Master of Arts in Economics - Quantitative Economics

The Master of Arts in Economics is STEM designated. The program prepares students for professional careers in private industry and government, and lays a foundation for further graduate work at the doctoral level. It offers a cutting-edge focus on data analytics; provides highly rigorous, analytical and policy-relevant insights into social and economic issues; and goes beyond the Bachelor of Arts in Economics degree by delving into wider areas of specialization using more technical and rigorous methods. The degree helps students understand how to use economic theory and econometric models to generate testable hypotheses about economic and social relationships that have practical relevance to the business community andor public policy. Students are able to summarize previous research findings from scholarly literature and learn effective communication skills, in addition to understanding how to write research reports, present research and disseminate research findings to business leaders, experts in the field and to a broader audience. Degree Requirements: Students are urged to meet with the graduate adviser in the Department of Economics as soon as possible. Any study plan course in which a “C-” (1.7) or below is received must be repeated with at least a “C” (2.0), regardless of the overall grade-point average of the students. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required for graduation. Students are also required to graduate in a timely manner. Quantitative Economics Concentration (9-12 units): Big data and machine learning have revolutionized economic and policy analysis. The Quantitative Economics concentration blends cutting edge econometric and machine learning techniques with a strong foundation in economic theory. A project-based approach provides students with significant experiences in building and applying machine-learning models to answer economic and policy questions.