Master's in Economics: General Economics
Candidates must complete 30 semester hours (10 courses) if a thesis is written or 33 semester hours (11 courses) if a thesis is not written. At least 24 hours (8 courses) must be in courses numbered exclusively as 6000-level graduate courses. Up to 9 hours (3 courses) can be taken at the 5000 level. A minimum of 18 (6 courses) of these semester hours must be in economics.
In addition, M.A. students must complete a macroeconomic theory course, a microeconomic theory course, and an econometrics course. To do this, students choose either the theoretical track -- Macroeconomics I (Econ 6110), Microeconomics I (Econ 6120), and Econometrics I (Econ 6620) -- which involves more mathematics, or the applied track -- Econometrics and Forecasting (Econ 5620), Managerial Economics (Econ 6000), and Seminar on Monetary Policy (Econ/Fin 6450).
Students may include a minor in their degree programs. A minor consists of a minimum of 12 semester hours of approved courses. Students not electing a minor may include a cognate area of up to six semester hours in their program. Cognate areas can be formed from courses in accounting, agriculture, finance, geography, geology, history, industrial studies, insurance, management, marketing, mathematics, political science, psychology, real estate, and sociology.
Competency in economic theory is tested by qualifying examinations in macroeconomics and microeconomics at the end of the student's first year of study. In addition, for the general economics curriculum, an econometrics field exam will test a candidate's competency in that field.