MissionFacilitiesNewslettersContact Us
FacultyFaculty by FieldsVisiting FacultyAdjunct FacultyEmeritus FacultyJob PostingsCurrent Graduate StudentsCurrent Graduate Student InstructorsJob Market CandidatesJob Market PlacementAdvisorsStaff
This Week's SeminarsLast Week's SeminarsApplied EconomicsEconometricsEconomic TheoryEmpirical Micro LunchTheory Brown Bag SeminarsGraduate Student SeminarsDunaway Lecture
About Our Graduate ProgramsApplication InformationPhD ProgramMasters ProgramEconomics of Education PhD ProgramOverride Request FormFAQCoursesGraduate AwardsDual/Joint DegreesLiving & Working @ MSU
About Our Undergraduate ProgramsAreas of EmphasisCoursesOverride Request FormFAQOnline CoursesOnline Course RegistrationStudy AbroadUndergraduate AwardsDual Degrees
 

Graduate Programs

Thank you for your interest in the graduate programs in our department. You will find information on our programs and on living and studying at MSU here. If you are interested in applying for admissions into our program, please review this information and also consult information from the University Graduate School on the application procedure and financial aid.

Graduate Studies in Economics

The Economics Department at Michigan State University has an excellent reputation and a long tradition as a training ground for professional economists. In a recent study of graduate education in economics conducted by the National Research Council, the effectiveness of MSU's Economics Doctoral program was ranked 25th in the nation. The faculty, with more than 40 full-time members, includes numerous nationally and internationally known scholars covering a broad range of interests. The graduate program is relatively small, with usually no more than 20 new PhD students entering each year.

When choosing a graduate school, a student should look for four things:

  1. A good education in economic theory and in the student's areas of interest
  2. Good job placement
  3. A good atmosphere in which to learn and develop
  4. A good prospect of receiving financial assistance

As you prepare for your own professional career, the best education comes from working closely with individual faculty members, and key determinants of success in job placement are the recommendations of those faculty members who know your work intimately. The size of the MSU program, the quality of its faculty, and its commitment to graduate education make Michigan State University an attractive choice. Field classes are relatively small (regularly fewer than 10 students) and students are not in competition with one another to gain the notice of faculty members. MSU creates an atmosphere in which graduate study in economics is challenging and rewarding.

Many students interested in graduate study in economics are unsure whether to enter an M.A. or a PhD program. Our Masters program is designed for those with the ultimate goal of obtaining a PhD in economics. Indeed, the first year of courses is identical. Therefore we do not consider applicants for the MA on a distinct basis from those applying for the PhD program. However, we do not provide financial assistance to MA students.

Doctoral training provides a broader and deeper knowledge of economics and requires the completion of a major research project in the doctoral dissertation. About two-thirds of Michigan State University students earning PhDs in economics become college or university teachers. The rest take research positions in government, banking, international organizations, or private industry. Job opportunities for economists with the PhD remain strong and recent doctoral students from MSU have had outstanding success in job placement.


 
Michigan State University Department of Economics