College Park location
1102 Morrill Hall
Program Coordinator:
Kaitlyn Walker
(301) 405-3557 CPmasters-econ@umd.edu
Washington, DC location
1400 16th Street, NW
Suite 140
Washington, DC 20036
Program Coordinator:
Herman Byrd
(202) 525-4308 DCmasters-econ@umd.edu
Courses
We offer exactly the same curriculum in both the
Washington, DC and College Park versions of our STEM-designated
Master of Science program. All courses are
3-credit masters-level courses. Details of any course
will vary depending on the instructor, but the fundamental
content and level of rigor for any course is the same whether
taught in Washington, DC or College Park.
The Washington, DC and College Park versions of our program
are on different academic calendars. The Washington, DC
program operates on a 12-week quarter term-based academic
calendar. The College Park program is on a traditional
15-week semester-based academic calendar. In Washington,
DC, the courses are accelerated 12-week courses that require
more work per week than the standard 15-week versions of the
same courses in College Park.
Students can complete the DC-based version of our program in
as little as 15 months by taking 2 courses per quarter.
Students are also free to pursue the degree at a slower pace
if they prefer. Full-time students in College Park
complete the degree in 2 academic years. Students in
College Park or Washington, DC can earn a Graduate Certificate
of Economic Analysis by completing just the first 5 "core"
courses of the program.
Mode of Instruction (In-person versus online)
Our program is fundamentally an
in-person program. Enrollments permitting, we sometimes
offer 2 sections of the core courses when we offer them in
DC. The 1st section is taught in person. The 2nd
section of a core course in DC is "mostly online." The
midterm and final exams of our "mostly online" sections must
be taken in person in our Washington, DC location. But
all other class meetings are online.
With only rare exceptions, all
sections of all courses in the College Park version of our
program are usually taught in person.
ECON 641 -
Microeconomic Analysis Prerequisite: Admission to the Master of Science
Program in Applied Economics
This course covers microeconomic analysis applied to public
policy problems with an emphasis on practical examples and how
they illustrate microeconomic theories. Policy issues
such as pollution, welfare and income distribution, market
design, industry regulation, price controls, tax policy, and
health insurance are used to illustrate the abstract
principles of microeconomics.
Syllabi Fall 2023 (CP) - Kerr
(in person)
Fall 2023 (DC) - Finkle
(in person)
Spring 2023 (DC) - Finkle
(in person)
Fall 2022 (CP) - Finkle
(in person)
Fall 2022 (DC) - Chang
(in person)
Spring 2022 (DC) - Goodman
(in person)
Fall 2021 (CP) - Finkle
(section 1 - in person), Chang
(section 2 - in person)
Fall 2021 (DC) - Belenkiy
(section 1 - in person), Zimmerman
(section 2 - online)
Spring 2021 (DC) - Finkle
(section 1, online), Goodman
(section 2, online)
ECON 642 - Topics in Applied
Macroeconomics
Prerequisite: Admission to the Master of Science Program in
Applied Economics
In this course, focus is on applied macroeconomic models used
by federal agencies to explain and predict economic
behavior. Course emphasizes macroeconomic data:
NIPA accounts, GDP, construction and application of CPI, labor
force data, and economic indicators. Students will also
study a selected set of current macroeconomic topics including
models of economic growth, economic fluctuations, monetary
policy, the Great Recession, inflation, and financial markets.
Syllabi
Fall 2023 (CP) - Caines
(in person)
Summer 2023 (DC) - Kovanen
(in person)
Winter 2022/23 (DC) - Kovanen
(in person)
Fall 2022 (CP) - Caines
(in person)
Summer 2022 (DC) - Kovanen
(in person)
Winter 2021/22 (DC) - Kovanen
(section 1, in person), Cuba-Borda
(section 2, online)
Fall 2021 (CP) - Ohlmacher
(section 1, in person), Caines
(section 2, in person)
Summer 2021 (DC) - Kovanen
(section 1, online), Ohlmacher
(section 2, online)
ECON 643 - Empirical
Analysis I: Foundations of Empirical Research
Prerequisite: Admission to the Master of Professional Studies
Program in Applied Economics
Fundamental aspects of data management and interpretation
emphasizing sampling, descriptive statistics, index numbers
and construction of aggregated variables. Students will learn
basic probability theory and statistics. The course will
include an introduction to simple regression analysis using
STATA statistical software.
Syllabi
Fall 2023 (DC) - Danesh
(in person)
Fall 2023 (CP) - Straub
(in person)
Spring 2023 (DC) - Straub
(in person)
Fall 2022 (CP) - Dar
(in person)
Fall 2022 (DC) - Straub
(in person)
Spring 2022 (DC) - Silverman
(section 1, in person)
Fall 2021 (CP) - Straub
(section 1, in person), Hisnanick
(section 2, in person)
Fall 2021 (DC) - Danesh
(section 1, in person), Rumbaugh
(section 2, online)
Spring 2021 (DC) - Straub
(section 1, online), Zhang
(section 2, online)
An introduction to econometric methods with applications to
public policy analysis. Primary focus on application and
interpretation of multiple regression analysis.
