Milton Friedman, Rose Friedman née Director, George Stigler, and W. Allen Wallis all took some of their doctoral field examinations at the University of Chicago in the Spring Quarter of 1935. The names of the examiners and the other examinees can be seen from the mimeographed page I found in George Stigler’s papers at the University of Chicago Archives. I have included in this post the field examination requirements for doctoral students in economics from the annual Announcements published for the 1934-35 academic year.
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Three Field Examinations for Doctorate
“The candidate is expected to have general training in the important fields listed below and to specialize in three fields, one of which must be Economic Theory, including Monetary and Cycle Theory, and another must be the field of his thesis. The fields to be chosen (in addition to Economic Theory) may be taken from (1) Statistics; (2) Accounting; (3) Economic History; (4) Finance and Financial Administration; (5) Government Finance; (6) Labor and Personnel Administration; (7) Trusts and Public Utilities; (8) International Economic Relations; (9) some other field proposed by the candidate. A field proposed by the candidate may be in Economics or in another social science, the arrangement in either case being made with the Department of Economics. It is desired to develop that program of work which best meets the needs of the individual student. This usually involves the election of some courses in other departments and possibly the development of a field in another social science as a substitute for one of the fields in economics.
“The candidate’s grasp of his three fields of specialization is tested by preliminary written examinations which must be passed to the satisfaction of the Department before admission to candidacy. The final oral examination is on the field of concentration and on the thesis. The written examinations can be taken in one quarter or they can be divided between two quarters, not necessarily consecutive quarters, at the option of the candidate. The written examinations are given in the sixth, seventh, and eighth weeks of the Autumn, Spring, and Summer quarters. The written examination in general economic theory, including monetary and cycle theory, is in two parts and will require five hours in all. The written examination in each of the other fields requires from three to four hours. Notice of intention to take any written examination must be filed with the Department at least three weeks before the examinations begin. In written examinations for the doctorate the questions cover both the theoretical and administrative aspects of the field.”
Source: Announcements. The University of Chicago. The College and the Divisions for the Sessions of 1934-35, pp. 283-4.
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DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
SCHEDULE FOR PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS FOR THE DOCTORATE
Spring Quarter, 1935
The schedule below shows the preliminary examinations requested for the current quarter. Will the Chairman of each Committee please be responsible for turning in the complete examination by at least one week before the date on which it is to be given?
| Dates | Examinations | Committees | Students Enrolled |
| Saturday, May 11 8:30, S.S.R. 417 |
Economic Theory (New Plan) |
Viner, Chairman Schultz Yntema Knight |
Friedman, M. Shohan, C.J. Stigler, G.J. (Brookings) Wallis, W.A. |
| 1:30, S.S.R. 417 | Monetary and Cycle Theory | Mints Cox |
|
| Saturday, May 18 8:30, S.S.R. 417 |
Financial System and Financial Administration | Mints, Chairman Cox Meech Gideonse |
Curtis, C.H. Shohan, C.J. |
| Saturday, May 18 8:30, S.S.R. 417 |
Government Finance | Leland, Chairman Simons |
Stigler, G.J. (Brookings) |
| Saturday, May 18 8:30, S.S.R. 417 |
Statistics | Schultz, Chairman Cover Yntema |
Director, R. Friedman, M. Jacoby, N.H. (Springfield) |
| Saturday, May 25 8:30, S.S.R. 417 |
Economic History | Wright, Chairman Nef Knight |
Ostrander, F.T. (Williams) Shohan, C.J. |
Source: University of Chicago Archives, George Stigler Papers Addenda, Box 33, Folder “1935 Univ. of Chicago, Class Notes (Gray binder)”.
Image Source: Rose and Milton Friedman. From The Prodos Blog.