Frequently Asked Questions
What is the focus of the M.S. in Applied Economics program at the University of Maryland?The program is focused on the skills that professional economists need to provide authoritative policy analysis. We emphasize empirical applications, with a solid foundation in fundamental economic theory.
Does your program have a STEM designation?
Yes. Our program is a STEM-designated Master of Science degree program. This reflects our program's emphasis on quantitative economics and econometrics. International graduates of STEM-designated programs are eligible for a 2-year extension to the usual 1-year of OPT eligibility - for a total of 3 years of OPT after graduation. The longer eligibility for OPT makes graduates of STEM-designated programs more attractive to US employers offering OPT internships.
Is your program nationally ranked?
Our program has been ranked 1st in the US according to The Financial Engineer's 2020 ranking of Top Master of Economics Programs. The annual ranking of economics master's degree programs is based on several factors, including graduate salaries, the undergraduate grades of students in the program, and graduate employment rates.
More generally, our department's overall ranking is currently 21st in the US, according to the US News and World Report. This is higher than other Washington, DC area economics departments, including Johns Hopkins (23rd), Georgetown (50th), George Washington (63rd), George Mason (78th), and American University (not ranked).
What are the differences between the Washington, DC and College Park versions of your program?
We offer evening programs at two different locations: in downtown Washington, DC and on the main campus of the University of Maryland in College Park. Domestic students are welcome to attend either version of the program. International students who need student visas are only eligible to enroll in the College Park version.
Classes in both locations meet in the evening.
The Washington, DC version of our program is geared towards working professionals. Our students, like our instructors, tend to come to classes straight from their jobs at federal government agencies, NGOs, non-profits, and private consulting firms. Our graduates tend to work at the same kinds of places, and frequently receive promotions and raises after earning our degree.
The parallel version of our program on the University of Maryland's main campus in College Park is also in the DC metro area - just 9 miles from our downtown location. The exact same curriculum is offered in College Park and Washington, DC. One important difference is that the Washington, DC version of our program cannot sponsor international student visas. International students who will need F-1 visas need to apply to the College Park version of our program.
Are international students eligible to attend your program?
International students can attend the College Park version of our program. But applicants who will require the University of Maryland to sponsor an international student visa (typically an F-1 visa) are not eligible to attend the Washington, DC version of our program. Citizens of foreign countries who currently reside in the US on visas permitting study are welcome to apply to either version of the program (G4 and H4 visas, for example).
Application deadlines for both versions of our program are provided on the Application Information page of our website.
How much does the program cost?
Our 10-course program's tuition is currently $3,800 per course. Tuition is the same for both in-state and out-of-state residents, and considerably lower than the tuition charged by other economics master's degree programs in the Washington, DC area. For example, fall 2022 tuition in Johns Hopkins' Applied Economics master's degree program is $5,060 per course. Over the 10-course degree, that is a difference of more than $12,000.
Students in our Washington, DC program also pay an off-site student services fee of $100 per quarter. The on-site student services fee for full-time students in the College Park program is $819 per semester.
Students also need to buy textbooks and computer software. We use the same statistical software (Stata) in all of our core empirical courses so students only need to buy it once, and do not need to purchase a different statistical software package for each course. Most of our students purchase a perpetual license for "Stata IC". The license costs $198 and never expires.
Most of our courses require students to have a laptop computer (not a notebook or tablet!) with at least 1 GB of RAM and at least 5 GB of free space available on the hard drive. The cheapest laptop computers that meet these minimum specifications can be purchased for under $300. Of course more durable computers with more than the bare minimum specifications will be more expensive. It should not be difficult to find a laptop that is more than adequate in the $500-$1,000 range.
All applicants pay a one-time and non-refundable graduate application fee of $75.
Is there financial aid available?
Our department does not offer fellowships or graduate assistantships to any of the students in our professional master's degree program.
Domestic students in our program are eligible for federal loans through the US Department of Education. These include subsidized and unsubsidized loans. Some students also take a Graduate PLUS loan. Some of our students also have their tuition paid, at least in part, by an employer or other 3rd party. The University's Financial Services Center provides Third Party Billing when the third party requires a bill from the university. More information about financial aid is available from the University of Maryland's Office of Student Financial Aid.
After submitting their completed application, international applicants who require a student visa will be asked to complete a "Certificate of Finances" form. The form is designed to verify that international applicants have the resources necessary to finance their pursuit of our degree if they are accepted and choose to enroll. More information about financial aid for international students is posted here: https://financialaid.umd.edu/osfa/for_international.html.
Are international students able to work while pursuing the degree?
