Admitted Students Graduate Program

Admitted Students
Graduate Program -- Department of Economics
University of North Carolina -- Chapel Hill
Fall Semester 2009

We are very pleased that you will be attending the University of North Carolina and would like again to welcome you to our program. Information about the department, the university and the community is provided below. Please contact Ms. Garner (garner@email.unc.edu) or Prof. Tauchen (Helen.Tauchen@unc.edu) if you have additional questions.

Getting Connected Before Arriving in Chapel Hill

Please set up your UNC‑CH email account as soon as possible. Instructions are available at the ONYEN web site.
Once you have your e-mail, please send the address to Shirlene Garner (garner@email.unc.edu) so that she can enroll you in the department's graduate student listsever.

Introduction to the Department

When you arrive in Chapel Hill, please come to the Economics Department office in Gardner 107 and introduce yourself.
Shortly before the fall semester begins, Phyllis Hoffman (Gardner 107) will issue keys to your office in Gardner Hall and the combination to your mailbox.
As soon as you have a local address, local phone number, and email address, please give this information to Phyllis Hoffman.
Before the semester begins, the Economics Graduate Student Association will have a short orientation session for graduate student computer lab.
See the Departmental and the Economics Graduate Student Association website for information about the department and the graduate program

Introduction to the University

Very shortly after arriving in Chapel Hill, you will want to get your UNC‑One Card, which is your student ID. Consult the UNC One Card Web Page for information about where the office is located, the hours of operation, and the required documentation.
The University Graduate and Professional Student Federation webpage provides information of interest about the University and the community.
Students are eligible to purchase health insurance through a private insurance company Hill, Chesson, and Woody.

Introduction to the Community

The Chapel Hill Chamber of Commerce maintains a web page designed especially for people relocating to the area. There is information on school districts, housing, and recreation, as well as maps.
The Economics Graduate Student Association has prepared information about housing in Chapel Hill and the surrounding community.

Registration for Courses

Ms. Garner registers all incoming students for the standard first year PhD courses: Econ. 700, 710, 720, 770 and for Econ. 890, which is a quantitative method course that follows Econ. 700. If you have had advanced training in economics or statistics, then some of the courses may not be necessary and you will be able to proceed to second year courses in the Economics Department or to courses in the Statistics Department. Once you are in Chapel Hill, we can discuss the specifics. We want to be sure that your first-year courses are challenging and not a repetition of previous material. There is no advantage to accumulating high grades in material that you have seen previously. Check the University registrar's listing for courses offered in the fall.
You may check your registration at UNC Student Central. In future semesters, you will register on-line through Student Central.
The texts for the standard first year courses are:
- Econ. 700 (Quantitative Methods with Prof. Tauchen: To be announced.
- Econ. 710 (Micro with Prof. Krishna): Microeconomic Theory by Mas-Colell, Whinston, and Green
- Econ. 720 (Macro with Prof. Hendricks): Introduction to Modern Growth by D. Acemoglu
- Econ. 770 (Stats with Prof. Renault): To be announced.
- Econ.. 890 (Quant. Methods with Prof. Krishna): An Introduction to Mathematical Analysis for Economic Theory and Econometrics by Corbae, Stinchcombe & Zeman
Econ. 700 (Math Camp) is taught before the semester begins but you receive credit as a fall semester course.

Orientation for the University and the International Center

The Graduate School Orientation will be on Thursday, August 20, 2009. During the summer, the Graduate School will send you the schedule of events. Econ. 700 (Math Camp) will not meet on that date.
International students should consult with the International Center for information on maintaining student visas, obtaining a social security number and other regulations, as well as information on international student orientation.
Most international graduate students are required to take the English Proficiency Exam which is scheduled for August 21, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., 211 Chapman Hall. Please consult the International Center for additional information.

Edited May 29, 2009