Syllabi
Summer 2023 (DC) - Belenkiy
(in person)
Spring 2023 (CP) - Abbasi
(in person)
Winter 2022/23 (DC) - Vlaicu
(in person)
Summer 2022 (DC) - Abbasi
(in person)
Spring 2022 (CP) - Abbasi
(in person), Hegland
(in person)
Winter 2021/22 (DC) - Vlaicu
(in person), Belenkiy
(online)
Summer 2021 (DC) - Belenkiy
(online), Vlaicu
(online)
Spring 2021 (CP) - Abbasi
(online)
Refinements and generalizations of multiple
regression analysis. Topics can include: panel data methods,
instrumental variables, quasi-experimental methods, time
series analysis, limited dependent variables, and sample
selection corrections.
Syllabi
Fall 2023 (DC) - Rowe
(in person)
Fall 2023 (CP) - Zhang
(in person)
Spring 2023 (DC) - Yi
(in person)
Fall 2022 (CP) - Zhang
(in person)
Fall 2022 (DC) - Tello-Trillo
(in person)
Spring 2022 (DC) - Yi
(section 1, in person), Zhang
(section 2, online)
Fall 2021 (CP) - Zhang
(in person)
Fall 2021 (DC) - Yi
(section 1, in person), Tello-Trillo
(section 2, online)
Spring 2021 (DC) - Tello-Trillo (section 1, online), Yi
(section 2, online)
Field Courses
ECON
670- Financial Economics
Prerequisite: ECON 641 and ECON 644 (can be taken concurrently
with ECON 644)
This course applies microeconomic theory and applied
econometric techniques to the study of financial institutions
and markets for financial assets. Students will learn how
economists model and estimate the value of financial assets.
The economic and empirical models are of interest to public
policy makers and private wealth managers. Specific topics can
include financial intermediation, the regulation of financial
institutions, risk management, portfolio theory, the capital
asset pricing model and the efficient markets hypothesis.
Syllabi
Fall 2023 (DC) - Krestel
(in person)
Spring 2023 (CP) - Krestel
(in person)
Spring 2023 (DC) - Choi
(in person)
Fall 2022 (DC) - Zer
Boudet (in person)
Spring 2022 (CP) - Choi
(in person)
Spring 2022 (DC) - Zer
Boudet (online)
Fall 2021 (DC) - Zer
Boudet (online)
ECON 671 - Economics
of Health Care
Prerequisite: ECON 641 and ECON 645 (can be taken concurrently
with ECON 645)
This course is an examination of the structure, conduct, and
performance of the health care market including physician
services, the pharmaceutical industry, the hospital market,
and health insurance using quantitative and analytic economic
tools. Special emphasis is on regulatory response to
market imperfections.
ECON 672 -
Program Analysis and Evaluation
Prerequisite: ECON 641 and ECON 645
This course examines various methods of program evaluation
including randomized and nonrandomized (retrospective)
evaluations. The focus is on evaluation design and
implementation including needs assessment, process evaluation,
and cost benefit analysis.
Syllabi
Summer 2023 (DC) - Kawano
(in person)
Spring 2023 (CP) - Zhang
(in person)
Winter 2022/23 (DC) - Rowe
(in person)
Summer 2022 (DC) - Rowe
(in person)
Spring 2022 (CP) - Heggeness
(in person)
Winter 2021/22 (DC) - Kawano
(in person)
Summer 2021 (DC) - Monarrez
(online)
ECON 673 -
Information, Game Theory and Market Design
Prerequisite: ECON 641 and ECON 644 (can be taken concurrently
with ECON 644)
This course focuses on strategic decision-making and the
theory and practice of market design. Topics include
experimental economics, spectrum auctions, labor markets,
electricity markets, and environmental auctions.
Syllabi
Spring 2023 (CP) - Ovadia
(in person)
Spring 2023 (DC) - Grana
(in person)
Spring 2022 (CP) - Ovadia
(in person)
Spring 2022 (DC) - Grana
(in person)
Spring 2021 (DC) - Ovadia
(online)
Fall 2020 (DC) - Ovadia (online)
ECON 674 - Economic
Analysis of Law
Prerequisite: ECON 641 and ECON 644 (can be taken concurrently
with ECON 644)
This course applies microeconomic theory to the analysis of
legal rules and institutions. Topics include property
rights, externalities, contract theory, bargain theory,
remedies, industrial organization, patents, damages, and
antitrust.
