Graduate Programs

Graduate Economic Degree
Master of Arts in International Political Economics

The interdisciplinary program in international political economics offers prospective graduate students a carefully designed combination of theoretical training and exposure to outstanding policy issues. Individuals professionally involved in aspects of international economic relations--international business, finance, banking, and government service--will find such a program of particular career interest. The minimum number of semester hours of graduate credit to be earned by degree candidates is thirty-six.

A. Undergraduate Requirements: A minimum of twenty-seven semester hours of undergraduate credits in the following fields: economics (15), including intermediate micro- and macroeconomic theory; and two semesters of statistics; politics (12), including American government and comparative politics. Two semesters of calculus are also recommended.

B. Course Work
       1. Required courses (24) a. Economics (12): Econ 662, Graduate Statistics (3); Econ 580, Economics of Foreign Trade; Econ 581, International Finance; Econ 563, Economic Integration Movements; or Econ 540, Economics of Development. b. Politics (12): Pol 631, Contemporary Theories and Concepts of International Relations (3); Pol 632, Foreign Policy Decision Making (3); Pol 583, Comparative Political Development (3); seminar from approved list of seminars (3).
       2. Area of Specialization (6) Politics (6): Pol 537, Political Economy and International Politics (3); Pol 538, Topics in International Political Economy (3).
       3. Electives (6) Economics (6): The student will be required to take two electives in Economics. The courses offered are meant to give the student a broad range of choices. A student wishing to pursue more advanced economic theory may wish to choose from Econ 711, Advanced Microeconomic Theory I (3); Econ 712, Advanced Macroeconomic Theory I (3); Econ 721, Advanced Microeconomic Theory II (3); Econ 722, Advanced Macroeconomic Theory II (3). Other courses that may be taken as electives include Econ 535, Ethics in Economics and Business (3); Econ 540, Economics of Development (3); Econ 563, Economic Integration Movements (3); Mgt 590, International Business (3); and Econ 763, Econometrics I (3).

C. Certificate of Proficiency in Computer Science: This certification should be completed during the first year of course work. It is obtained by the successful completion of a computer science course or an equivalent course which has been approved by the department (Mgt 568, Microcomputer Applications in Business, is highly recommended) or by the equivalent practical work with computers which is so evaluated by the department. The course in computer science or the equivalent course is not part of the thirty-six minimum credit hours necessary for the M.A. in International Political Economics.

D. Comprehensive Examination: Students must complete all required courses (see B-1 above) before the semester in which they will take the comprehensive examinations. Students are required to pass a comprehensive examination demonstrating in two three-hour examinations mastery of (1) economics and (2) political aspects of international economics. Each of the parts will include questions on the interraction of the two aspects.