The Program
Master of Arts
      Admission Requirements
      Degree Requirements
Unspecified Content or Variable Credit Courses
Core Prerequisites
ECO Course Descriptions

Department of Economics website

Paul Natke, Chairperson
321 Sloan Hall, (989) 774-3870

Jeffrey Barbour, Ph.D., Florida State University; Economic History, Economic Theory
Bharati Basu, Ph.D., University of Rochester; International Trade, Economic Development
Lawrence Brunner, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University; Public Finance, Urban Economics
A. Aydin Cecen, Ph.D., Indiana University; International Trade, Mathematical Economics
Debasish Chakraborty, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh; International Trade, Monetary Theory, Economic Development
Richard Clemmer, Ph.D., University of Chicago, Urban Economics, Microeconomics
Gregory A. Falls, Ph.D., Purdue University, Econometrics, Macroeconomics
James Richard Hill, Ph.D., University of Kentucky; Labor, International Trade
James R. Irwin, Ph.D., University of Rochester; Economic History, International Trade, Monetary Theory, Econometrics
Yongil Jeon, Ph.D. University of California at San Diego, Applied Econometrics, Time Series Econometrics
Catherine L. McDevitt, Ph.D., University of Rochester; Macroeconomics, Monetary Theory, Public Finance
Paul Natke, Ph.D., University of Notre Dame; Monetary Theory,  Managerial Economics
Michael Shields, Ph.D., University of Utah; Economic Development , Economic Theory
Jason E. Taylor, Ph.D., University of Georgia; Economic History, Industrial Organization
Bazil Zimmer, Ph.D., Rutgers; Economic Development, Economic Thought


The Program
The Department of Economics at Central Michigan University offers a program leading to the degree of master of arts in economics. The program is designed for two types of students: those who wish to gain marketable skills in applied economics and those who wish to strengthen their preparation in order to continue work toward a doctorate in economics.

Graduate assistantships, which involve the student in either teaching or research, are available on a competitive basis from the Economics Department. Currently, most economics graduate students are from countries other than the United States.

The program is designed to meet the needs of the individual student, and students may choose to write a thesis or may select a nonthesis option. The M.A. program is designed so that it can be completed in two semesters but normally requires three semesters.

Graduate courses in economics may be selected as elective or cognate courses on various graduate curricula including the following: business administration, geography, history, political science.

Requirements of the interdisciplinary curriculum for the Master of Science in Administration are stated under Interdisciplinary Degrees.
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Master of Arts
Admission Requirements
There are no specific undergraduate requirements for admission to the Master of Arts degree program in economics. Students who, in the opinion of the Graduate Coordinator, are deficient in background will be advised to take additional courses. Students who do not meet the graduate school requirements may apply for nondegree admission. A maximum of 15 credits earned during non-degree status may be applied toward a graduate degree in Economics.

Degree Requirements
Degree requirements will be satisfied by completing the common core and the Plan A or Plan B alternative. Candidates may not offer more than eight hours of cognate courses for this 30-hour program. All cognate courses must be selected in consultation with the candidate’s advisor.

I. Core Courses (12 hours)
ECO 535 Fundamentals of Mathematical Economics
ECO 585 Econometrics
ECO 616 Microeconomic Theory
ECO 620 Macroeconomic Theory

II. Elective Courses (18 hours)
A. Plan A. Thesis
1. Courses approved by advisor, inclusive of cognate courses - 12 hours
2. ECO 798, Thesis - 6 hours

B. Plan B. Non-thesis
1. Courses approved by advisor, inclusive of cognate courses - 18 hours
2. Research paper under the direction of a faculty member.

Total: 30 credit hours
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Unspecified content or variable credit courses. Click here for additional information regarding these types of courses. The following courses offered through the department are of unspecified content or variable credit: ECO 540, 590, 591, 597, 640 and 690.
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