George Mason University 1999-2000 Catalog

Catalog Index
Course Descriptions

Search the 1999-2000 Catalog:

Economics

Faculty

University professor: Buchanan

Professors: Bennett, Bloch, Congleton, Cowen, Crain, Heiner, Rowley, Snavely (emeritus), Tollison, Vaughn, Wagner, Williams (chair)

Associate professors: Chung, Levy, Meyer, Reid, Thorbecke, Wiest

Assistant professors: Caplan, Ramirez

Course Work

The Economics Department offers all course work designated ECON in the Course Descriptions section of this catalog.

Undergraduate Programs

Economics, B.A.

This program is designed primarily for those students with a stronger interest in the liberal arts. It is appropriate for students who prefer a less quantitative degree program and may be especially appropriate for students planning to attend law school or graduate programs in business or public administration.

In addition to satisfying the general requirements for a B.A. degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, candidates must complete the following:

  1. Thirty-six credits of economics courses, including ECON 103, 104, 306, and 311
  2. DESC 210 and MIS 102, or STAT 250 and 350
  3. MATH 108

No more than six credits with a grade of D in economics courses may be applied to the required economics courses. No more than 12 credits with a grade of D (combined economics and other courses) may be applied to the B.A. degree.

Economics, B.S.

The B.S. degree program is designed for those students who desire a more technical program with a stronger emphasis on economic and quantitative analysis. This program is especially appropriate for students who anticipate a career as an economic analyst in government, consulting, trade associations, or in other private-sector positions that emphasize economic research and analysis. The requirements are also appropriate for students planning postgraduate education in economics or in more quantitative business administration programs.

In addition to the general requirements for a B.S. degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, candidates for the B.S. in Economics must complete the following:

  1. Forty-two credits of economics courses, including ECON 103, 104, 306, 311, and 345
  2. STAT 362 or ACCT 201
  3. DESC 210 and MIS 102, or STAT 250 and 350
  4. MATH 113 and 114
  5. CS 103 or MIS 201
  6. Eight credits of laboratory science

No more than six credits with a grade of D in economics courses may be applied to the required economics courses. No more than 12 credits with a grade of D (combined economics and other courses) may be applied to the B.S. degree.

ECON 340 can be substituted for either ECON 345 or for MATH 114, but not for both. ECON 345 is recommended for most B.S. majors, and MATH 114 is strongly recommended for students considering graduate school in economics. It is required for admission to most graduate programs.

Students considering graduate study in economics are advised to complete at least one course in calculus beyond MATH 114.

Writing-Intensive Requirement
The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated "writing intensive" in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in economics fulfill this requirement by successfully completing ECON 306 or 345.

Teacher Licensure (Certification)
Students who wish to become elementary or secondary school teachers should consult the sections on licensure (certification) in the "Graduate School of Education" chapter. Those interested in secondary school teaching should consult with the secondary education advisor in their department.

Graduate Programs

Economics, M.A.

The Master of Arts in Economics strengthens students' knowledge of economic theory and improves their skill in applying the theory to economic problems. Graduates of the program are qualified to read and judge other research and to conduct their own, either individually or as members of research teams in government or business. They are also prepared to write policy analysis articles. Students who plan to pursue a Ph.D. in Economics should apply directly to the doctoral program.

Admission Requirements

  • Undergraduate degree from an accredited institution
  • MATH 108 or equivalent
  • GPA of 3.000 in the last two years of undergraduate work and in all economics courses
  • Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination

Students should be familiar with intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics and with basic statistics and calculus to participate in the master's program.

All applicants must submit two letters of recommendation and a brief personal statement explaining their interest in the program. The application deadline for the fall semester is May 1. The Department of Economics does not admit students for the spring semester.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete 30 graduate credits and pass comprehensive examinations in micro- and macroeconomics. The examinations are offered twice each year. All students are required to take ECON 611, 615, and 812. In addition, Mathematical Economics (ECON 630) is strongly recommended. Although the university does not guarantee the availability of these courses every semester, a typical first-year sequence includes ECON 611, ECON 630, and an elective in the fall; ECON 812, ECON 615, and an elective in the spring.

If possible, part-time students should arrange their work schedules to take two courses per semester in the first year. Master's degree students must enroll at the Arlington Campus for their core theory courses.

Up to 21 credits of electives may be chosen from any of the fields offered by the department. Students may receive departmental permission to substitute up to six credits of electives taken outside economics in closely related fields. Students may also elect the thesis option, which offers up to six credits for independent research and writing under the supervision of a faculty member.

Economics, Ph.D.

The Ph.D. in Economics prepares students for careers in academia, business, and government. The core courses of the program train students in modern theory and quantitative techniques. The field courses stress the application of theory to relevant economic problems. Dissertation work requires students to master and apply the skills of original research. The department emphasizes publishing, and many students have had articles accepted for publication in professional journals while in the graduate program. Research in the Department of Economics covers a broad spectrum, from problems of immediate policy importance to fundamental questions of economic and social organization.

Admission Requirements

  • Undergraduate degree from an accredited institution
  • One year of calculus and one year of statistics
  • GPA of 3.000 in the last two years of undergraduate work and in all economics courses
  • Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination, including the economics subject test

Although it is not required, students find it helpful to complete a semester of matrix algebra and a semester of econometrics before entering the doctoral program.

Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation and a brief personal statement explaining their interest in the program. The application deadline for students desiring financial aid is February 1. The deadline for all other students for fall semester is April 1.

Degree Requirements
Students are required to pass 72 credits of course work, of which no more than 24 may be dissertation credits. Students must pass comprehensive examinations in micro- and macroeconomics. In addition, students must pass field examinations in two of the fields listed below. Examinations are normally given in August and January. Students who enter with a master's degree in economics may have up to 30 credits of doctoral course work reduced at the discretion of the department. Credit is not given for comprehensive and field examinations from other universities. Students may receive departmental permission to substitute up to six credits of electives taken outside economics in closely related fields.

All doctoral students must take a year of Microeconomic Theory (ECON 611 and 812), a year of Macroeconomic Theory (ECON 715 and 816), Mathematical Economics (ECON 630), Econometrics (ECON 637), and History of Economic Thought (ECON 820 or 821). Also required are two courses (beyond the required courses) in the student's two chosen fields in preparation for field examinations.

A typical first-year program of study for a full-time doctoral student includes ECON 630, 611, and 715 in the fall; ECON 637, 812, and 816 in the spring; and micro and macro comprehensive examinations in August. A typical second-year program includes Field 1 and Field 2 in the fall; Field 1 (continued) and Field 2 (continued) in the spring; and field examinations in August.

If possible, part-time students should arrange their work schedules to take two courses per semester in the first year.

Doctoral students may not enroll at the Arlington Campus for their required theory and mathematics courses.

Subject to course availability, the department offers examinations in the following fields of study:

  • Austrian Economics
  • Comparative Economic Systems
  • Constitutional Political Economy
  • Economic History
  • Industrial Organization
  • International Trade and Finance
  • Monetary Theory
  • Public Choice
  • Public Finance
  • Law and Economics


George Mason University:1999-2000 University Catalog: Catalog Index: College of Arts and Sciences: Economics