M.A. Program Requirements
Graduate Student Handbook
Coursework
Culminating Requirement
University Writing Requirement (WPE)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Current Graduate Students
Coursework
Each student will complete a minimum of 30 semester units with a 3.0 minimum GPA. Students have the option of either following a thesis track or a non-thesis track. Regardless of track chosen, though, students must complete 18 semester units of core coursework, consisting of the following 6 courses (prerequisites noted in parentheses; complete course descriptions given in the catalog):
- ECON 141 Introduction to Econometrics (STAT 1 and ECON 140**)
- ECON 200M Mathematics for Economists (MATH 26A or equivalent)
- ECON 200A Economic Theory Macro (ECON 141 and ECON 200M)
- ECON 200B Economic Theory Micro (ECON 200M)
- ECON 200C Advanced Economic Theory (ECON 200A and ECON 200B)
- ECON 241 Applied Econometric Analysis (ECON 141, ECON 200M)
Students must earn a minimum grade of “B” in each of the core courses listed above. After completing the core sequence of courses, students will then select the thesis track (Option A) or the non-thesis track (Option B). Under Option A, the student will complete 9 semester units of electives and 3 semester units of ECON 500, the Master's Thesis. Those students completing Option B will complete 12 semester units of electives.
**Graduate students should have training in introductory statistics (STAT 1) and experience with applying statistical inference in economics (ECON 140) before entering the M.A. program. The ECON 140 prerequisite is typically waived for graduate students. If you are concerned with your background in statistics, please schedule an appointment with the Graduate Coordinator.
Important Note: Most of the above classes involve prerequisites. 200-level courses are only offered once each year. Students MUST complete courses in the following sequence (semester offered in parentheses):
- ECON 141 and ECON 200M (Fall)
- ECON 200A and ECON 200B (Spring)
- ECON 200C and ECON 241 (Fall)
Graduate students may count a total of 6 units of undergraduate-level coursework toward the M.A. degree. ECON 141 counts for 3 units - leaving the student the option of taking an upper division Economics course (provided the course has prerequisites) and is taken for a grade. This would leave the student with 6-9 units of 200-level elective coursework to complete.
The following 200-level electives do not have 200-level prerequisites:
- ECON 201: Selected Topics in the Development of Economic Theory
- ECON 251: Urban Problems, Economics, and Policy
- ECON 260: Industrial Organization
- ECON 265: Cost-Benefit Analysis
The following 200-level electives do have 200-level prerequisites:
- ECON 230: Public Economics (ECON 200B)
- ECON 238: Monetary and Fiscal Policy (ECON 200A)
- ECON 290: International Trade (ECON 200B)
Students are strongly encouraged to take one of the three elective courses with 200-level prerequisites, whenever possible. These are more advanced courses that will help prepare students for work on their theses.
Students may count a total of 3 units of Credit/No Credit coursework (ECON 294/295/298/299) toward the M.A. in Economics, with permission of the Graduate Coordinator. Students MAY NOT enroll in ECON 299 during the same semester as ECON 500.
Please use the Graduate Student Advising Worksheet to check that you are satisfying the program requirements. You are encouraged to keep regular appointments with the Graduate Coordinator while completing your coursework.
Proposed course schedule for students entering the M.A. Program in the fall:
First Year |
|
| Fall ECON 141: Introduction to Econometrics ECON 200M: Math for Economists ECON 100-level elective |
Spring ECON 200A: Advanced Macroeconomic Theory ECON 200B: Advanced Microeconomic Theory |
Second Year |
|
| Fall ECON 200C: Advanced Economic Theory ECON 241: Applied Econometric Analysis ECON 200-level elective |
Spring ECON 200-level elective ECON 500: Master's Theses |
Culminating Requirement
All students in graduate programs at the University must complete a culminating requirement. The M.A. Program in Economics has two options for fulfulling the culiminating requirment: Option A (Thesis) and Option B (Non-Thesis/Project). Under Option A, the student will complete 9 semester units of electives and 3 semester units of ECON 500, the Master's Thesis. Those students completing Option B will complete 12 semester units of electives. Among the elective courses, the student will select a “major field course” from which to complete a project (details on the project are provided below).
Option A
Under Option A, the student completes a thesis under the guidance of a thesis advisor and a thesis committee. The thesis committee will consist of at least two faculty members, of which one serves as the thesis advisor. The thesis advisor will be able to provide the student with assistance in choosing additional members of the committee. Once the student selects a thesis committee, the student must provide written notification of the committee members to the Graduate Coordinator. For the student seeking to complete the M.A. degree in two years, it is recommended that the thesis committee be formed before the end of the Fall semester of the second year of study. At least one semester before completing the thesis, the student in consultation with the thesis committee, will develop a timeline for completing the thesis. The student shall enroll in ECON 500 for 3 units in the semester they plan to complete all degree requirements.
Upon completion of the thesis, the student will then sit before their thesis committee for an oral examination of the subject matter relevant to the thesis. The oral examination will be graded “pass” or “fail”. Should the student fail the oral examination, he/she will be given specific guidelines on additional work required to complete the degree.
The completed thesis must adhere to all university regulations regarding thesis completion. Please consult my information on completion of the M.A. thesis/project and the Office of Graduate Studies for further details.
Option B
Under Option B, the student selects a “major field course” from their electives courses taught by faculty in the Department of Economics. The student must provide written notification to the Graduate Coordinator and the faculty member teaching the “major field course” of his/her intentions to complete a project while taking the course. In consultation with the faculty member teaching the course, the project will address a topic related to the course content. Such a project may involve one or more of the following:
- A theoretical or empirical analysis of an economic issue
- A comprehensive literature review of an economic issue
- A feasibility analysis of an economic activity
After satisfactory completion of the major field course, the student will submit a project paper and undergo an oral examination administered by a panel of at least two faculty members from the Department of Economics. During the oral exam, the student will be asked questions relevant to the project and the major field course. The oral exam is graded “pass” or “fail”. Should the student fail the oral exam, he/she will be given specific guidelines on additional work required to complete the degree.
The completed project must adhere to all university regulations regarding project completion. Please consult my information on completion of the M.A. thesis/project and the Office of Graduate Studies for further details.
University Writing Requirement (WPE)
All students must satisfy University writing requirements in order to advance to candidacy. These requirements may be satisfied by completing one of the following:
- pass the Writing Proficiency Exam (WPE),
- complete equivalent course work (ENGL 109 required, ENGL 20 recommended),
- petition to waive the WPE
The WPE is an undergraduate junior-level writing exam. It is recommended that graduate students take this exam as early as possible. Exam dates for the current academic year are available on the Schedule of Classes.
Students are allowed two attempts on the exam. If a student fails twice, he/she must enroll in ENGL 109W (for native speakers of English) OR ENGL 109M (for those who learned English as a second language).
If a student anticipates that he/she will not be able to pass the exam, then the student can elect to enroll in the equivalent coursework (ENGL 109W or ENGL 109M) without taking the WPE.
If you passed this exam as an undergraduate, you do not need to retake it as a graduate student. If you graduated from a California State University, then you are probably eligible to waive the WPE.
The complete guidelines for waiving the WPE are provided in the Petition to Waiver the Writing Proficiency Exam Form. If you believe you are eligible for a waiver, you should complete this form as soon as possible to prevent delays in advancement to candidacy and graduation.
FAQs for Current Graduate Students
- I am conditionally classified as a graduate student, when should I apply for full classification?
- When should I advance to candidacy?
- I have a job/internship that is economics-related. Can I receive credit for this toward my degree?
- Which undergraduate courses may be counted toward the M.A. degree in Economics?
- I am interested in taking 200-level electives that are not being offered in the next few semesters. What should I do?
- I got a B- in a core graduate course. Do I have to repeat this course?
- I am on academic probation. What should I do?
- How do I get started on my thesis?
- How do I enroll in ECON 500?
- How does the Graduation Application work?
- What if I don't finish my thesis this semester?
- I am leaving the program temporarily for personal/work reasons. What do I do? Is there a time limit on completing the M.A. degree?
- I completed/want to complete some graduate coursework at another university. Does this coursework count toward my M.A. degree in Economics?
- How many units can I take through Open University?
- Because of my math background, I was able to enroll in ECON 200A and ECON 200B during my first semester in the graduate program (without taking ECON 200M). Can I still take ECON 200M and count it toward my M.A. degree?
The FAQs above (and answers below) are specific to the M.A. Program in Economics. The Office of Graduate Studies has compiled a comprehensive list of FAQs about the application/admission process, graduate student classifications, program costs, financial assistance, and other information.
I am conditionally classified as a graduate student, when should I apply for full classification?
Once you have met the admission conditions, you should complete the Application for Classification. This form requires the Graduate Coordinator's signature. If you are unsure of your admissions conditions, then please see the Graduate Coordinator. The conditions are typically included in your admission letter from the Office of Graduate Studies.
When should I advance to candidacy?
Most students will advance to candidacy during their 3rd semester in the program. Students must be fully classified graduate students before they can complete this application (see #1 above). Each student must file an application for Advancement to Candidacy as soon as the graduate student has:
- successfully completed ECON 141 , ECON 200A , ECON 200B , and ECON 200C with a minimum grade of "B";
- passed the Writing Proficiency Examination (WPE) or secured approval for a WPE waiver;
- been approved for advancement to candidacy by the Gradaute Coordinator.
Please make an appointment with the Graduate Coordinator to complete the application. You should bring the form with the top portion (your contact information) completed. Most students will advance to candidacy while ECON 200C is in progress. If the form is not filed with the Office of Graduate Studies on time, then the student may not be able to enroll in ECON 500.
I have a job/internship that is economics-related. Can I receive credit for this toward my degree?
Yes. Please review the Department of Economics information on Economics Internship (ECON 295). You may want to check with the Graduate Coordinator to verify that you can count these units toward your M.A. degree.
Which undergraduate courses may be counted toward the M.A. degree in Economics?
Any Economics course numbered 101 or higher may be counted toward the M.A. degree in Economics, provided that:
- the student did not take the equivalent course in his/her previous studies,
- the course has at least one prerequisite, AND
- the course is not a prerequisite for a core graduate course. Specifically, the following courses may be counted toward the M.A. degree (complete course descriptions given in the catalog):
- ECON 101: History of Economic Thought
- ECON 110: Cost-Benefit Analysis* [ECON 265: Cost-Benefit Analysis]
- ECON 113: Economic History of the U.S.
- ECON 114: The California Economy
- ECON 123: Resource Economics
- ECON 130: Public Economics [ECON 230: Public Finance]
- ECON 132: State and Local Government Finance
- ECON 135: Money and Banking
- ECON 138: Monetary and Fiscal Policy* [ECON 238: Monetary and Fiscal Policy]
- ECON 150: Labor Economics
- ECON 152: Economics of Education
- ECON 160: Industrial Organization* [ECON 260: Industrial Organization]
- ECON 161: Fundamentals of Game Theory
- ECON 162: Energy Economics
- ECON 170: Public Economics and Regulation
- ECON 180: Urban Economics* [ECON 251: Urban Problems, Economics, and Policy]
- ECON 186: Sports Economics
- ECON 190: International Trade* [ECON 290: Urban Problems, Economics, and Policy]
- ECON 192: International Finance
- ECON 193: Development Economics
* These courses have 200-level courses that are similar in content (shown in brackets above). Students may not count both the undergraduate and graduate version of the course toward the M.A. degree. The student may enroll in both courses for added background, but may only count one toward the M.A. degree. If a student happened to have taken the undergraduate version while earning the undergraduate degree, this is ok. The only conflict arises if the student plans to count both the undergraduate and graduate versions of the course toward the M.A. degree.
Students may take only 3 units of elective undergraduate coursework toward the M.A. degree. If a student completed ECON 141: Introduction to Econometrics while completing a baccalaureate degree, then he/she may take 6 units of undergraduate elective coursework.
Students are encouraged to choose a course that most closely matches their research interests. This will provide the student with knowledge crucial for completing a successful thesis. If you are not sure what your research interests are, but you are interested in completing a 100-level course, please see the Graduate Coordinator for advising.
I am interested in taking 200-level electives that are not being offered in the next few semesters. What should I do?
You should contact either the Graduate Coordinator OR the instructor who regularly teaches the course (if known). In such cases, a student may take ECON 299: Special Problems course with the instructor.
I got a B- in a core graduate course. Do I have to repeat this course?
Yes. There are no waivers for core courses (ECON 141, 200M, 200A, 200B, 200C, and 241) in the M.A. program. This applies, even when the student's GPA is above 3.0 overall.
I am on academic probation. What should I do?
See the Graduate Coordinator as soon as possible. The Graduate Coordinator can help you to plan an appropriate course of action to avoid academic disqualification/dismissal.
If you have been disqualified or dismissed, then you should see the Graduate Coordinator as soon as possible, even if you do not plan to enroll in courses in the coming semester. Please carefully review Procedures for Reinstatment if you are on academic probation or have been disqualified.
How do I get started on my thesis?
See Completing the Thesis/Project for pointers on how to get started.
To enroll in ECON 500, the student must have:
- filed Advancement to Candidacy form with the Office of Graduate Studies (see #2 above)
- found a thesis advisor who has agreed to surpervise the student's thesis
- have a completed proposal submitted to the Graduate Coordinator
Note, this means that most students should begin work on their thesis (in the form of a proposal) in the semester BEFORE they plan to register for ECON 500. Once a student has completed the above steps, the Graduate Coordinator will add the student to ECON 500. In order to receive credit for this course, the student must
- file a Graduation Application with the Office of Graduate Studies before the semester deadline (see #9 below)
- complete an oral defense of his/her thesis research;
- file a completed thesis with the Office of Graduate Studies (signed by the thesis committee and Graduate Coordinator);
Students planning to graduate should carefully review the Graduation Document Checklist.
How does the Graduation Application work?
Students must complete the Graduation Application during the semester they plan to graduate. The deadlines are November 1 for fall graduation and April 1 for spring and summer graduation.
The student should complete the application and have his/her primary thesis advisor sign it. A signed copy MUST be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator.
Students planning to graduate should carefully review the Graduation Document Checklist.
What if I don't finish my thesis this semester?
Graduate students who have been advanced to candidacy and who have completed all course work can maintain the required active degree program status without additional University registration by enrolling in “Continuous Enrollment” through Open University. There are no units associated with this enrollment. Such enrollment is valid as long as the student is within the time period allowed for the completion of the culminating experience requirement. Students are allowed a maximum of three semesters past the first semester of registration to complete the thesis or project. Students may be able to register for continuous enrollment by completing the Continuous Enrollment Registration Form.
If the student already submitted a Graduation Application, then he/she must complete a Masters Graduation Date Change form. This form requires only the student's signature and must be filed with the Office of Graduate Studies. A copy of the completed form should be left with the Graduate Coordinator.
I am leaving the program temporarily for personal/work reasons. What do I do? Is there a time limit on completing the M.A. degree?
Students are able to take one semester off, without applying for a leave of absence. When a student doesn't register, he/she is granted an automatic leave of absence. When the student anticipates needing more than one semester off, he/she must apply for a leave of absence. If the student fails to do so, then he/she must reapply for admission (same as applying for admission to the M.A. Program in Economics).
If a student has completed ALL coursework toward the M.A. in Economics, except for ECON 500, then the student can apply for Continuous Enrollment.
Coursework completed toward the M.A. degree is current and applicable for up to seven years after the course is completed. This means that students must complete their M.A. degree requirements within a seven year period, regardless of the admission date. For example, if a student took ECON 141 as an undergraduate in Spring 2000 and is admitted to the M.A. program in Fall 2001, the student must complete the degree requirements no later than Spring 2007.
If you are a student who completed coursework over seven years ago and you believe the content of the course has not changed substantially, then you can complete the Petition for Currency with the help of the Graduate Coordinator.
I completed/want to complete some graduate coursework at another university. Does this coursework count toward my M.A. degree in Economics?
A minimum of 21 approved semester units in 100-, 200- and 500-series offerings in Economics must be earned in residence at California State University, Sacramento. Coursework completed at other California State University campuses does not count toward this 21-unit residency requirement.
Therefore, the maximum number of transferable units for the M.A. program in Economics is nine units and is subject to the Gradaute Coordinator's approval. If you have completed graduate-level coursework at another university, please contact the Graduate Coordinator to determine how these courses would fit into your curriculum in the M.A. program here. It is likely that this will require a Petition for Exception that can be completed with the help of the Graduate Coordinator.
Note, if this coursework is applicable toward another degree, then it cannot be double-counted toward both degrees. For example, if you complete Economics coursework toward a degree that you intend to finish (baccalaureate, masters, or doctoral), you cannot count these units toward both degrees.
How many units can I take through Open University?
If prospective students take courses needed for admission to the M.A. program in Economics, then they may take an unlimited number of units through Open University. Since admission requirements do not count toward the 30-unit M.A. program in Economics, there is no limit on how many courses a student may take.
Students not admitted to the University as classified (conditional or full) graduate students, can begin work on their M.A. degree. A maximum of 6 units of Open University coursework is applicable toward the M.A. degee in Economics.
Fees for Open University are similar to those paid by classified graduate students.
Because of my math background, I was able to enroll in ECON 200A and ECON 200B during my first semester in the graduate program (without taking ECON 200M). Can I still take ECON 200M and count it toward my M.A. degree?
No, you may not. If you are able to enroll in ECON 200A and ECON 200B without taking ECON 200M, this implies that you completed the prerequisite coursework (ECON 200M and ECON 141) in your previous studies. Therefore you MAY NOT take ECON 200M (or ECON 141) for credit toward the degree. Therefore, once you earn a B or better in ECON 200A and ECON 200B, you may not take ECON 200M for credit toward the degree.
See question #4 above for more information about which courses may be counted toward the M.A. degree in Economics.