Graduate Program>Program Requirements

Once a graduate student enrolls in the Department and achieves conditional or Classified standing, he/she must meet with the graduate advisor to develop an approved program of study.

The Economics Program of Study

Unit Requirements: Thirty units of approved 500, 600 or 700 level courses earned in graduate standing. 

Core Curriculum: Each Program of Study must include:

Economics 630   Microeconomic Theory
Economics 640   Econometric Theory and Application
Economics 631   Topics in Applied Microeconomics 
Economics 641   Topics in Econometrics 
Economics 740   Seminar in Applied Economic Research 
Economics 795   Graduate Internship in Economics 

Plan A and Plan B Programs: Once a student has satisfactorily completed Economics 630, 631, 640, and 641, he or she may elect of either complete a master's thesis or take a set of comprehensive exams. Plan A is the Master's thesis option. Students electing Plan A must also include Economics 799A (Master's Thesis) in their Program of Study. Plan B is the comprehensive exam option. Students electing Plan B must pass written comprehensive exams in microeconomics and econometrics. 

Interdisciplinary Courses: Students may take classes from other departments upon consultation with the graduate advisor. Courses outside the Department of Economics may be required whenever they seem important to the student’s program of study. However, no program may contain more than a total of 9-units of approved courses outside of economics. 

Graduate Internship in Economics: The Internship in Economics (Economics 795) is designed to provide students with valuable work experience prior to graduation. Internships are available with a variety of government agencies, consulting firms and public utilities. Students currently holding jobs may receive internship credit upon approval of the graduate advisor.

Seminar in Applied Economics: The Seminar in Applied Economic Research (Economics 740) is the capstone class of the Masters program. In this class students develop skills in the art of conducting independent economic research. A research project in applied microeconomics is chosen by the student and approved by the instructor. Prior to enrolling in the class, students are expected to develop a comprehensive research project proposal. In addition, students are required to make an oral presentation of their findings and results.