Economics, MA, PhD
Economics, MA, PhD COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
PROGRAM PROFILE The faculty members in the Department of Economics at George Mason University are noted for their emphasis on comparative institutional analysis and their focus on the relationships among economic, political, and legal institutions. This expertise is reflected in the specializations associated with the department: experimental economics, Austrian economics, public choice, constitutional political economy, law and economics, and new institutional economics. In addition to the master’s and doctoral degrees in economics, the department offers a graduate certificate in economic systems design.
MASTER’S DEGREE The 30-credit master’s degree program in economics strengthens students’ knowledge of economic theory and improves their skills in applying the theory to economic problems. Graduates of the program are qualified to read and judge the research of others as well as to conduct their own research, either individually or as members of teams in government or business. They are also prepared to write policy analysis articles. The department offers two types of master’s degrees.. • The master’s degree with a public policy focus is designed to be a self-contained course of study that does not lead to a doctorate. To pursue this option, students should apply to the master’s program. • The master’s degree with a research focus is a milestone on the way to a doctoral degree. Students who plan to pursue this option and continue with the doctorate in economics should apply directly to the doctoral program. Master’s students generally take two semesters of microeconomics, one semester of macroeconomics, some mix of mathematical economics and history of thought courses, and perhaps an elective.
DOCTORAL DEGREE The 72-credit doctoral degree program in economics prepares students for careers in academia, business, and government. Students take six core courses, which train students in modern theory and quantitative techniques, and choose two fields of study; the field courses stress the application of theory to relevant economic problems. In dissertation work students are required 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. The department offers the following fields of study. • • • • • • • • • •
Austrian economics Constitutional economics Economic history Economics and religion Experimental economics Industrial organization Law and economics Monetary theory Public choice Public finance
GRADUATE CERTFICATE IN ECONOMIC SYSTEMS DESIGN The department offers a certificate in economic systems design which provides graduate students with a program of courses and laboratory experience. The primary purpose is to provide a well-defined course of study for students who want to advance or update their knowledge in this fast-moving field. Graduate students in economics, computer science, mathematics, systems engineering, and informatics will find this certificate a strong complement to their major area of study. The courses and project work provide skills that can be used in electronic
4400 University Drive • MSN 3G4 • Fairfax, Virginia 22030 • 703.993.3699
gmu.edu/departments/economics
commerce, public policy, and processes of firm-internal resource allocation.
THE INTERDISCIPLINARY CENTER FOR ECONOMIC SCIENCE The Interdisciplinary Center for Economic Science (ICES) at George Mason University is a research center and laboratory specializing in experimental economics. ICES is located on Mason’s Arlington Campus and is affiliated with Mason’s School of Law, the Department of Economics in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Mercatus Center. FUNDING Graduate fellowships and teaching/research assistantships are available to the most qualified students.
WHY ECONOMICS AT GEORGE MASON? George Mason’s Economics Department has earned the ranking of #1 among economics departments in the U.S. South, as published in Applied Economics Letters. Time Magazine referred to Mason as an ambitious university that is “now challenging the nation’s elite schools.” U.S. News & World Report said the university “has a corps of highly respected economists and hightech scholars.” Named the #1 national university to watch by U.S. News & World Report, George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with global distinction in a range of academic fields. Located in the heart of Northern Virginia’s technology corridor near Washington, D.C. Mason prepares its students to succeed in the work force and meet the needs of the region and the world. See gmu.edu/departments/economics for a listing of courses and program requirements. See chss.gmu.edu/howtoapply for complete details on the application process.