The terms of F-1 student visas place restrictions on the types of employment and internships that international students can pursue while studying in the US. Visa compliance issues are handled at the University of Maryland by our office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).
After completing the first year of our program, international students can be eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) internships in the US. CPT authorization allows you to accept a one semester paid or unpaid internship in your field of study. The evening classes in our program facilitate the scheduling of internships during the day. International students can also travel in the United States during the summer and winter breaks - including the summer after they graduate. Additional details related to permissible employment for students on F-1 visas is posted here: http://globalmaryland.umd.edu/offices/international-students-scholar-services/f-1-employment
Are international students who graduate from your program able to stay for Optional Practical Training (OPT) after they graduate?
International students with an F-1 visa can apply for Optional Practical Training internships (OPT). Graduates of our STEM-designated M.S. degree program are eligible for a 2-year extension to the usual 1-year of OPT eligibility - for a total of 3 years of OPT after graduation. Our international students are also supported by the University of Maryland's office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). We cannot guarantee an OPT internship for every graduate, but we do have well-established relationships with many Washington, DC area employers, and we will help students interested in seeking internships. You can see some examples of the work that previous graduates have found on our Alumni Profiles page.
How long does it take to earn the degree?
The Washington, DC version of our program is on a quarter-based academic calendar. Full-time students in the Washington, DC program can complete the 10-course degree in 15 months if they take 2 courses each quarter.
The College Park version of our program is on a traditional semester-based academic calendar. Full-time students in College Park complete the 10-course program in 2 academic years by taking 3 courses in each of the first 3 semesters, and then one final course in the 4th semester. Many students work at jobs or internships during the day, especially when taking just one evening course during their final semester.
Students in both locations are also able to pursue the degree at a slower pace if they prefer, but international students on F-1 student visas must complete 3 courses in each of their first 3 semesters in order to maintain their visa status.
Standard course sequences and course offerings are linked to the Courses page of our website.
Where and when are classes held?
In our Washington, DC location, classes are held weeknights from 6:45-9:30 p.m. in our suite at 1400 16th Street, NW - near DuPont Circle. In College Park, classes are held on campus from 6:30-9:15 p.m.
(There is always a 15-minute break during the long class meetings.)
Do you offer online courses?
Our program is primarily an in-person program. However, we will sometimes offer online courses depending on instructor availability. All of our online courses offer a combination of synchronous online class meetings and asynchronous instruction like video lectures and online discussion boards. The synchronous class meetings take place in the evening (Washington, DC time zone). Online section sizes are limited to maintain reasonable student-teacher-ratios.
All online courses have in-person midterms and final exams.
How many courses are needed for the degree?
Students need to complete 10 courses to earn our Master of Science in Applied Economics degree. The 10 courses are divided into 5 Core Courses and 5 Field Courses. The 5 Core Courses establish fundamental economic theory and econometric skills. In the 5 Field Courses, students get to apply those skills in specific contexts including environmental policy, market design, international finance, economic development and others. There are currently 9 different field courses to choose from. Each student chooses 5 field courses from the menu of 9. We will be adding 2 new field courses in International Trade, and Economic Applications of R Programming.
Students can also earn a Graduate Certificate in Economic Analysis for completing just the first 5 Core Courses.
Is your degree a Master of Arts or a Master of Sciences degree?
Our program is a STEM-designated Master of Science degree program.
The STEM designation reflects our program's emphasis on quantitative economics and econometrics. International graduates of our program on F1 visas are eligible for a 2-year extension of the usual 1 year Optional Practical Training (OPT) in the US after they graduate. The longer OPT eligibility of up to 3 years makes graduates of STEM-designated programs more attractive to US employers offering OPT internships.
What are the admissions requirements?
Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution, but the degree does not need to have been in economics. The applicant’s cumulative undergraduate GPA should be 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0-point scale). Applicants must have completed introductory courses in microeconomics and macroeconomics, earning grades of at least B in each course. Applicants must also have completed a one-semester course in calculus, earning at least a B. We can often work with applicants who do not meet all of the standard requirements. Good grades in intermediate economics courses can trump bad grades in introductory courses, for example. Good grades in graduate courses and/or relevant work experience can also be helpful. Students with concerns about the basic admission criteria should contact the program’s director, Dr. John Straub, at Straub@umd.edu.
Please also see the Application Information page on our website.
Is the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) required for admission?
No. We do not require GRE scores for admission. We also do not require letters of recommendation. We do ask applicants to upload a resume and a brief personal statement.
Students who earned their previous degrees in non-English speaking countries must also provide documentation of English language proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS - see below).
