Master’s Program in Economics
The M.S. program is designed primarily for students who have the desire and the aptitude to pursue a Ph.D. in Economics or Agricultural Economics, but require additional coursework background before beginning Ph.D.-level studies. These students are encouraged to apply for an upgrade to the department's Ph.D. program after one year in the M.S. program, before actually finishing the M.S. requirements. Other students complete the M.S. degree requirements, in 1.5 to 2 years, and pursue Ph.D. studies elsewhere or enter the workforce directly. In any case, students develop their understanding of economic theory, sharpen their quantitative skills, and gain the ability to analyze a wide variety of applied problems.
Majors: Economics, Agricultural Economics
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | |
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| Summer | Possible elective coursework or research | |
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*Core classes for majors in Economics and Agricultural Economics are the same.
M.S. Degree Research
Thesis: The thesis option requires a minimum of 24 credits of formal coursework plus completion of a traditional master's thesis (maximum 6 credits) for a total of 30 credits.
Non-thesis: The non-thesis option requires 30 credits of formal coursework plus completion of a less formal research project called a creative component (2 credits) for a total of 32 credits.
All M.S. students must pass a final oral exam during which they defend their thesis or creative component. Students do not formally declare an area of concentration in the M.S. program. Nevertheless, most students concentrate their study in one or two fields. The most common fields include agricultural marketing, agricultural policy, human resources, finance, and industrial organization.
M.S. Degree: Placement
Approximately 25% of M.S. program enrollees upgrade to the department's Ph.D. program before finishing the M.S. degree. Among those who complete the degree requirements, about a third enroll in Ph.D. programs elsewhere. (Recent graduates have entered Ph.D. programs at SUNY-Stony Brook, University of Houston, and Washington University.) The remaining students enter the job market and have typically been divided relatively evenly between jobs in government and the private sector. Examples of recent placements include positions at John Deere Financial, Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, VerMeer Corporation, INforma Economics, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For more information contact: jstrand@iastate.edu