FACULTY The distinguished faculty includes two Nobel Prize winners, James M. Buchanan and Vernon Smith, and a host of scholars accomplished in both teaching and research. Donald J. Boudreaux, Chair Carlos Ramirez, MA Director – economic history, economic development, labor economics Richard E. Wagner, PhD Director and Director of Graduate Studies – public finance, macroeconomics, political economy Omar Al-Ubaydli – political economy, development economics, experimental economics James Bennett – labor economics, political economy Peter J. Boettke – Austrian economics, institutional economics James M. Buchanan, Emeritus, Nobel Laureate – economic philosophy, constitutional economics Bryan D. Caplan – public choice, public finance, economics of belief, monetary economics Roger D. Congleton – public choice, public finance Tyler Cowen – monetary theory, financial economics Robin Hanson – health economics, political economy Tom Hazlett – law and economics, telecommunications policy
CONTACT INFORMATION Department of Economics 4400 University Drive, MSN 3G4 Enterprise Hall 354 Fairfax, VA 22030 703-993-3699 [email protected] gmu.edu/departments/economics
Ronald A. Heiner – monetary theory, financial economics, welfare economics, game theory Daniel Houser – experimental economics Larry Iannacconne – economics of religion Noel D. Johnson – economic history, public economics, new institutional economics Garett Jones – macroeconomics, economic growth, monetary economics Daniel Klein – economic principles, public policy issues Peter Leeson – political economy David Levy – econometrics, history of economic thought Kevin McCabe – experimental economics, economics theory, industrial organization, neuroeconomics Carrie A. Meyer – economic development, microeconomic theory, institutional economics John Nye -- economic history, new institutional economics Ilia Rainer – political economy, economic development Joseph D. Reid, Jr. – economic history, economic development, labor economics Russell Roberts – economics communication Charles K. Rowley – public choice, industrial organization, constitutional economics, law and economics
Tom Rustici – head of undergraduate development Vernon Smith, Emeritus, Nobel Laureate – experimental economics, economic theory Thomas Stratmann – public finance, public choice, health economics Alexander Tabarrok – theory of voting, political economy, empirical law and economics Willem H. Thorbecke – monetary economics, international economics Gordon Tullock, Emeritus – law and economics, public choice Philip R. Wiest – monetary policy, depository institutions, financial markets Walter E. Williams – applied microeconomics, labor economics, economics of discrimination
“Our faculty is extraordinarily diverse in its approaches to economics—and extraordinarily united in its appreciation for scholarship and devotion to students.” - Donald J. Boudreaux Chair, Department of Economics
GRADUATE ADMISSIONS College of Humanities and Social Sciences 4400 University Drive, MSN 2D2 College Hall C119 Fairfax, VA 22030 703-993-3699 703-993-8714 (fax) [email protected] chss.gmu.edu/howtoapply 09/08
Apply online at admissions.gmu.edu
PROGRAM PROFILE The faculty members in the Department of Economics at George Mason University are noted for their emphasis on comparative institutional analysis and their focus on the relationships among economic, political, and legal institutions. This expertise is reflected in the specializations associated with the department: experimental economics, Austrian economics, public choice, constitutional political economy, law and economics, and new institutional economics. In addition to the master’s and doctoral degrees in economics, the department offers a graduate certificate in economic systems design.
MASTER’S DEGREE The 30-credit master’s degree program in economics strengthens students’ knowledge of economic theory and improves their skills in applying the theory to economic problems. Graduates of the program are qualified to read and judge the research of others as well as to conduct their own research, either individually or as members of teams in government or business. They are also prepared to write policy analysis articles. The department offers two types of master’s degrees.. • The master’s degree with a public policy focus is designed to be a self-contained course of study that does not lead to a doctorate. To pursue this option, students should apply to the master’s program. • The master’s degree with a research focus is a milestone on the way to a doctoral degree. Students who plan to pursue this option and continue with the doctorate in economics should apply directly to the doctoral program. Master’s students generally take two semesters of microeconomics, one semester of macroeconomics, some mix of mathematical economics and history of thought courses, and perhaps an elective.
DOCTORAL DEGREE The 72-credit doctoral degree program in economics prepares students for careers in academia, business, and government. Students take six core courses, which train students in modern theory and quantitative techniques, and choose two fields of study; the field courses stress the application of theory to relevant economic problems. In dissertation work students are required 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. The department offers the following fields of study. • • • • • • • • • •
Austrian economics Constitutional economics Economic history Economics and religion Experimental economics Industrial organization Law and economics Monetary theory Public choice Public finance
GRADUATE CERTFICATE IN ECONOMIC SYSTEMS DESIGN The department offers a certificate in economic systems design which provides graduate students with a program of courses and laboratory experience. The primary purpose is to provide a well-defined course of study for students who want to advance or update their knowledge in this fast-moving field. Graduate students in economics, computer science, mathematics, systems engineering, and informatics will find this certificate a strong complement to their major area of study. The courses and project work provide skills that can be used in electronic
4400 University Drive • MSN 3G4 • Fairfax, Virginia 22030 • 703.993.3699
gmu.edu/departments/economics
commerce, public policy, and processes of firm-internal resource allocation.
