Economics, M.A.
Adam Rennhoff, Program Director
(615) 898-2931
Adam.Rennhoff@mtsu.edu
The mission of the graduate program in economics is to provide students with advanced studies in economic theory and research methodology. To accomplish its mission, the Department of Economics and Finance offers three degree programs: the Master of Arts (M.A.) with a major in Economics, the Master of Science (M.S.) with a major in Finance, and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) with a major in Economics. The department's approach to these degree programs is global, interactive, and innovative.
M.A. students in economics are offered preparation for careers in private business and public service. The focus of the M.A. program is on decision analysis and applied research.
Please see undergraduate catalog for information regarding undergraduate programs.
Admission Requirements
Applicants are expected to possess a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
Application Procedures
All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.
Applicant must
- submit an application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php). Once this initial application has been accepted, the applicant will receive directions on how to enter the graduate portal to be able to submit other materials.
- submit official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
- submit official transcripts of previous college work.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Arts in Economics requires completion of a minimum of 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 (other courses can be taken at the 5000 level). A minimum of 18 of these semester hours must be in economics and include ECON 6010, ECON 6020, ECON 6060, and ECON 6070.
Candidates must successfully complete a written comprehensive examination that may be taken no more than twice. For the major in Economics, the comprehensive examination covers the three core areas: macroeconomics, microeconomics, and econometrics.
Before taking the comprehensive examination, the student is expected to attend and actively participate in regularly scheduled departmental student/faculty workshops where research papers are presented and discussed by the participants.
Curriculum: Economics (general)
The following illustrates the coursework requirements.
Thesis Option (30 hours)
Core Courses (12 hours)
ECON 6010 - Macroeconomics I
3credit hours
Core course in macroeconomic theory for students pursuing an M.A. in Economics. First part focuses on long-run economic growth. Topics include exogenous and endogenous growth theory, overlapping generations models, and the neoclassical growth model. Second part focuses on short-run economic fluctuations. Topics include real business cycle theory, traditional Keynesian theories, and New Keynesian models featuring rational expectation. Mathematical models used to address competing theories; comfort with multivariate calculus and linear algebra essential.
ECON 6020 - Microeconomics I
3credit hours
Core course in microeconomic theory for students pursuing an M.A. in Economics. First part develops the theory of consumer choice with extensions including the labor supply model, intertemporal choice, and choice under uncertainty. Second part models theory of the firm in both perfectly competitive and monopoly industry settings. Mathematical models used to derive theories; comfort with multivariate calculus and linear algebra essential.
ECON 6070 - Econometrics II
3credit hours
Second core course in econometrics for students pursuing an M.A. in Economics. Emphasizes methods of time series analysis, including Box-Jenkins methods, general-to-specific modeling, volatility models, vector autoregressions, unit roots and cointegration, unobserved component and state space models, and neural networks. Integrates practical applications in various computing environments including SAS, RATS, and MATLAB.
- See advisor 3 credit hours
Electives (15 hours)
Students completing a thesis must take 15 hours of electives from ECON 6000-6999 (excluding designated core courses).
Thesis (3 hours)
ECON 6640 - Thesis Research
1 to 6 credit hours
(3 credit hours)(3 credit hours)
dotslash:(3 credit hours)
title:(3 credit hours)
(3 credit hours)
ECON 6640 - Thesis Research
1 to 6credit hours
Selection of a research problem, review of pertinent literature, collection and analysis of data, and composition of thesis. Once enrolled, student should register for at least one credit hour of master's research each semester until completion. S/U grading.
Non-thesis Option (33 hours)
Core Courses (12 hours)
ECON 6010 - Macroeconomics I
3credit hours
Core course in macroeconomic theory for students pursuing an M.A. in Economics. First part focuses on long-run economic growth. Topics include exogenous and endogenous growth theory, overlapping generations models, and the neoclassical growth model. Second part focuses on short-run economic fluctuations. Topics include real business cycle theory, traditional Keynesian theories, and New Keynesian models featuring rational expectation. Mathematical models used to address competing theories; comfort with multivariate calculus and linear algebra essential.
ECON 6020 - Microeconomics I
3credit hours
Core course in microeconomic theory for students pursuing an M.A. in Economics. First part develops the theory of consumer choice with extensions including the labor supply model, intertemporal choice, and choice under uncertainty. Second part models theory of the firm in both perfectly competitive and monopoly industry settings. Mathematical models used to derive theories; comfort with multivariate calculus and linear algebra essential.
ECON 6070 - Econometrics II
3credit hours
Second core course in econometrics for students pursuing an M.A. in Economics. Emphasizes methods of time series analysis, including Box-Jenkins methods, general-to-specific modeling, volatility models, vector autoregressions, unit roots and cointegration, unobserved component and state space models, and neural networks. Integrates practical applications in various computing environments including SAS, RATS, and MATLAB.
- See advisor 3 credit hours
Electives (21 hours)
Students choosing the non-thesis option must take 21 hours of electives from ECON 6000-6999 (excluding designated core courses).
Program Notes
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 6 semester hours in their programs. Cognate areas can be formed from courses in accounting, agriculture, finance, geography, geology, history, insurance, management, political science, psychology, real estate, sociology, and data science.
