B.A.,
B.S.
Students must complete a minimum of 36 semester credit hours
in Economics courses. At least 18 semester credit hours in
Economics must be completed at the
University
of Utah.
There are six (6) required courses: ECON 2010 (Principles of
Microeconomics, 3 semester credit hours); ECON 2020
(Principles of Macroeconomics, 3 semester credit hours);
ECON 3620 (Mathematics for Economists, 3 semester credit
hours); ECON 3640 (Probability & Statistical Inference, 3
semester hours; ECON 4010 (Intermediate Microeconomics, 3
semester credit hours); and ECON 4020 (Intermediate
Macroeconomics, 3 semester credit hours). Students must also
choose two upper division courses from “focus area” groups
1, 2, or 3 (Econometrics, Thought, History). These two
courses must not be from the same group. Four additional
upper division (3000 or above) elective courses (12 credit
hours) in Economics are also required, for a total of 12
courses (36 hours) in Economics. All courses for the major
must be taken for a letter grade and completed with a C-
(1.7) or better, and students must have a cumulative grade
point average of at least 2.0 in Economics.
:
In addition to the Economics credits, a minimum of 12
semester credit hours is required from related areas of
study, all of which must be upper division (3000 and above).
All courses from Anthropology, Family and Consumer Studies,
Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and
Gender Studies are eligible, as are all upper-division
classes from Business, Humanities, Sciences, and Ethnic
Studies. All courses taken for credit must be taken for a
letter grade and completed with a C- (1.7) or better
ECON 2010 Principles of Microeconomics (3)
ECON 2020 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)
ECON 3620 Mathematics for Economists (3)
ECON 3640 Probability & Statistical Inference (3)
ECON 4010 Intermediate Microeconomics (3)
ECON 4020 Intermediate Macroeconomics (3)
Total Hours: 18
Choice of two of the following; cannot be in the same group:
Group 1:
ECON 4650 Econometrics (3)
Group 2: Thought
ECON 5050 John M. Keynes (3)
ECON 5060 History of Economic Doctrines (3)
ECON 5080 Marxian Economics (3)
Group 3: History
ECON 5400 Middle East Economic History (3)
ECON 5410 European Economic History and Development (3)
ECON 5430 Asian Economic History and Development (3)
ECON 5460 Latin American History and Development (3)
ECON 5470 American Industrialization and Economic
Development (3) Total Hours: 6
Choose 4 upper division (3000 or above) Economics
Electives - total of 12 semester credit hours. Total Hours:
12
College Requirement of Allied Credit: Total Hours: 12
-----------------
Note: Prerequisites are
strictly enforced
There are three (3) required courses: ECON 2010, ECON 2020,
and one course from the group ECON 4010, 4020 (economic
theory), 5050, 5060, 5080
(economic thought), 5400, 5410, 5430, 5460, 5470 (economic
history).
Students must also complete three (3) additional upper
division electives (total 9 credit hours). All minor courses
must be taken for a letter grade and completed with a C-
(1.7) or better, and students must have a cumulative grade
point average of 2.0 in Economics courses.
Required
ECON 2010 (3)
ECON 2020 (3)
ECON History or Theory or Thought (3)
Electives
Economics Hours (9)
Teaching Major, Minor, Certification.
Please refer to Education in the Colleges section for
information on teaching major and minor course requirements
and state secondary teacher certification.
Graduate Program
Degrees. M.A., M.S.,
M.Phil., Ph.D.
For additional information, see the Graduate Information
section of this catalog.
The Economics Department cooperates with the
College of Business
in the M.B.A. and Ph.D. in business administration programs,
and with the University Statistics Committee on the granting
of the M.Stat.
degree. A certificate option in
health-services administration is available with the M.A.
and M.S. degrees.
Master’s Degrees
The M.S. or M.A. degree in economics is oriented toward the
preparation of professional economists who might work in a
variety of contexts, either in the public or private
sectors. To this end, two qualitatively different degree
programs are offered. One program is oriented toward a
broad, general training in economics. The other program is
oriented toward applied analytical and research work in
economics. Both programs have a common core and the same
admission requirements, but the applied program requires a
strong quantitative background. Also, the required course
curriculum consists of theory and quantitative courses. The
qualitative difference is recognized by the awarding of a
special letter from the department (in addition to the
master’s degree) certifying that the student is equipped to
do advanced analytical and applied research using the latest
research tools. In what follows, the admission requirements
are outlined, the common core is explained, and each program
is discussed.
Admission. The admission requirements for a
master’s degree in economics are:
1. Completion of all work required for a bachelor’s
degree.
2. GPA of 3.0 or better.
3. Successful completion of ECON 4010 (Intermediate
Microeconomic Analysis), ECON 4020 (Intermediate
Macroeconomic Analysis), and ECON 4650 (Principles of
Econometrics).
4. Acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Examination
(GRE).
