Economics: Policy Economics, MS
Master of Science in Economics, Policy Economics Concentration
head of the department: Martin Perry
associate head: George Deltas
overview of grad college admissions & requirements: https://grad.illinois.edu/admissions/apply
MSPE program website: https://economics.illinois.edu/mspe
college website: https://las.illinois.edu/
department website: https://economics.illinois.edu
department office: 214 David Kinley Hall, 1407 W. Gregory Dr., Urbana, IL 61801
phone: (217) 333-0120
fax: (217) 244-6571
email: econ@illinois.edu
This is a specially designed one- to two-year program to address the needs of two groups of students. One is promising young professionals and administrators who need additional training in the areas of economic analysis and quantitative techniques. The other is students who are potentially interested in pursuing a Ph.D. degree but require additional qualification to enable them to do so. While earning the master’s degree and acquiring the necessary tools for further studies, they will learn if the pursuit of a Ph.D. degree is within their reach and suits their purposes.
Students enter the program only in the fall term.
The required coursework is further enriched through
- academic advising wherein an academic advisor with an open-door policy allows the MSPE students to drop by his office at their convenience, discuss their academic questions with him, and re-optimize their program of study on a continual basis. The academic advisor also provides guidance on study plans beyond graduation and provides support in achieving them;
- an orientation program that includes an intensive mathematics course; this course serves as a refresher for the math content to be utilized during the students’ courses in the program;
- opportunities to participate in field trips to observe the operation of financial institutions, modern industrial production facilities, federal and state government agencies, and international institutions;
- scheduled lectures by outstanding, internationally known economists;
- discussion groups and tutoring for participants who are having difficulty;
- program staff assistance with visas, housing, and other nonacademic concerns; and
- participation in social activities, including graduation dinners, holiday parties, picnics, and special luncheons.
This is a designated full-cost recovery program and no financial aid is available for the students in this program.
Please see www.mspe.illinois.edu for detailed information on the MSPE Program.
Graduate Degree Programs in Economics
Economics, MS
concentration:
Economics: Policy Economics, MS
Economics, PhD
Admission
Admission to the Ph.D. program is available only for the fall semester. In addition to the standard undergraduate preparation in economics, students are expected to have had at least two semesters of calculus and one of linear algebra to be admitted to the Ph.D. program. The results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) should accompany applications for admission. Graduate College admission requirements apply. In addition, international students must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS results; if they wish to apply for a teaching assistantship, the Test of Spoken English (TSE) or completion of the speaking section of the TOEFL-iBT or IELTS is also required.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate program and is encouraged as part of the academic work of all Ph.D. candidates in this program.
Financial Aid
In recent years, the Department of Economics has been able to offer assistantships to most students who meet the standards for admission or continuation in the Ph.D. program. In order to qualify for a teaching assistantship, non-native speakers of English must pass a speaking proficiency test of the English language.
Master of Science in Economics, Policy Economics Concentration
For additional details and requirements refer to the department's graduate programs and the Graduate College Handbook.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 500 | Microeconomics | 4 |
| ECON 501 | Macroeconomics | 4 |
| ECON 502 | Economic Statistics | 4 |
| ECON 503 | Econometrics | 4 |
| Two graduate credit courses are to be completed in a selected specialization | 8 | |
| Four electives, at least two of which are in economics | 16 | |
| Total Hours | 40 | |
Other Requirements
| The minimum length of stay in the Program is one year (fall and spring semesters plus one summer session). | |
| Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: | 32 |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: | 32 |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |