Apr 19, 2024  
2020-2022 Graduate School Catalog 
    
2020-2022 Graduate School Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Economics (MA), Program Information


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Program Faculty


Department Chair

Randal Reed, Ph.D

Interim Chair, Economics 


 

Program Coordinator

Linda Loubert, Ph.D

Graduate Program Coordinator, Economics

226 G Jenkins Hall

Telephone (443)-885-1885 

E-mail: linda.loubert@morgan.edu


 

Program Faculty

Linda Loubert, Ph.D. 

Associate Professor

 

Randall Reed, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

 

Muhammad Quibria, Ph.D.

Professor

 

Faridul Islam, Ph.D.

Professor

Program Description


The Master of Arts degree program in Economics is a graduate program available for students who seek to advance their analytical skills and quantitative analysis for work in the policy arena as well as a stepping stone for an advanced degree in economics.

Program Objectives


The Master of Arts degree program in Economics is designed to enable students to develop competency in the areas of economic analysis and research, to prepare them for a wide variety of positions as economists and other related occupations in the public and private sectors including education, and to provide the academic and research training necessary for study beyond the Master’s level.

General Requirements


Following their admission to the program, all students will prepare a program of study with the graduate program coordinator and submit a copy to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Changes will be made only with departmental and Graduate School approval.

All candidates for the degree must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours and pass a written departmental comprehensive examination. In addition, students must submit an approved thesis and pass an oral examination.  Candidates should follow advice of the coordinator for cycling of the courses.

Students may not earn “C “grades totaling more than 20 percent of the credits needed to satisfy degree requirements; or receiving more than two grades of “F” (even F grades that have been retaken count)

Admission


In addition to meeting admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies, applicants for the master’s degree in Economics must show an aptitude in mathematics and economics. Intermediate level economics courses are strongly suggested as well as college algebra and basic calculus.

To be eligible for admission to the Masters of Arts Program in Economics, an applicant must: 

  • Have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, preferably in Economics or related area. 

  • Possess an undergraduate cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.) of 3.0 or better to be considered for regular admission. Students who possess a cumulative undergraduate G.P.A. of between a 2.7 and <3.0 may be considered for conditional admission.  Post-bachelor’s undergraduate credits will not be used to enhance G.P.A. requirements for admission to graduate study. 

  • Submit an application for admission to the School of Graduate Studies.  All required documents must be submitted as directed by the School of Graduate Studies prior to program review and admission decision.  

  • Use the application system to arrange for three letters of recommendation to be placed with the application.  These letters must be from officials or faculty members of institutions previously attended who are acquainted with the applicant’s ability for graduate study or from employment supervisors where applicable. 

  • Submit a typed exposition regarding the candidate’s personal academic and professional plans and the reasons for selecting Morgan State University. 

Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements and submitting all the required documents does not guarantee that an offer of admission will be made to the applicant.  The decision of the Program Admissions Committee involves a review and analysis of all the elements of the application as well as the availability of positions in the program.  The committee then recommends to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies that an offer of admission should be made based on that review.

Candidacy


Students achieve candidacy by successfully passing the qualifying examination (or Comprehensive Examination; Proposal Defense; etc.—to be decided by the program).  Prior to achieving Candidacy, the student must enroll in GRAD 793: Pre-Candidacy or GRAD 993: Pre-Candidacy. Programs must also identify any other requirement, such as language or internship that must be completed prior to candidacy.

Once a student achieves candidacy, enrollment in any course other than 799, 797, 998, or 997 is generally prohibited.  Students seeking additional skills, knowledge, or a certificate must seek approval through the program up to the School of Graduate Studies.  The request must be accompanied with a revised Plan of Study.

Thesis/Dissertation Completion


Students may choose a thesis chair based on their area of interest within the Economics program. Out of a total of 3 committee members for a defense, a minimum of 2 must come from the department of Economics.

Additional Requirements


General rules and regulations, expectation of professional ethics and behavior, etc. that may affect the eligibility of the student for continued study must be articulated.  A reference to appeals and due process must be included.

Program Course Requirements


MA Master of Arts in Economics (30 credit hours) 

Elective Courses 15 credits


Three (3) elective courses are required to be selected from all Economics department courses at the 500 and 600 level. Two (2) elective courses at the 500-600 level can be chosen from SOCI, HIST, INST, BUAD, ACCT, FIN, or MATH.

Note


* Two (2) courses chosen from the following subject areas:  SOCI, HIST, INST, BUAD, ACCT, FIN, MATH

Thesis 3 credits


Note


* Note: The student will continuously register in Fall and Spring terms for ECON 797 (Thesis Guidance) until the Master’s Thesis is completed and submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for review.  The course is used only when the curriculum has been completed, and the student is completing the research and writing of the thesis. The course registration maintains the student status as a matriculated, full-time student (student registers for 3 credit hours each semester, but is acknowledged as having a 9 credit hour load).  After the Intent to Defend the Master’s Thesis form has been accepted by the School of Graduate Studies, this course registration will be changed to ECON 799 (Thesis Defense) for the given semester and count for 3 credit hours of curricular coursework (ECON 799 will also count for 9 credit hours of load).  Other courses cannot be substituted for ECON 797 (Thesis Guidance). The only eligible grade for ECON 797 (Thesis Guidance) is the grade of “S” and the only acceptable grade for ECON 799 (Thesis Defense) is “P/F” (Pass/Fail).

Suggested Curriculum Sequence


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