Syllabi
Fall 2023 (DC) - Paek
(in person)
Spring 2023 (CP) - Paek
(in person)
Fall 2022 (DC) - Chugh
(in person)
Spring 2022 (DC) - Burk
(in person)
Spring 2021 (CP and DC) - Burk
(online) Fall 2019 (DC) - Burk
(in person)
ECON 675 -
Environmental Economics
Prerequisite: ECON 641 and ECON 645 (can be taken concurrently
with ECON 645)
This course develops a framework for an economic assessment of
environmental problems and policy design with respect to
market failures and the valuation of environmental
resources. Focus is on policy issues, economic
incentives, and instruments and valuation of nonmarket goods.
Syllabi
Fall 2023 (CP) - Kim
(in person)
Winter 2022/23 (DC) - Dockins
and Griffiths (in person)
Fall 2022 (CP) - Kim
(in person)
Winter 2021/22 (DC) - Dockins
and Griffiths (in person)
Fall 2021 (CP) - Kim
(in person)
ECON 676 - Economic
Development
Prerequisite: ECON 641, ECON642 and ECON 644 (can be taken
concurrently with ECON 644)
The course will focus on the consequences of poverty and poor
institutions for the behavior and welfare of individuals,
households, firms and the aggregate economy in developing
countries. Theoretical models and empirical evidence will be
used to understand the intended and unintended consequences of
policies designed to enhance economic development.
Syllabi
Fall 2023 (CP) - Payson
(in person)
Spring 2023 (DC) - Payson (in
person)
Fall 2022 (CP) - Payson
(in person)
Spring 2022 (CP) - Payson
(in person)
Fall 2021 (DC) - Loungani
(in person)
Spring 2021 (CP) - Payson
(online)
Spring 2021 (DC) - Herskowitz
and Palloni (online)
ECON 677 - International Trade
and Applications
Prerequisite: ECON 641 and ECON 644
Students will analyze the causes and consequences of
international trade. The course will cover a set of conceptual
tools that are useful for understanding “globalization” and
the usage of these tools to address interesting and important
questions about how countries, firms, and workers respond to
international trade.
Syllabi
Summer 2023 (DC) -
Tello-Trillo (in person)
Spring 2023 (CP) - McDonald
(in person)
Winter 2022/23 (DC) - Tello-Trillo
(online)
Summer 2022 (DC) - Belenkiy
(in person)
Spring 2022 (CP) - Roch
(online)
Winter 2021/22 (DC) - Tello-Trillo
(online)
ECON 683 -
International Macroeconomics and Finance
Prerequisite: ECON 642 and ECON 644 (can be taken concurrently
with ECON 644)
Economic analysis of international macroeconomic issues and
policy. Topics can include the study of exchange rates,
balance of payments, international financial markets,
international business cycles, contagion, and the roles played
by international economic institutions.
Syllabi
Fall 2023 (CP) - Cuba
Borda (in person)
Fall 2023 (DC) - Rumbaugh
(in person)
Spring 2023 (DC) - Gholizadeh
(in person)
Fall 2022 (CP) - Reyes-Heroles
(in person)
Fall 2022 (DC) - Gholizadeh
(in person)
Fall 2021 (CP) - Gholizadeh
(in person)
Fall 2021 (DC) - Gholizadeh
(in person)
ECON 684 - Applied Time
Series Analysis and Forecasting
Prerequisite: ECON 642 and ECON 645
Students will learn the theory of stationary processes and how
it applied to econometric techniques for estimation and
forecasting based on time series data. The techniques will be
applied in macroeconomic, financial and business applications.
Syllabi
Summer 2023 (DC) - Vilán
(in person)
Spring 2023 (CP) - Stuermer
(in person)
Winter 2022/23 (DC) - Burk
(in person)
Summer 2022 (DC) - Vilán
(in person)
Spring 2022 (CP) - Stuermer (in person)
Winter 2021/22 (DC) - Burk
(in person)
Summer 2021 (DC) - Vilán
(online)
ECON 687 - Economics
Applications of R Programming
Prerequisite: ECON 645
Students will build on the data analysis and econometric
skills learned in the Empirical analysis sequence of ECON 643,
644, and 645. The STATA skills acquired in that sequence, such
as basic data manipulation and econometric estimation, will be
extended to the R programming language. The fundamentals of
more advanced scientific programming--objects, data
structures, loops, functions, simulation, parallel
computing--will be introduced with applications to economics
and the social sciences. Additional emphasis is placed on good
coding practices and tools for version control and
collaboration such as Git and R Markdown.
Syllabi
Fall 2023 (CP) - Krestel
(in person)
Fall 2023 (DC) - Adams
(in person)
Spring 2023 (DC) - Krestel
(in person)
Fall 2022 (CP) - Huh
(online)
Fall 2022 (DC) - Adams
(in person)
Spring 2022 (DC) - Verani
(in person)
Fall 2021 (CP) - Huh
(online)
Fall 2021 (DC) - Adams
(in person)