THE INTERDISCIPLINARY CENTER FOR ECONOMIC SCIENCE The Interdisciplinary Center for Economic Science (ICES) at George Mason University is a research center and laboratory specializing in experimental economics. ICES is located on Mason’s Arlington Campus and is affiliated with Mason’s School of Law, the Department of Economics in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Mercatus Center. FUNDING Graduate fellowships and teaching/research assistantships are available to the most qualified students.
WHY ECONOMICS AT GEORGE MASON? George Mason’s Economics Department has earned the ranking of #1 among economics departments in the U.S. South, as published in Applied Economics Letters. Time Magazine referred to Mason as an ambitious university that is “now challenging the nation’s elite schools.” U.S. News & World Report said the university “has a corps of highly respected economists and hightech scholars.” Named the #1 national university to watch by U.S. News & World Report, George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with global distinction in a range of academic fields. Located in the heart of Northern Virginia’s technology corridor near Washington, D.C. Mason prepares its students to succeed in the work force and meet the needs of the region and the world. See gmu.edu/departments/economics for a listing of courses and program requirements. See chss.gmu.edu/howtoapply for complete details on the application process.
FACULTY The distinguished faculty includes two Nobel Prize winners, James M. Buchanan and Vernon Smith, and a host of scholars accomplished in both teaching and research. Donald J. Boudreaux, Chair Carlos Ramirez, MA Director – economic history, economic development, labor economics Richard E. Wagner, PhD Director and Director of Graduate Studies – public finance, macroeconomics, political economy Omar Al-Ubaydli – political economy, development economics, experimental economics James Bennett – labor economics, political economy Peter J. Boettke – Austrian economics, institutional economics James M. Buchanan, Emeritus, Nobel Laureate – economic philosophy, constitutional economics Bryan D. Caplan – public choice, public finance, economics of belief, monetary economics Roger D. Congleton – public choice, public finance Tyler Cowen – monetary theory, financial economics Robin Hanson – health economics, political economy Tom Hazlett – law and economics, telecommunications policy
CONTACT INFORMATION Department of Economics 4400 University Drive, MSN 3G4 Enterprise Hall 354 Fairfax, VA 22030 703-993-3699 [email protected] gmu.edu/departments/economics
Ronald A. Heiner – monetary theory, financial economics, welfare economics, game theory Daniel Houser – experimental economics Larry Iannacconne – economics of religion Noel D. Johnson – economic history, public economics, new institutional economics Garett Jones – macroeconomics, economic growth, monetary economics Daniel Klein – economic principles, public policy issues Peter Leeson – political economy David Levy – econometrics, history of economic thought Kevin McCabe – experimental economics, economics theory, industrial organization, neuroeconomics Carrie A. Meyer – economic development, microeconomic theory, institutional economics John Nye -- economic history, new institutional economics Ilia Rainer – political economy, economic development Joseph D. Reid, Jr. – economic history, economic development, labor economics Russell Roberts – economics communication Charles K. Rowley – public choice, industrial organization, constitutional economics, law and economics
Tom Rustici – head of undergraduate development Vernon Smith, Emeritus, Nobel Laureate – experimental economics, economic theory Thomas Stratmann – public finance, public choice, health economics Alexander Tabarrok – theory of voting, political economy, empirical law and economics Willem H. Thorbecke – monetary economics, international economics Gordon Tullock, Emeritus – law and economics, public choice Philip R. Wiest – monetary policy, depository institutions, financial markets Walter E. Williams – applied microeconomics, labor economics, economics of discrimination
“Our faculty is extraordinarily diverse in its approaches to economics—and extraordinarily united in its appreciation for scholarship and devotion to students.” - Donald J. Boudreaux Chair, Department of Economics
GRADUATE ADMISSIONS College of Humanities and Social Sciences 4400 University Drive, MSN 2D2 College Hall C119 Fairfax, VA 22030 703-993-3699 703-993-8714 (fax) [email protected] chss.gmu.edu/howtoapply 09/08
Apply online at admissions.gmu.edu
