Graduate Program

The Department of Economics offers graduate work leading to the Master of Arts and Master of Sciences degrees. The department also participates in the Urban Studies Doctoral Degree Program. Specialized theoretical and applied courses in economics, when combined with urban studies general seminars, partially fulfill the requirements for the Ph.D. in Urban Studies with an emphasis in economics. The Department of Economics also participates in the Systems Science Ph.D. Program. Candidates for the Ph.D. in Systems Science-Economics are encouraged to enroll in advanced courses in economics, and may elect economics as a major or minor field of study within that program.

Admission to the master's program in the Department of Economics requires, in addition to the University admissions requirements:

1. A minimum of a 3.00 GPA in overall coursework and a minimum of a 3.00 GPA in economics coursework.
2. Completion of the core undergraduate courses in the Economics program at Portland State University, including theory, statistics, and econometrics, or present equivalent competence.
3. Have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 in all graduate credit earned at accredited institutions.

Master of Arts or Master of Science

     Students must complete a minimum of 52 credits (11 courses and a research project). Each student completes an eight-course core requirement, a research project, and three major elective courses. The research project will normally be undertaken in the student's second year of study, after completion of course requirements.

First Year

• Fall
  • EC 560 History of Economic Thought (4 credits)
  • EC 576 Advanced Microeconomics (4 credits)
  • EC 570 Econometrics (4 credits)
• Winter
  • EC 575 Advanced Macroeconomics (4 credits)
  • EC 571 Advanced Econometrics (4 credits)
  • Economics Elective
• Spring
  • EC 590, EC 591 or EC 595 Applications of Advanced Microeconomics, Macroeconomics or Econometrics (4 credits)
  • Economics Electives (2) (8 credits)

Second Year

• Fall
  • EC 590, EC 591 or EC 595 Applications of Advanced Microeconomics, Macroeconomics or Econometrics (4 credits)
• Winter
  • EC 590, EC 591 or EC 595 Applications of Advanced Microeconomics, Macroeconomics or Econometrics (4 credits)
• Fall/Winter/Spring
  • EC 596 Research Project I (4 credits)
  • EC 597 Research Project II (4 credits)

In order to complete the research project, each student must submit a written paper on a subject to be approved and supervised by two faculty members specialized in the field and methodology. (Note that field requirements have been eliminated.)

Courses outside of economics may be used to meet the elective requirements, subject to approval by a faculty advisor. A working knowledge of mathematics and statistical methods is required for all students. This requirement may be fulfilled by examination or by the successful completion of courses in mathematics and statistics approved by the department. Differential and integral calculus and linear algebra are highly recommended.

Conditionally admitted students must fulfill all conditions within the first two terms of their program unless special exemption is granted by the department graduate committee.

In addition to the general requirements for advancement to candidacy, the student must complete 12 credits in residence work for graduate credit in economics with a GPA of at least 3.00 and be recommended by the graduate committee of the department.

Any transferred graduate credits that satisfy University requirements may be applied toward major electives. Under no circumstances can the core requirements be waived or substituted with coursework from other PSU departments or from other institutions. Students with questions concerning transfer credits should contact the departmental office for advising.

Ph.D. in System Science (Economics) or Ph.D. in Urban Studies (Economics)

The Department of Economics participates in both the Systems Science Ph.D. Program and the Urban Studies Ph.D. Program. Students interested in seeking a Ph.D. from one of these programs should contact the Economics Department for further information. Elective fields include: international economics, urban-regional economics, and economic development. Applicants must be admitted simultaneously to the economics graduate program and the System Science or Urban Studies Ph.D. Program.