MS in Economics

Every decision we make is economics, because economics evaluates tradeoffs. Whether we’re buying a home or defining a migration corridor, economics offers tools to make choices that create value.

Where do you hope to create value? As an economist in industry? As a teacher or researcher? As a policy analyst for an NGO or government agency?

About Economics at UW

The UW master’s program in economics offers you the flexibility to take your career in almost any direction. Focusing on providing a strong background in economic theory, applied econometrics and quantitative economic skills, the MS program’s flexibility allows you to leverage elective credits to customize your program to your goals with courses such as energy economics, industrial organization, international trade, development economics and behavioral and experimental economics.

The program also gives you the freedom to take classes outside the Department of Economics in related areas that include statistics, mathematics, energy, programming, management and environment and natural resources.

The economics master’s degree creates a gateway to PhD-level study or to careers in business, government, nonprofits and other sectors. 

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Program Highlights

As an economics graduate student, you will learn from economists who are helping to define policy in Wyoming and beyond, including professors who are considered among the top 100 environmental economists in the world.

UW’s right-sized program also means that you will have access to our faculty economists as mentors, advisors and research collaborators.

Here are some other reasons to consider economics at UW:

• Analytical skills. You will develop a strong set of skills and tools, especially data analysis, that are in considerable demand by employers. Plus, you will gain experience by applying those skills to inform a policy or management question.

• Flexibility. Become a generalist or specialist. UW’s master’s degree program in economics allows you to deploy your electives to meet your career goals.

• Faculty expertise. Learn from faculty who are experts in these and other areas:

  • Environmental and natural resource economics (including energy economics)

  • Industrial organization

  • International trade

  • Micro, macro and sustainable development economics

• Culminating project. Choose to write a research-based thesis or complete an extra course and shorter paper under the guidance of an advisor and faculty committee.

• Wyoming Women in Economics Network (WWEN). Participate in networking events, job-search workshops and talks featuring prominent women in the field. WWEN also gives you the chance to find a professional mentor from among UW’s economics alumnae.

• Experimental Economics Lab. Avail yourself of UW’s high-tech Experimental Economics Lab, which enables students and faculty to test economic theories and policies.

What Can You Do With an Economics Master’s Degree?

Because economics touches almost every area of our lives, you can build a career in government, business, non-profits or the academy that matches your interests and goals.

Economics Careers

UW economics master’s program graduates have gone on to careers with the following titles:

• Senior Business Consultant at Capitalize Consulting
• Cognitive Analytics Manager at Evalueserve
• Market Research Analyst at Pilgrim’s
• Data Management at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
• Principal Statistician and Analyst for the State of Wyoming
• Artificial Intelligence Architect at Zvelo
• Statistical Analyst at the Infogroup
• Assistant Director Jackson Hole Center for Global Affairs.

UW MS in economics alumni have also pursued PhD degrees at UW, American University, Washington State University, Colorado State University, University of Houston, University of New Mexico and other institutions.

Examples of Graduate Economics Degree Program Courses

These are some of the courses you will take as an economics master’s degree student at the University of Wyoming:

• Macroeconomic Analysis
• Microeconomic Analysis
• Mathematical Economics
• Econometrics

The student may select courses in a variety of fields for a broad exposure to contemporary economic problems. The student may also limit course selections to one or two fields and acquire a high degree of competence in a limited number of areas. Applicants to the program must complete, or have previously completed, course work that satisfies the MS in economics prerequisite courses listed on the Graduate Admissions webpage.

A basic course sequence in economic theory is required of all students pursuing a MS in economics. Students select the remaining courses to provide themselves with the skills necessary for a career plan. Electives offered reflect our faculty’s research in areas such as Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, Development Economics, Energy Economics, Behavioral and Experimental Economics, Industrial Organization, and International Trade. For a complete list of the program’s courses, click here.

Some electives may also be taken outside of the department, for example in Statistics, Mathematics, the Haub School of ENR, or the Energy Management MBA Program. However, a minimum of 18 hours in economics is required, and at least 15 of these must be at the 5000 level. Students may elect to take 27 hours of course work overall and write a thesis (the Plan A option), or take 30 hours of course work and write a shorter paper based on work done in a course (the Plan B alternative). A maximum of 6 hours at the 4000 level can count toward the MS degree.

At the beginning of the third semester, the student selects a major professor and a committee in consultation with that professor. The faculty members on this committee will supervise and evaluate the student’s research. Following successful completion of the Plan A Master’s thesis or Plan B paper, students present an oral defense to their committee. A favorable report from the committee completes the requirements for the MS in economics.

The exceptionally qualified student can complete the economics Master’s program in three semesters. Most students complete all requirements within two years.

For more information please email economics@uwyo.edu. 

Sample Program - MS in Economics - Plan A

Year 1

This is a summary of the plan A course for a MS, first year

Fall Semester	Spring Semester
ECON 5010 Macroeconomic Analysis I	ECON 5300 Game Theory
ECON 5530 Computational Economics	ECON 5230 Econometrics
ECON 5390 Math Microeconomics	Grad Elective

 

Year 2

This is a summary of the plan A course for a MS, second year

Fall Semester	Spring Semester
Grad Elective	Thesis Research (4 credits)
Grad Elective	Thesis Defense
Grad Elective

 

Sample Program - MS in Economics - Plan B

Year 1

This is a summary of the plan B course for a MS, first year

Fall Semester	Spring Semester
ECON 5010 Macroeconomic Analysis I	ECON 5300 Game Theory
ECON 5530 Computational Economics	ECON 5230 Econometrics
ECON 5390 Math Microeconomics	Grad Elective

 

Year 2

This is a summary of the plan B course for a MS, second year

Fall Semester	Spring Semester
Grad Elective	Grad Elective
Grad Elective	Paper Defense
Grad Elective

 

*Course subject to change following administrative approval.