General Philosophy

The Ph.D. program's intent is to ensure that graduates are well versed in teaching and that graduates are trained to understand economic theory as a guide to formulate empirically relevant models. With fields of specialization that have an applied orientation, our program focuses on applications and techniques. Although we view mathematics as an indispensable part of the program, we use mathematics as a tool to understand and apply economics rather than as an end in itself.

MTSU's Ph.D. program in economics has a more extensive teaching component than most other Ph.D. programs in economics, ensuring that our graduates are highly skilled both in the traditional classroom and with new technologies. MTSU's economics program also has more of an applied focus than many other Ph.D. programs, increasing the job market prospects for our graduates who prefer non-academic positions. Thus, the program is located at the intersection of reality and theory rather than at the intersection of theory and mathematics.

The Ph.D. program emphasizes fields of concentration in labor economics and monetary economics. These fields each have aspects that make them unique. For example, labor economics emphasizes applied empirical research on traditional labor topics such as human resource development as well as on related topics in health economics. This field also builds on faculty strengths in industrial relations and employee benefits, especially social insurance and pensions. Monetary economics bridges the gap that typically exists between pure economics and pure finance programs.

The Ph.D. program also relies on the department's extensive outreach through its Business and Economic Research Center, the department's Weatherford Chair of Banking and Martin Chair of Insurance, the Jones College Jennings and Rebecca Jones Chair of Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning, and the Tennessee Small Business Development Center.

Some Noteworthy Aspects of the Program