5. Three academic letters of reference.
All students wishing to enter the master’s program must
apply to the program regardless of their academic
background. Students who do not have a background in
economics and/or who are academically weak (GPA below 3.0)
may be admitted by the
Graduate
School in a
non-matriculated status. This status usually requires the
student to take specific courses determined by the Master’s
Committee at the time of the application review. These
courses do not count toward the master’s degree. Upon
completion of these courses with grades of B or better, the
student may apply for regular admission into the program.
Students do not become degree candidates until an
Application for Admission to Candidacy for the Master’s
Degree has been approved by the
Graduate School.
To avoid delays in being advanced to candidacy, upon
acceptance into the program the student is encouraged to
register with the appropriate departmental advisor who must
approve all course work offered toward the degree.
There is a common core consisting of ECON 6610,
(microeconomics), ECON 6620 (macroeconomics), and ECON 6630
(applied econometrics). Students transferring credits will
be evaluated on an individual basis. The prerequisites for
the core are ECON 4010 (Intermediate Microeconomics), ECON
4020 (Intermediate Macroeconomics), and ECON 4650
(Principles of Econometrics). Students who have not taken
these classes or their equivalents must take them as
indicated earlier in this section.
General Program. The objective of the general
program is to provide broad, general training in economics.
The admission requirements are outlined in the preceding
paragraphs. The student, however, has a high degree of
flexibility in designing his or her program of study. Upon
admission into the program, the student is assigned a
faculty advisor. Together, the student and advisor design
the student’s 30 semester hours (minimum) of course work,
including three hours for the research project. The student
may elect to write a master’s thesis (which carries 6 credit
hours).
To continue in the program in good academic standing, the
student must maintain a B average or better and demonstrate
progress toward the degree. Normally, for a full-time
student (three courses per semester) the program requires at
least three semesters of work. Part-time students require
five semesters of work. Class scheduling problems could
extend the time required for completion of all work. Other
problems requiring an extended time for completion will be
evaluated by the student’s advisor. A recommendation will be
made to the Master’s Committee, which will then rule on the
student’s petition for an extension of time. In any case,
the maximum completion time allowed is four years. Maximum
credit allowed per semester is 16 hours.
Applied Program. The objective of the applied
program is to provide highly technical and analytical
training in economics for the public or private sector. To
be admitted into this program, the student must have a
strong mathematical and statistical background. Students who
meet these requirements or indicate an intention to acquire
such a background can petition the Master’s Committee to
enter the applied program.
The applied program consists of courses in economic
theory, econometrics, and mathematics. The student, in
consultation with his or her advisor, will elect either to
write a thesis demonstrating superior research ability or to
take more course work in certain applied economics courses
or appropriate courses outside of the department
(particularly in computer applications) and complete a
research project in applied economics.
In addition, qualified students are encouraged to seek
and complete a research internship requiring a minimum of
six hours per week of work for fifteen weeks. The Master’s
Committee will cooperate with the internship-granting agency
or firm to determine the appropriate credit (a maximum of
three credit hours) and supervision arrangements.
As is evident from the requirements, the applied program
is not designed for every student. Upon successful
completion of all the requirements, the student will receive
a special certificate from the Department of Economics
testifying to his or her superior research and analytical
abilities. This certificate is awarded separately from the
master’s degree. Its basis is the recommendation from the
faculty of the Master’s Committee, the student’s faculty
advisor and the internship supervisor.
Thesis Option. Students who choose the thesis
option must fulfill the following requirements for a
master’s degree.
1. Successful completion, with at least a 3.0 average, of a
minimum of 24 hours of approved graduate course work in
economics (and other acceptable areas)
2. Successful completion of the University’s language
requirement of one language at standard proficiency (not
required for M.S. candidates).
3. Successful completion of the master’s thesis, for which 6
credit hours are granted.
4. Successful oral defense of the thesis, which includes an
examination of all work taken in the Master’s Program.
Project Option. Students who select the project
option must fulfill the following requirements for a
master’s degree.
1. Successful completion, with at least a 3.0 average, of a
minimum of 27 hours of approved graduate course work in
economics (and other acceptable areas).
2. Successful completion of the University’s language
requirement of one language at standard proficiency (not
required for M.S. candidates).
3. Successful completion of a research project (see details
below), for which three credit hours are granted.
4. Successful oral defense of the research project, which
includes an examination on all work taken in the Master’s
Program.
The research-project format is common to both the applied
and general degree programs and receives three credit hours.
The basis of the project can be a research paper written for
a previous course. Normally, the instructor for that course
will be the student’s faculty advisor for the research
project. The Master’s Committee will also supervise the
project.
Students register for ECON 6955 (three credit hours) for
the semester in which they expect to defend their project.
Also note that students must register for ECON 6980 for any
semester in which there is no other registration. This
includes the semester in which a project defense actually
occurs, for those who did not finalize their project during
ECON 6955.
M.Stat.
(Econometrics). The department participates in the
University Master’s Program in Statistics. The
M.Stat. (Econometrics) degree
program provides training in applied statistics relating to
problems in economic theory and forecasting.
For detailed course requirements see the Graduate Study
at the
University of Utah
bulletin.
Ph.D. Degree. The Ph.D. degree program prepares
students for professional careers in teaching, research,
business, and government. The program provides a broad
mastery of both theoretical and applied fields of economics.
