Foundation Courses

Q: As an undergraduate I completed microeconomics and macroeconomics. Why am I required to complete foundation courses in microeconomics and macroeconomics?

A: The principles of microeconomics and principles of macroeconomics you completed as an undergraduate are freshmen or sophomore level courses. The foundation courses that you are required to complete are the second, junior or senior level, courses in microeconomic theory (UNO Econ 3200, Economic Theory: Micro) and macroeconomic theory (UNO Econ 3220, Economic Theory: Macro) that economics majors are required to complete. These courses provide necessary preparation for your graduate economics courses.

Q: I am required to take a microeconomics foundation course. Should I take ECON 3200, Economic Theory-Micro, or ECON 8210, Managerial Economics?

A: Since Economic Theory-Micro is an undergraduate course, you will not receive credit towards your graduate degree for taking this course. You will receive credit toward your graduate degree for taking Managerial Economics. For this reason, almost all of our graduate students take Managerial Economics.

Math Skills

Q: I have not completed a calculus course. Should I take MATH 1930, Calculus for the Managerial, Life and Social Sciences?

A: If your math skills are rusty or weak, MATH 1930 will prepare you for Quantitative Applications in Economics and Business (ECON 8306) and other graduate economics courses. If your math skills are strong, you pick math up easily, and are willing to work hard you should be able to complete Quantitative Applications without taking MATH 1930. However, you should review basic algebra before taking Quantitative Applications.

Q: I want to take MATH 1930, Calculus for the Managerial, Life and Social Sciences, how do I register for it?

A: The prerequisite for MATH 1930 is a satisfactory Mathematics Placement Exam score within the last two years, or MATH 1320 (College Algebra) with a grade of C minus or better within the last two years. For information about the Math Placement Exam, go to UNO Testing Center.

Q: I plan to complete a Ph.D. in Economics or Finance which math courses should I take?

A: The more math courses you complete before you begin a Ph.D. program the better. We recommend that prospective Ph.D. students complete at a minimum three semesters of calculus, MATH 1950 (Calculus I), MATH 1960 (Calculus II), and MATH 1970 (Calculus III); a theoretical linear algebra course, MATH 8056 (Linear Algebra); and two semesters of mathematical statistics, MATH 8746 (Introduction to Probability and Statistics I) and MATH 8756 (Introduction to Probability and Statistics II).

Plan of Studies

Q: Which courses should I take in my first year of studies?

A: You should complete any required foundation courses first. Then, you should also take Research Methods in Economics and Business, ECON 8296, and Quantitative Applications in Economics and Business, ECON 8306, as soon as possible. These courses are prerequisites for Econometrics, ECON 8300, and the Seminar in Microeconomics, ECON 8200, and the skills you develop in these courses will be utilized in your other graduate economics courses. Once you complete Research Methods and Quantitative Applications, you should take Econometrics as soon as possible.

Q: Which is better a Master’s of Arts, MA, or a Master’s of Science, MS Degree?

A: All new economics graduate students are admitted to the Master’s of Science (MS), nonthesis, Program. Students who wish to transfer to the Master’s of Arts (MA), thesis, Program must petition the Economics Graduate Program Committee.

The MS Program better prepares students for positions in businesses, governments, and nonprofits. The additional courses in the MS program allow students to develop skills that employers value. Writing a thesis is beneficial for students who wish to pursue a Ph.D. especially those who already have strong math backgrounds. However, for potential Ph.D. students in Economics or Finance who have limited math backgrounds taking additional math courses may be more important than completing a thesis.

Students who have an ongoing interest in a particular area of economics and who can only spend a limited amount of time taking classes should consider the MA program.

Q: What is the difference between graduate only and dual-level course?

A: Both graduate students and advanced undergraduate students may enroll in dual-level courses, but only graduate students may enroll in graduate only courses. The course numbers for graduate only courses end in zero and take the form 8XX0, and the course numbers for dual-level courses end in 5 or 6 and take the form 8XX5 or 8XX6.

A list of approved dual-level courses can be found here while a list of approved graduate only courses can be found here.

Q: How many dual level courses may I take?

A: Dual-level courses may be at most one-half of the credits you count towards your degree. Thus, for a 36 credits, 12 courses, MS program, you may take at most 18 dual-level credits, 6 courses. However, two required economics core courses, Research Methods in Economics and Business (Econ 8296) and Quantitative Applications in Economics and Business (Econ 8306), are dual-level courses. If you take these two courses, then you can only take at most 4 additional dual-level courses.

Q: I am required to take a concentration. Which concentrations can I choose from?

A: Economics graduate students are required to complete an area of concentration consisting of 9 hours of interrelated graduate-level course work. A list of concentrations and the courses in each concentration c an be found in Graduate Programs: Catalog Description.

Q: Which concentration and elective courses should I take?

A: Choose a concentration and elective courses that allow you to develop marketable skills in selected areas. Some suggested course groupings can be found here.

Q: How do I register for MBA, Business Administration (BSAD), courses?

A: If you would like to register for an MBA course (BSAD course), send an e-mail to the Economics Graduate Advisor indicating the course and section number you wish to register for. The Economics Graduate Advisor will then issue an authorization that will allow you to enroll in the course. It is important that you contact the Economics Graduate Advisor before you put your name on the waiting list for a BSAD course. If you contact the Economics Graduate Advisor after you put your name on the waiting list, that is, before an authorization for you to enroll in the course is issued, you will have to remove your name from the waiting list.

Scholarships

Q: How do I apply for scholarships?

A: If you are required to pay nonresident tuition, and have a 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA, you are eligible for a Nebraska Advantage Scholarship which pays the nonresident portion of your tuition. To apply, send an e-mail to the Economics Graduate Advisor stating that you wish to apply for a Nebraska Advantage Scholarship.

Each March for the following academic year, the Economics Department awards a $2,500 Barbara Miller Scholarship to an Economics Graduate Student, also a $650 Bun Song Lee Scholarship may be awarded to an Economics Graduate Student. Economics Department scholarship applications can be downloaded from the Black Board Economics Graduate Group Web Site Documents Sections Scholarship Information Folder, and are due February 15.

Q: How do I apply for a graduate assistantship?

A: Download and print out the College of Business Graduate Assistant Application. Fill out the application and return it along with your resume to the Economics Graduate Advisor. The criteria for selecting graduate assistants are academic record, GRE or GMAT scores, and work ethic.

To apply for graduate assistantships offered by other College of Business Departments and the Nebraska Business Development Center, submit a copy of the CBA Graduate Assistant Application and your resume to Ms. Lex Kaczmarek, MBA Program Director, Mammel Hall Room 300B, Tel. (402)554-4836.



For details, please contact:
Dr. Donald Baum, Mammel Hall 332D, Tel.: (402) 554-2538, email: dbaum@unomaha.edu.