Curriculum
M.A. in Applied Economics
The fundamental principle of the Applied MA Program in Economics is the provision of a comprehensive graduate education tailored to the needs and interests of each student. Students will meet regularly with the program director and an advisor in order to develop and progress in a program of study that fits the unique interests and objectives of each student.
The program requires a total of 10 courses (40 credit hours). Three of these courses are dedicated to the study of quantitative methods, which reflects our belief that an in-depth understanding of statistical methods and research design is fundamental to the pursuit of further study in economics or the application of these skills and knowledge in a professional setting.
Degree Requirements - 40 hrs Heading link
Course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Catalog.
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Summer Preparatory Courses – Two courses (8 hrs)
The program begins with two courses over a condensed 6-week summer semester beginning in late June:
- ECON 481, Mathematical Methods for Economics
- ECON 482, Probability and Statistics for Econometrics
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Economics Core Coursework - Six courses (24 hrs)
The following core classes are required for all students:
- ECON 501, Applied Microeconomics I
- ECON 502, Applied Microeconomics II
- ECON 503, Applied Macroeconomics
- ECON 505, Applied Econometrics
- ECON 506, Research Design
- ECON 507, Reading, Writing, and Speaking Economics
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Economics Electives or Thesis Option - (8 hrs)
Students must complete a minimum of 8 additional credits. This may include a thesis or two 400- or 500-level electives.
Possible elective options:
- ECON 515, International Monetary Policy
- ECON 516, Economic Development in an Interdependent World
- ECON 551, Economics of Education
- ECON 555, Health Economics I
- ECON 450/IDS 476, Business Forecasting Using Time Series Methods
- ECON 472/FIN 472, Real Estate Finance
- ECON 473/STAT 473, Game Theory
- IDS 572, Data Mining for Business
- FIN 516, Theory and Structure of Options and Futures Markets
Other 4-credit hour, 400- or 500- level courses may fulfill elective requirements with advisor approval. Previous students have pursued elective coursework. in Biostatistics, Information and Decision Sciences, Political Science, Urban Planning and Policy, Finance, Health Policy Administration, Geographic Information Systems, Math, Statistics, and so on.
Thesis option:
Students who wish to complete a thesis will enroll in 8 credits of ECON 598 (Master’s Thesis Credit). Students must select a thesis advisor/committee chair as well as at least two additional committee members. A formal thesis defense is required. For students following the “Standard” course plan, the thesis defense should occur in the spring, and graduation will be delayed until summer.
Possible Course Plans Heading link
The MA in Applied Economics generally consists of an accelerated course of study in one academic year (including summer). However, extended course plans may allow for greater flexibility depending on an individual student’s goals and circumstances.
If you plan to pursue a PhD in Economics after earning your applied MA degree, the Extended – PhD Prep course plan may be a good choice. This allows for additional prerequisite coursework that may be required before beginning a PhD program.
If you plan to work while completing the Applied MA, you may consider the Extended – Employment Options. These allow for a lighter courseload spread over additional semesters.
Students who have successfully completed coursework that covers the material in the foundational summer review courses may be permitted to begin the MA in Applied Economics program in the fall semester. These students may follow the Summer Courses Waived plan. The program director will determine eligibility for this alternative pathway. Learn more about the summer course waiver.
For international students, please note that the viability of alternate course plans may vary depending on student visa status.
Accelerated
| Year 1 - Summer | Year 1 - Fall | Year 1 - Spring |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 481 | ECON 501 | ECON 502 |
| ECON 482 | ECON 503 | ECON 506 |
| ECON 505 | Elective 1 | |
| ECON 507 | Elective 2 |
Cost
Approximate total degree cost:
In-state – $19,420
Out-of-state – $35,908
This is based on 2022-2023 tuition and fees. International student fees and CampusCare health insurance fees are not included. See the Program Cost page for more information.
Summer courses waived
| Year 1 Summer | Year 1 Fall | Year 1 Spring | Year 2 Summer | Year 2 Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (none; courses waived) | ECON 501 | ECON 502 | Elective 3* | |
| ECON 503 | ECON 506 | Elective 4* | ||
| ECON 505 | Elective 1 | |||
| ECON 507 | Elective 2 |
*
*Two additional electives are required to compensate for waived summer courses.
Cost
Approximate total degree cost:
In-state – $21,157
Out-of-state – $38,744
This is based on 2022-2023 tuition and fees. International student fees and CampusCare health insurance fees are not included. See the Program Cost page for more information.
Extended - PhD Prep
| Year 1 - Summer | Year 1 - Fall | Year 1 - Spring | Year 2 - Summer | Year 2 - Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECON 481 | ECON 501 | ECON 502 | Econ 507 | |
| ECON 482 | ECON 503 | ECON 506 | Elective 1 | |
| ECON 505 | PhD Prep | Elective 2 | ||
| PhD Prep | PhD Prep |
Cost
Approximate total degree cost:
In-state – $27,213
Out-of-state – $50,296
This is based on 2022-2023 tuition and fees. International student fees and CampusCare health insurance fees are not included. See the Program Cost page for more information.
Extended - Employed (option 1)
| Year 1 - Summer | Year 1 - Fall | Year 1 - Spring | Year 2 - Summer | Year 2 - Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECON 481 | ECON 501 | ECON 502 | ECON 507 | |
| ECON 482 | ECON 503 | ECON 506 | Elective 2 | |
| ECON 505 | Elective 1 |
Cost
Approximate total degree cost:
In-state – $24,991
Out-of-state – $45,876
This is based on 2022-2023 tuition and fees. International student fees and CampusCare health insurance fees are not included. See the Program Cost page for more information.
Extended - Employed (option 2)
| Year 1 - Summer | Year 1 - Fall | Year 1 - Spring | Year 2 - Summer | Year 2 - Fall | Year 2 - Spring |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECON 481 | ECON 501 | ECON 502 | ECON 503 | Elective 1 | |
| ECON 482 | ECON 505 | ECON 506 | ECON 507 | Elective 2 |
Cost
Approximate total degree cost:
In-state – $26,118
Out-of-state – $47,004
This is based on 2022-2023 tuition and fees. International student fees and CampusCare health insurance fees are not included. See the Program Cost page for more information.