconomics II: General Equilibrium 1 | 3 |
| AEM 7100 | Econometrics I 1 | 3 |
| AEM 7010 | Doing Applied Economics Research: Practical Skills | 3 |
Year 2 (Fall)
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| AEM 7150 | Applied Microeconomic Research 2 | 1.5 |
Year 2 (Spring)
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| AEM 7151 | Applied Microeconomic Research II 2 | 1.5 |
Area Required Courses
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| Food and Agricultural Economics II | |
| Resource Economics | |
| Environmental Economics | |
| Microeconomics of International Development | |
| Microeconomics of International Development II | |
| |
University Graduation Requirements
Requirements for All Students
In order to receive a Cornell degree, a student must satisfy academic and non-academic requirements.
Academic Requirements
A student’s college determines degree requirements such as residency, number of credits, distribution of credits, and grade averages. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the specific major, degree, distribution, college, and graduation requirements for completing their chosen program of study. See the individual requirements listed by each college or school or contact the college registrar’s office for more information.
Non-academic Requirements
Conduct Matters. Students must satisfy any outstanding sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed or agreed to under the Student Code of Conduct (Code) or Policy 6.4. Where a formal complaint under the Code or Policy 6.4 is pending, the University will withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the adjudication process set forth in those procedures is complete, including the satisfaction of any sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed.
Financial Obligations. Outstanding financial obligations will not impact the awarding of a degree otherwise earned or a student’s ability to access their official transcript. However, the University may withhold issuing a diploma until any outstanding financial obligations owing to the University are satisfied.
Learning Outcomes
Proficiencies that are required to be demonstrated by the candidate:
- 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
