M.A. in Economics

Dr. Glenn Dutcher describes the value of an economics degree. Dutcher teaches in the M.A. program and has recently be interviewed around the world on the transition to remote working. See his Times of London interview: “Q&A: Are we more productive when working from home?“  

• Program Overview
• Admissions
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Courses & Resources
• Curriculum & Graduation Requirements
• Mission & Learning Outcomes
• Research Opportunities
• Contact Us

STEM-designated: The M.A. in Economics program at Ohio University prepares diverse students to apply economic theory to real-world situations. The program qualifies as an Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT) designated program, allowing international students to extend their training in the United States by 24 months after graduation.

Advantages of the M.A. in Economics

• Funding opportunities are available on a competitive basis.
• One-year program with small class sizes that allow students to work closely with each other and with faculty.
• Courses focus on advanced quantitative methods (ranging from panel data models and difference-in-difference to the synthetic control method and forecasting techniques) using large databases in R and Stata.
• Faculty provide advice and support to students applying to job positions, Ph.D. programs, and internships.
• The program qualifies as an Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT).

Program Overview

The program mission is to provide students with rigorous quantitative and analytical skills to find a career in the public/private sector or pursue a Ph.D. degree in economics. The program emphasizes practical applications of economic theory. It is organized to provide students with analytical tools by which they can use to solve many economic problems existing in the real world. The program provides students with practical econometric skills that are popularly used in both private and public sectors.

Time to Degree: All academic requirements can be completed within 12 months, beginning in the fall semester and ending in August of the following year.

Career and Professional Opportunities and Placement

• A Career in Economics—Information from the American Economic Association

The applied economics degree prepares students for employment opportunities in both private and public sectors. Alternative placements include think tanks, consulting firms, research institutes, government agencies, international organizations, and private corporations.

Recent job placement of former students includes firms and institutions such as the Bureau of Economic Analysis (Alexandria, VA), Bureau of Labor Statistics (Washington, D.C.), Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy (Washington, D.C.), Community Advocates for Family and Youth (Washington, D.C.), Deloitte (Philadelphia, PA), Federal Reserve System (Washington, D.C.), Huntington National Bank (Columbus, OH), Institute for Defense Analyses (Alexandria, VA), Nationwide Children's Hospital (Columbus, OH), Optymyze (Philadelphia area), and Realogy Holdings Corp. (New York City), among others.

The M.A. in Economics also provides students with opportunities to continue graduate studies. Ph.D. programs in which OHIO students were accepted recently include the University of California–Riverside, University of California–Santa Cruz, Georgetown, George Washington, Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers, Stony-Brook, Washington State, and Wisconsin-Madison, among others.

Possible career paths:

• Data Analyst: Work with and analyze large economic datasets.
• Research Analyst: Research and analyze economic phenomena.
• Financial manager: Analyze economic aspects of a company or organization.
• Policy analyst: Analyze economic problems and recommend policies.
• College instructor: Instruct students in different areas of economics.

Costs

• Information on tuition and fees (for both domestic and international)
• Information on tuition, fees, living expenses, health insurance for international students

Funding opportunities

Funding opportunities are available on a competitive basis. The grade point average (GPA), the university from which the candidate has graduated, and other credentials are used for aid decisions. No separate form is required to apply for financial aid. The applicant needs to specify if he or she would like to apply for aid in the graduate application form.

Program Mission

The M.A. in Economics provides students with rigorous quantitative and analytical skills to find a career in the public/private sector or pursue a Ph.D. degree in economics.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to apply

1. Critical thinking
   • Apply economic analysis to evaluate everyday problems
   • Apply economic analysis to evaluate specific policy proposals
2. Quantitative reasoning skill
   • Understand how to use empirical evidence to evaluate an economic argument
   • Obtain or collect relevant data using specific research methods
   • Interpret statistical results
   • Perform appropriate statistical analysis of data
   • Develop deeper quantitative thinking skills
3. Problem-solving skills
   • Analyze problems that have clear solutions
   • Propose solutions for problems that do not have clear answers
4. Communication skills
   • Communicate effectively in written or spoken form about specific economic issues
   • Develop a well-organized written argument that states a hypothesis
   • Present an economic argument orally

Contact Us

For more information about the graduate programs in Economics, contact Dr. Roberto Duncan, Associate Professor and M.A.E. Graduate Chair.