Mar 19, 2024  
2008-2009 Graduate Catalog 
    
2008-2009 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]


Financial Economics



The School of Economics offers a Master of Arts in Economics and a Master of Arts in Financial Economics.

The Master of Arts in Economics degree emphasizes applied economics. The program has a firm commitment to economic theory, but the main focus is on economic policy analysis. Students must complete a core set of requirements that focus on economic theory and analytical tools. They must also complete a thesis or policy practicum, that requires application of the tools of economic analysis to specific subject areas and policy issues. The program is designed to enable students to identify the economic content of a problem, to develop hypotheses, to apply appropriate analytical tools and models, and to develop policy alternatives. The ability to communicate clearly is emphasized throughout the program.

The Master of Arts in Financial Economics degree provides advanced training in economics and finance to students interested in careers involving quantitative analysis in various areas of finance. The program provides a solid foundation in micro- and macroeconomic theory to ensure that graduates have the conceptual tools needed to develop sound research designs and understand the role of financial markets and institutions within the economy. The program combines courses in the M.A. program in Economics and the M.B.A. program in the Maine Business School. The ability to communicate clearly is emphasized throughout the program.

Both programs offer the M.A. student preparation for a variety of career paths. Students, with the assistance of their adviosr design their programs of study for:

  1. Employment in business or government, or
  2. Continuing work on advanced degrees in economics, law, finance, business administration, and other areas.

Students are required to work closely with their adviosr on matters of course selection.

The School offers a series of courses which reflect the wide scope of contemporary economics and the various specializations of the faculty. From year to year, the content of some courses will vary in accordance with changes in the significance of policy questions at the state, national, and international levels, and with faculty research interests.

Prerequisites

General Prerequisites

An undergraduate degree in economics or a related field is desirable, but is not essential for admission to this program. Admission is based upon the requirements of the Graduate School, Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores, a demonstrated capacity for graduate study, and the quality of previous work.

M.A. in Financial Economics

For regular admission, applicants are required to have completed basic courses in accounting, calculus, and statistics, and intermediate level undergraduate courses in microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, and business finance. Applicants without the required background may be accepted provisionally while meeting these prerequisites.

Requirements


General Requirements


The basic curriculum is offered annually. Successful completion of 30 credit hours of course degree.

M.A. in Financial Economics


Graduate students in this program are required to complete the following sequence of courses:

Two courses are required from the following BUA courses:


Special Degree Requirements


Each graduate student who pursues one of the graduate degrees administered by the School must pass an oral examination near the end of the student’s program.

Graduate Faculty


Kathleen Bell, Ph.D. (University of Maryland, 1997), Associate Professor. Environmental Economics, land economics, spatial economics, regional and public economics.

Melvin Burke, Ph.D. (Pittsburgh, 1967), Professor. International economics, economic development, Marxian economics.

Karen J. Buhr, Ph.D. (Carleton University, 2006), Assistant Professor. Health economics, labor economics.

Hsiang-Tai Cheng, Ph.D. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 1985), Associate Professor. Marketing, food demand, econometrics.

Mary Davis, Ph.D. (University of Florida, 2003), Assistant Professor. Health economics, environmental health, public health.

Todd Gabe, Ph.D. (Ohio State University, 1999), Associate Professor. Regional and community economic development, public finance.

Gary L. Hunt, Ph.D. (University of Colorado-Boulder, 1984), Professor. Demographic and spatial economics, econometrics, mathematical modeling.

Adrienne Kearney, Ph.D. (Pennsylvania State University, 1992), Associate Professor. Monetary theory and policy, macroeconomics, international finance.

James McConnon, Ph.D. (Iowa State University, 1989), Associate Professor. Regional and community economic development, innovation, small business management.

Michael Montgomery, Ph.D. (University of Florida, 1988), Associate Professor. Macroeconomics, monetary theory, Austrian economics.

Johathan Rubin, Ph.D. (University of California-Davis, 1993), Professor. Environmental regulation and design, economics of alternative transportation fuels and vehicles, economics of greenhouse gas reductions.

Stewart Smith, Ph.D. (University of Connecticut, 1997), Professor.  Sustainable agriculture systems, local food networks.

Mario Teisl, (Ph.D. (University of Maryland, 1997), Professor. Information economics, food safety, environmental and social marketing, environmental economics.

Philip Trostel, Ph.D. (Texas A & M University, 1991), Professor.  Human capital and savings, public economics, labor economics.

Greg White, Ph.D. (Washington State University, 1976), Professor. Marketing, finance, business administration.