Catalog Year: 2023-2024
Banner Code: LA-MA-ECON
The Master of Arts in Economics is noted for its emphasis on comparative institutional analysis and its concentration on the relationships among economic, political, and legal institutions. The specific areas associated with the department include experimental economics, Austrian economics, public choice, constitutional political economy, law and economics, and new institutional economics. The program strengthens students' knowledge of economic theory and improves their skills in applying the theory to economic problems. Graduates are qualified to read and judge other research and conduct their own, either individually or as members of government or business teams. They are also prepared to write policy analyses. Students who plan to pursue a PhD in Economics should apply directly to the doctoral program.
The MA in Economics is offered as an on-campus delivery format or as a fully online delivery format. Separate application processes are used for each delivery format and students must matriculate though only one delivery format for the entire completion of degree. Students must complete the MA in Economics degree within six years from time of first admission.
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.
Total credits: 30
Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.
In place of core courses shown below, students admitted to the PhD in Economics who have added the MA as a secondary degree to their record must substitute ECON 637 Econometrics I, ECON 811 Microeconomic Theory I, ECON 812 Microeconomic Theory II, ECON 715 Macroeconomic Theory I, and ECON 830 Mathematical Economics I or ECON 831 Mathematical Economics II.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 535 | Survey of Applied Econometrics | 3 |
| ECON 611 | Microeconomic Theory | 3 |
| ECON 612 | Microeconomic Theory II | 3 |
| ECON 615 | Macroeconomic Theory | 3 |
| ECON 630 | Mathematical Economics I | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Students complete 15 credits of electives.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| On-Campus Students | ||
| Select 15 credits of ECON electives 1 | 15 | |
| Online Students | ||
| Select 12 credits of restricted electives 2 | 12 | |
| ECON 690 | MA Economics Capstone | 3 |
| 1 | On-campus students may substitute up to a maximum of 6 credits or two courses outside economics in closely related fields with prior written approval of the MA director. On-campus students have the option of writing a thesis for 6 credits in lieu of 6 credits of electives. |
| 2 | Online students select electives from online ECON 695 Special Topics in Economics courses. The thesis option is not available for online students. |
Students admitted to the PhD in Economics who have added the MA as a secondary degree to their record must apply ECON 816 Macroeconomic Theory II as one of the five electives applied to the MA degree.
Students must pass one MA comprehensive exam in applied economic theory. This exam is offered twice each year. Students admitted to the PhD in Economics who are seeking the MA as secondary degree must pass both the PhD micro and the PhD macro qualifying exams, which will satisfy the requirement for the MA comprehensive exam.
Online students must successfully complete ECON 690 MA Economics Capstone in lieu of the comprehensive exam.
Students must complete a minimum of six credits of ECON 799 Master's Thesis. Once enrolled in 799, students in the economics master's program must maintain continuous registration each semester (excluding summers) until the thesis is submitted to and accepted by the University Libraries, as specified in AP.6.9.3 Master's Thesis. Because of the continuous registration policy, more than six ECON 799 credits may be required for thesis completion. Students who defend in the summer must be registered for at least one credit of 799.
Students who choose to complete a thesis take six fewer elective credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Thesis Option | 6 | |
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |