Plan Description
The Master of Arts degree – Economics provides students with advanced training in applied economics. The program trains students for careers in business and government, and prepares students who desire to continue their studies in economics or finance at the doctoral level. Students in the MA program will obtain a solid foundation in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, receive training in advanced econometric techniques, and develop their communication skills through writing and presentation. The program also allows students the possibility of pursuing interdisciplinary studies by taking courses in related disciplines such as finance or marketing. An internship program provides opportunities for students to obtain valuable work experience. MA graduates in economics possess the skills that prove attractive for different employers— government agencies, marketing research firms, corporate research and financial departments, and consulting firms. The department welcomes both full and part-time students. Ambitious students can complete the program in one year. Please see our web site for more information http://business.unlv.edu/economics/.
Formal preparation for most applicants seeking the Master of Arts degree requires intermediate microeconomic theory and macroeconomic theory. In addition, some form of quantitative preparation, such as calculus and intermediate statistics, is required. As noted below, students must meet general requirements for admission to the Graduate College of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The Department of Economics offers graduate courses during evening hours convenient for both working and full-time students.
Learning Outcomes
www.unlv.edu/degree/ma-applied-economics
Plan Admission Requirements
Application deadlines
Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.
The first step in the application process requires the submission of relevant application forms, fees, letters of recommendation, official transcripts, test results, and assistantship applications to the Graduate College as outlined in this Catalog. All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.
Students may begin course work in economics in the following classifications: full graduate standing or graduate provisional. Admission to full graduate standing requires that students must:
- Meet the general requirements for admission to graduate instruction at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
- Complete the prerequisite preparation in microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, and quantitative economics. The theory preparation may be satisfied by successfully completing ECON 302 and ECON 303. Completing ECON 262 and Math 181 may satisfy the quantitative preparation. These courses, however, do not apply toward the 30 hours of graduate course work required for the Master of Arts degree. In addition, students seeking to meet prerequisite requirements with undergraduate courses may need to take a placement exam to demonstrate competence.
- Achieve score of 2100 or higher on the formula: 200 times grade point average (computed on a 4.00 scale) plus the product of 1.5 and the combined scores on the quantitative and verbal portions of the Graduate Record Exam. GRE scores for tests taken after August 1, 2011 may be adjusted accordingly to reflect the new GRE format and scoring rubric. Students may substitute the GMAT score for the GRE, in which case the GMAT score will be multiplied by 3 and added to 200 times the grade point average.
Accomplished UNLV undergraduates must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for the Advanced Program Track:
- Receiving at least a B in graduate-level Economics courses completed as an undergraduate
- Satisfactory completion of Graduate College admission requirements
- Senior standing
- Minimum of 3.0 GPA
- Completion of the following courses with a minimum of 3.5 GPA and no grade lower than B: ECON 262 or ECON 441; ECON 302; ECON 303 and MATH 181
- Department chair or graduate coordinator’s recommendation
- Submission of two letters of recommendation, a completed Enrollment Request form to the Economics department no less than two weeks before the beginning of the semester for which they would like to register for graduate courses
Students falling short of the requirements for admission with full graduate standing may be admitted as graduate provisional students. Students admitted with graduate provisional status must successfully complete the courses, possibly including any deficiencies, designated by the graduate coordinator, with an average of 3.33 or better within the first year of enrollment to qualify for admission with full graduate standing.
Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.
Subplan 1 Requirements: Conventional Track
Total Credits Required: 30
Course Requirements
Required Courses – Credits: 18
ECO 701 - Macroeconomic Theory
ECO 702 - Microeconomic Theory
ECO 740 - Mathematical Economics
ECO 770 - Econometrics I, Statistical Modeling
ECO 772 - Econometrics II
ECO 793 - Seminar in Economic Research
Elective Courses – Credits: 6-9
Students completing the Thesis must complete a minimum of 6 credits of Economics coursework. Students who complete a Professional Paper must complete 9 credits of Economics coursework; 3 credits may be from a related discipline subject to the approval of the graduate coordinator.
Culminating Experience – Credits: 3-6
Complete one of the following:
ECO 794 - Professional Paper
ECO 791 - Thesis
Degree Requirements
- Completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours, of which, at least 24 credits must be taken in 700-level courses.
- Degree requirements may exceed (at the option of the student’s advisor), but must not be less than the minimum outlined below. The advisor and/or the coordinator of graduate studies recommend specific course requirements for this degree.
- An internship is required and will count toward the elective credit requirements. This requirement may be waived by the department upon evidence of appropriate experience. If waived, credits must be earned in other coursework.
- Students not making satisfactory progress toward the degree are subject to dismissal. A student who earns two grades of C, D, or F in the first four graduate courses, or who receives the third grade of C, D, or F in a graduate course will be dropped from the M.A. program.
- A minimum 3.00 average is required to earn the Master of Arts degree.
- In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
- It should be noted that a student taking four courses a semester could finish all course work in one year by adding an elective course in the fall and in the spring semesters and completing a culminating experience in the summer.
Graduation Requirements
See Plan Graduation Requirements below.
Subplan 2 Requirements: Advanced Track
Total Credits Required: 24
Course Requirements
Required Courses – Credits: 9
ECO 740 - Mathematical Economics
ECO 772 - Econometrics II
ECO 793 - Seminar in Economic Research
Economics Course – Credits: 3
Complete one of the following courses:
ECO 701 - Macroeconomic Theory
ECO 702 - Microeconomic Theory
ECO 770 - Econometrics I, Statistical Modeling
Elective Courses – Credits: 6-9
Students completing the Thesis must complete a minimum of 6 credits of Economics coursework. Students who complete a Professional Paper must complete 9 credits of Economics coursework; 3 credits may be from a related discipline subject to the approval of the graduate coordinator.
Culminating Experience – Credits: 3-6
Complete one of the following:
ECO 794 - Professional Paper
ECO 791 - Thesis (6 credits)
Degree Requirements
- Completion of a minimum of 24 credit hours, of which, at least 18 credits must be taken in 700-level courses.
- Degree requirements may exceed (at the option of the student’s advisor), but must not be less than the minimum outlined below. The advisor and/or the coordinator of graduate studies recommend specific course requirements for this degree.
- An internship is required and will count toward the elective credit requirements. This requirement may be waived by the department upon evidence of appropriate experience. If waived, credits must be earned in other coursework.
- In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
- It should be noted that a student taking four courses a semester could finish all course work in one year by adding an elective course in the fall and in the spring semesters and completing a culminating experience in the summer.
Graduation Requirements
See Plan Graduation Requirements below.
Plan Graduation Requirements
- The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
- To qualify for graduation, each student must successfully complete an empirical research paper or thesis.