Preliminars

[asianeconomist]

Originally Posted by paradox3696

you are expected to answer any questions that may or maybe not part of the courses you have taken for that degree. Failure to answer the questions in a satisfactory manner might NOT get your degree LOL.

That's just cruel, or is it Grad school ?

[italos]

I think Columbia also has preliminars.Here is the program description

Students must successfully complete the following courses: G6211-G6212. Microeconomic Analysis, I and II; G6215-G6216. Macroeconomic Analysis, I and II; G6411-G6412. Introduction to Econometrics, I and II; and G6410. Mathematical Methods for Economists.
At the end of the first year, students are required to certify by written examination in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics. The examinations are given during the one-week final examination period in May. Certification examinations may be repeated only once, in September at the beginning of the second year.

[guan]

A department may also want to have relatively easy grading in the courses themselves, for example if they are offered to PhD students from other departments (political science, public policy, etc.). A system with separate course finals and prelims allow them to do this while ensuring the quality of the economics department's own students.