Frequently Asked Questions

The following is designed to be a quick reference source used together with the Graduate Catalog and not as a replacement.  Graduate school polices on academic retention, academic misconduct and other issues relating to all graduate students regardless of department are not covered here.  For these policies the student is referred to the Graduate Catalog.

What is the expected time until completion of the degree?

It is the goal of the Department of Economics that each Master’s student complete his degree program within 18 months of enrolling.  For international students on full financial aid the expected time to completion is 12 months.  The Department has no goal for time to completion for the Certificate program.

What sort of financial support is available?

Financial support is in the form of a graduate research assistantship. It is goal of the Department to providessome level of support to all Master’s students. Amounts of support vary based on in-state / out-of-state status, hours worked per week, undergraduate academic performance, and progress in the program. Students who qualify for the Graduate Scholar (see link from our web page), both domestic and international, are given priority in allocating financial aid. In most cases assistantships are for one year only. Assistantships can be rescinded for poor job or academic performance.  Performance requirements are set out in a contract to be signed by the student. Contact the Graduate Director for more details.

Who are the Graduate Faculty?

Currently all tenure-track faculty have graduate faculty status.  A list of the faculty and their primary research interests are provided on the departmental homepage.

What are typical course loads?

We consider four courses to be a normal load.  Out of state and international students on full assistantship are required to take five course loads in Fall and Spring.  A total of 33 hours is required for graduation, including the research paper.

What are the core courses?

There are seven core courses (plus an optional research paper). Four are offered in Fall (Math Econ, Econometrics I, Python Programming, and SAS Programming I) and three in Spring (Econometrics II, SAS Programming II, and Micro).

What are the electives available to me?

The Department offers at least two electives (usually at the 5000 level) each semester and one elective course in the summer.  Students are allowed to take two electives outside the Department with permission from the Graduate Director.  Note that the Graduate School requires that more than half of any students program must be courses at the 6000 level.

Who can choose the research paper option?

Students who receive a 3.67 GPA or better in the Fall Semester can choose the Research Paper option.

What does the research paper require?

The student, with close supervision from a faculty member, produces a research paper with substantial empirical content and presents this paper at a Departmental Research Seminar.  Faculty and students are matched based on mutual interests and consent.

When do I take Comprehensive Exams?

The comprehensive exam is based directly on the course work of our most advanced core courses, Microeconomic Theory II and Econometrics II.  The comprehensive exam is offered at the end of the Spring semester. Alternative dates can be scheduled with permission of the Graduate Director.

Do I need an areas of concentration?

The Department has no formal areas of concentration.  However, it is typically the case that a student take at least one elective in the field in which he desires to write a research paper.

Must I be continuously enrolled?

The student is advised to read the Graduate School Catalog on continuous enrollment.  For example, a student who is not enrolled during the current semester can not remove an incomplete grade.

How do I apply for graduation?

Students must apply (at the Registrar’s Office) for graduation at least one semester before all requirements of the degree are fulfilled.