Program

Master of Arts Program

The master of arts (M.A.) degree program in economics accepts both full-time and part-time graduate students. Well-qualified, full-time students may be able to complete the degree within three semesters. Most part-time students should expect to take two or three years. All matriculated students must complete their degree within four years of entering the program. Graduate courses in economics are also open to nonmatriculated students (maximum 6 credits).

The M.A. degree in economics requires the successful completion of 10 three-credit courses, for a total of 30 graduate credits. All students must complete six core courses with an average grade of B or better:

• Microeconomic Theory I (220:501)
• Microeconomic Theory II (220: 502)
• Macroeconomic Theory I (220:503)
• Macroeconomic Theory II (220:504 )
• Statistical Analysis (220:506)
• Econometrics I (220:507)

The remaining 12 credits may be earned in any other graduate courses in economics or, with the consent of the graduate program director, in related disciplines (such as statistics and mathematics, public administration, global affairs, urban systems, and business).

This program is available to Rutgers University-Newark undergraduates majoring in economics who have an overall GPA of at least 3.5, and have completed both intermediate micro and macro theory with grades of B+ or better. The program is designed so that a well-qualified student can earn a master's degree in economics with just one year of additional coursework after the bachelor's degree. The program is intended primarily for students interested in further study in economics for its own sake or as preparation for admission to a top-tier Ph.D. program.

The requirements for the M.A. degree are 30 credits of graduate coursework, including a 18-credit core consisting of microeconomics (I and II), macroeconomics (I and II), statistics, and econometrics. The remaining 12 credits can be taken in economics or from approved graduate courses in finance, business, global affairs, or public administration. Students admitted to the five-year B.A./M.A. program will take up to four courses for graduate credit during their senior year. For more information about the program, contact the graduate program director.

Offered by the Economics Department of Rutgers-Newark, this program prepares students for scholarly research and teaching. Primary areas of interest are labor, gender and migration economics, international trade, development economics, urban and transportation economics, and applied microeconomics.

Requirements

Additional enrollments may be required:

• Students are sometimes required to enroll in nondegree courses to improve their English or their writing. They may also need to enroll in the nondegree course Teacher Training Seminar as part of their preparation for teaching. These enrollments require payment of tuition, but they do not count toward the 72 credits required for the degree.
• Students must enroll in 26:220:689 every semester until they have defended a dissertation proposal. This registration requires their attendance in the Department of Economics' weekly seminar. A grade is given, but the enrollment is for zero (0) credits and no tuition is charged. Applicants and potential applicants are also welcome in the weekly departmental seminar.
  

During the first two years, students are expected to take at least three courses for degree credit each semester. They should then take the qualifying examination in May at the end of their second academic year. The last two years of the program should be devoted primarily to completing the dissertation, though students may be advised to take some additional courses. For more details concerning rules and requirements that apply to all doctoral students in the Ph.D. in management program, see the policies and procedures webpage.

Course Information

Methodology requirement (4 courses)

• 26:220:551 or 26:711:561  Mathematics for Economists
• 26:220:507 or 26:223:554  Econometrics - Cross Sectional
• 26:223:655  Advanced Econometrics - Time Series
• 26:960:575  Introduction to Probability

Students may substitute other methodology courses for courses in this list that can be waived on the basis of previous work.

Major (five courses)

• 26:220:501  Microeconomic Theory
  
• 26:220:502  Macroeconomic Theory
  
• 26:223:685  Game Theory
  

Two additional doctoral courses in economics approved by the adviser, doctoral coordinator, and program director.

Minor (three courses)

Global Economics

• 26:220:518  International Trade
• 26:220:519  International Economics II
• 26:220:685  Development Economics

Financial Economics

• 26:390:571  Investments
• 26:390:572  Corporate Finance
• 26:390:685  Floating Finance Seminar

Methodology

• 26:198:621  Electronic Commerce
• 26:960:685  Modern Statistics
• 26:960:577  Introduction to Statistical Linear Models
• 26:198:622  Machine Learning
• 26:198:644  Data Mining
• 26:620:685  Survey Research
• 26:834:609  Qualitative Methods
• 26:830:545  Research Design

First early research requirement (equivalent to one course): Write a paper (usually a literature review) with a faculty member, to be presented to the department during the fall semester.

Second early research requirement (equivalent to one course): Write a paper (ideally a dissertation proposal) with a faculty member, to be presented to the department during the fall semester.

Other rules and requirements: For details of rules and requirements that apply to all doctoral students in RBS, see the policies and procedures webpage.