Both orthodox and heterodox approaches to economics are
integral parts of the program. The department attempts to
provide students receiving financial aid with teaching
opportunities.
Admission. The requirements for admission to the
Ph.D. program are:
1. The completion of all work required for a bachelor’s
degree.
2. GPA of 3.0 or better or its equivalent.
3. The successful completion of intermediate microeconomic
and macroeconomic theory.
4. Acceptable GRE scores on verbal, quantitative, and
analytical components.
5. Three academic reference letters.
6. A brief statement of personal academic goals.
Foreign students must demonstrate their proficiency in
English, usually by taking the TOEFL examination. A master’s
degree in economics is not a requirement. Preparation in
mathematics through calculus, statistics, and linear algebra
is strongly recommended. It may be necessary for students
not fully prepared for a graduate program to take remedial
courses. Students who lack the proper background in theory,
statistics, and mathematics must take courses to remedy
these deficiencies prior to their first year of study. These
courses are usually offered during the summer term.
Requirements. The Ph.D. program consists of four
parts:
I. the core program
II. methodology seminars
III. fields of specialization and
electives seminars
IV. dissertation research and
candidacy.
The requirements for the doctorate are formulated in terms
of mastery of these four components. Overall, students must
maintain a 3.0 GPA in their graduate course work.
Part I: Core Program
The core areas taken in the first year are microeconomic
theory, macroeconomic theory, and political economy. All
Ph.D. students are expected to be full-time during their
first year, registering for 12 credit hours per semester.
The core areas taken in the first year are microeconomic
theory, macroeconomic theory, and political economy. The
full set of graduate courses for the first year of the
program is listed below:
Fall Semester:
Quantitative Methods (Econ
7002)
Political Economy I (Econ
7003)
Microeconomic Theory I (Econ
7005)
Macroeconomic Theory I (Econ
7007)
Spring Semester:
Contemporary Economic Problems (Econ 7001)
Political Economy II (Econ 7004)
Microeconomic Theory II (Econ 7006)
Macroeconomic Theory II (Econ 7008)
There are three qualifying exams that are given during the
summer following the first year covering Micro, Macro and
Political Economy. Students are allowed to retake these
exams once.
Entering students must be proficient in college algebra,
introductory calculus, and statistics. Students must take
the Mathematics Exam administered by the Department before
beginning classes in the Fall semester. Students are not
required to pass the exam in order to continue with their
course work. Students who do not feel they can pass the
exam, who want to refresh their mathematics knowledge or who
wish improve their performance on the exam should enroll in
the Department's optional mathematics tutorial course held
during the summer before entering Graduate School.
Part II: Methodology Seminars
The methodology requirement consists of two advanced
seminars:
· Econometric
methodology (either ECON 7590 or ECON 7800)
· Historical
methodology (ECON 7400 or ECON 7600 or Econ 7601)
This requirement should be completed in the student's second
or third year.
Part III: Fields of Specialization and Electives
Before the second year, the student selects fields of
specialization. This requirement adds depth and application
to the student's economic training. During the second and/or
third years students take two two-semester fields, or
four one-semester fields, or any combination that
results in a total of four courses. Field courses are
offered on a rotating basis over two years.
Two-Semester Fields:
Econometrics
International
Industrial Organization
History of Economic Thought
Money and Macro
Development
Gender
Economic History
Finance
One-Semester Fields:
Public Economics
Labor
Natural Resource & Environmental Economics
Health Economics
Prior knowledge of a field at an advanced undergraduate
level is recommended. Such knowledge may be obtained through
course work or directed reading. A comprehensive examination
is taken upon completion of each field. If the examination
is failed, it may be retaken once.
Altogether the methodology, field and electives seminars
must total 24 credit hours (equivalent to 8 courses).
Elective courses must be chosen from economics courses at
the 7000 level.
Part IV: Dissertation Research
Dissertation research begins during the third year with a
yearlong dissertation workshop to aid students in choosing a
research topic and ends with a final defense. Throughout the
dissertation stage, student research is supervised by a
committee of faculty who are expert in the student’s area of
study. Dissertation students enroll for Dissertation
Research, ECON 7970; fourteen credit hours are required. The
dissertation workshop counts toward the ECON 7970
requirement.
Assistantships and Financial Aid
The Economics Department awards graduate assistantships and
endeavors to provide some financial
assistance for as many students as possible. A
tuition waiver is included in the assistantship award.
Assistantships are awarded initially on the basis of
academic record. The Department
generally does not award assistantships to students beyond
their first three years. The Department often hires
fourth-year or other unfunded students to assist in faculty
research, teach courses, staff the computer lab, or provide
grading assistance.
Graduate students are also eligible for fellowships
offered by the University. One of these is the University
Graduate Research Fellowship. Two other are the
Marriner S. Eccles Graduate
Fellowship in Political Economy and the Howard-Karsten
Graduate Fellowship; bost are
limited to
U.S.
citizens. Applicants without either
departmental funding or personal financial support
sufficient to complete the program will be discouraged from
enrolling.
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Economics 
