Master’s Program Requirements

The program consists of a minimum 30 semester credit hours. The common core consists of ECON 6610 (Microeconomics), ECON 6620 (Macroeconomics), and ECON 6630 (Applied econometrics).  After completion of graduate level coursework, students choose either a project or thesis option.

Students must maintain a B average or better and demonstrate progress toward the degree. Normally, for a full-time student (three courses per semester) the program requires at least three semesters of work.  Maximum credit allowed per semester is 16 hours.  The maximum completion time allowed is four years.  Students must register for ECON 6980 for any semester in which there is no other registration.  Class scheduling problems could extend the time required for completion of all work.  Requests for extended time for completion will be evaluated by the Master’s Committee. 

Master’s students do not have qualifying examinations. When their Master’s project or thesis is completed, students stand for an oral examination on the project/thesis.  In the semester prior to the one they take the oral examination, students file Application for Admission to Candidacy for the Master's Degree in order to become degree candidates. The deadlines for this application are November 1 (for Spring graduation), February 1 (for Summer graduation) and June 1 (for Fall graduation). For further information on the Master’s Program Calendar please go to http://www.gradschool.utah.edu/students/masters_calendar.php.

Project Option. Students who select the project option must fulfill the following requirements for an MS degree.

1. Successful completion, with at least a 3.0 average, or a minimum of 27 hours of approved graduate course work in economics (and other acceptable areas).

2. Successful completion of a research project (see details below), for which three credit hours are granted.

3. Successful oral defense of the research project.

The basis of a project is a research paper written for a course in the Master’s program. An instructor will be the student's faculty adviser for the project.  Students register for ECON 6955 (three credit hours) for the semester in which they will defend their project.

Thesis Option. Students who choose the thesis option must fulfill the following requirements for an MS degree.

1. Successful completion, with at least a 3.0 average, and a minimum of 24 hours of approved graduate-course work in economics (and other acceptable areas)

2. Successful completion of the Master's thesis, for which 6 credit hours are granted.

3. Successful oral defense of the thesis.

The basis of a thesis is a research paper written for a course in the Master’s program. An instructor will be the student's faculty adviser for the thesis.  Students register for ECON 6970 (six credit hours) for the semester in which they will defend their thesis.  The main difference of the thesis from the project is that the thesis is subject to the style requirements of the University’s Thesis Office and as a result it takes longer to finalize the thesis.