Department of Economics
Master of Arts in Applied Economics
The curriculum is designed to be completed with 33 hours of course work over three semesters beginning in early August and ending in December of the second year. Qualifying examinations in the core areas of economic theory and econometrics are given in January and May and must be passed with a minimum grade of "B-" in each area.
Requirements for the Master of Arts in Applied Economics
The Department of Economics offers a graduate program of study leading to a Master of Arts degree in Applied Economics. The 33 hour program combines core knowledge in economic theory and econometrics, specialized applied research methods, advanced electives and the choice of a capstone research seminar focused on either public policy or forecasting. The M.A. in Applied Economics with a concentration in financial economics is available that combines the MA program with coursework in finance and related areas. An overall grade point average of 3.00 is required for graduation (with no more than 6 semester hours of C+ or C credit).
Core Knowledge Requirement (18 hours)
- ECO 619 Mathematical Economics (3)
- ECO 641 Microeconomics I (3)
- ECO 642 Microeconomics II (3)
- ECO 643 Econometric Methods (3)
- ECO 644 Econometric Theory (3)
- ECO 646 Macroeconomics I (3)
Applied Research Methods (6 hours)
- ECO 731 Applied Policy Methods (3)
- ECO 725 Data Methods in Economics (3)
Electives (6 hours)
At least 3 credit hours of electives must be earned with an advanced graduate economics course (ECO 730 or above). The remaining 3 credit hours may be earned with 500-, 600-, or 700-level economics courses or with approved graduate courses taken outside the department. Electives in economics include:
- ECO 518 American Economic History (3)
- ECO 510 Law and Economics (3)
- ECO 523 Topics in Public Policy (3)
- ECO 722 Time Series (3)
- ECO 733 Special Topics in Applied Policy (3)
- ECO 735 Labor Economics (3)
- ECO 736 Public Economics (3)
- ECO 737 Health Economics (3)
- ECO 738 Topics in Economics (3)
- ECO 739 Independent Field Course (3)
- ECO 741 Advanced Mathematical Economics (3)
- ECO 742 Advanced Microeconomics Theory (3)
- ECO 743 Advanced Microeconomics Theory II (3)
- ECO 745 Econometric Theory (3)
- ECO 746 Advanced Economics II (3)
Research Seminar (3 hours) (CAPSTONE)
Students must take one of the following:
- ECO 721 Empirical Microeconomics (3)
or
- ECO 723 Predictive Data Mining (3)
Qualifying Examinations
As a requirement for graduation every student is required to successfully complete two qualifying examinations—one in economic theory and the other in econometrics. Both examinations are administered during the first two weeks of the Spring semester, and students must pass each examination with a minimum grade of B- (2.7). Students who do not pass either or both examinations may retake the examination(s) one time.
Concentration in Financial Economics
To complete a concentration in financial economics, students within the 33 hour program must take ECO 722 as an elective, 3 credit hours from approved MBA finance or information systems courses, and ECO 723 to satisfy their research seminar requirement.
Three Semester Program
Fall Semester (first year) 15 hours
- August ECO 619 Mathematical Economics(3 hours)*#
- First 8 weeks ECO 641 Microeconomics I (3 hours)*
- First 8 weeks ECO 643 Econometric Method (3 hours)*
- Second 8 weeks ECO 644 Econometric Theory (3 hours)*
- Second 8 weeks ECO 646 Macroeconomics I (3 hours)*
Spring Semester (first year) 12 hours
- Semester ECO 642 Microeconomics II (3 hours)*
- Semester ECO 731 Applied Policy Methods (3 hours)
- Semester ECO 722 Time Series and Forecasting (3 hours)
Electives
- Semester ECO 735 Labor Economics (3 hours)
- Semester ECO 736 Public Economics (3 hours)
- Semester ECO 737 Health Economics (3 hours)
Fall Semester (second year) 6 hours
- Semester ECO 721 Empirical Microeconomics (3 hours)**
- Semester ECO 723 Predictive Data Mining (3 hours)**
- Semester ECO 725 Data Methods in Economics (3 hours)*
- Modules/courses in approved electives.
* Required.
** Students must take one of these two courses as a capstone course.
# ECO 619 meets for three weeks in August prior to the start of the fall semester.
Elective Options: Students may also take finance courses in the Bryan School’s MBA program, information systems courses in the Bryan School’s Master of Science in Information Technology and Management program, or may consider graduate geographic information systems (or other appropriate elective) courses from the Department of Geography, health courses from the Department of Public Health Education, statistics courses from the Department of Mathematics, gerontology courses from the interdisciplinary Masters program in Gerontology, educational research courses from the School of Education, or other approved electives from the University’s graduate programs. MBA courses and MSITM courses require a laptop computer and have an added tuition surcharge.