Does the application's personal statement have a required word count?
The online application's instructions suggest a word count of 1000-2000:
https://app.applyyourself.com/_fileroot/clnt-1072/umdstatementofpurpose.pdf
Longer than 2000 would probably be excessive. Three or four clear paragraphs should do.
The University of Maryland has posted general guidelines for the Graduate Application's Statement of Purpose:
https://gradschool.umd.edu/admissions/admissions-requirements/graduate-admissions-statement-purpose
Please note the words "as appropriate" before the four bullet points listed in the general guidelines. These general guidelines are for the entire Graduate School at the University of Maryland, which is comprised of hundreds of different graduate programs, many of which are research-oriented PhD programs. Don't forget that our program is a professional program. Our program is not a stepping stone towards a PhD in Economics. We are not trying to train people to produce original research. We are training people to be professional analysts who are able to apply economics and econometrics in quantitative evidence-based analysis. That does require being able to understand and apply the findings of cutting edge research. But we do not need our students to have original research agendas of their own, or to have specific faculty mentors in mind before they enroll in our program.
Please just write a few clear and well organized paragraphs that explain why the program is a good fit for you and how it fits into your academic and professional goals.
Keep the standard academic criteria for admission to our program in mind. The standard admissions criteria include a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4-point scale), or a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in a previously completed graduate program. We also want to see grades of B or better in introductory courses micro- and macroeconomics, and calculus. If there are any ways in which your previous academic record does not meet the standard admissions requirements, please address those issues in your personal statement. Explain why we can expect you to succeed in our program despite those issues.
Do you accept Advanced Placement exam scores to fulfill the calculus and economics course admissions requirements?
Advanced Placement exams scores of 4 or 5 on the Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and/or Calculus (AB or BC) exams are sufficient to satisfy the corresponding course admissions requirements.
Does a 3-year undergraduate degree satisfy the bachelor's degree requirement for admission?
There are 2 common types of 3-year degrees that we can consider. The first is a 3-year bachelor's degree from a British university. The second is a 3-year degree in economics or a closely related field from a reputable Indian university, like the University of Delhi.
Otherwise, the University of Maryland does not generally consider the curriculum in a 3-year undergraduate degree to be equivalent to a US bachelor's degree. In addition to the 3-year degree, applicants must also secure a master's degree or a Post Graduate Diploma from an institution recognized by the University of Maryland.
Is your program a regular academic program administered by the University of Maryland's Department of Economics, or is it a continuing education program administered by University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) or the university's Office of Extended Studies (OES)?
All academic aspects of our program are administered by the Department of Economics at the University of Maryland in College Park. The curriculum was designed by the faculty in College Park and the director, Dr. John Straub, is a full-time senior lecturer in our College Park department. Dr. Straub has been the director of the department's master's degree program since 2014. He reports to the chair of the economics department, Dr. Andrew Sweeting, and to the department's Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. John Shea.
Dr. Straub typically works a couple days per week in College Park, and a couple days per week in the master's program's Washington, DC suite. He oversees all the program's day-to-day operations, including admissions, implementation and development of the curriculum, and hiring of the instructors. Some of the instructors in our program are full-time lecturers on the College Park faculty (like Dr. Straub), but most of our instructors are professional PhD economists working at government agencies, NGOs and private firms in the Washington, DC area. You can see our instructors' affiliations and vitas on our website's Faculty page. The working professional economists who teach in our program know exactly what is required of analysts in the field and have professional connections with exactly the same agencies and firms who hire our students and graduates.
The university's Office of Extended Studies handles certain administrative aspects of our program, including course registration and billing.
How large are the classes?
Over the last few years, average enrollment in the core courses has been between 20 and 30. Average enrollment in the field courses has been between 12 and 20. The maximum number of students we allow in one of our Washington, DC classrooms is 27. In College Park the classes are capped at 30. We have also capped our online sections at 30 to keep the student-teacher ratios reasonable. Applicants should pay attention to class sizes when comparing alternative programs.
Is earning your degree useful as a stepping stone for people who would like to eventually apply to PhD programs in economics?
Virtually all American PhD programs in economics accept students with just a bachelor’s degree. If your undergraduate major was economics, taking more math courses would probably be better preparation for a PhD in economics than taking more economics courses. Admissions committees in American PhD programs would like to see good grades in multivariable calculus, linear algebra, probability theory, and real analysis. If your undergraduate major was not economics, our first 5 Core Courses could be helpful in preparation for a PhD program in economics or public policy.
While PhD prep was not the primary consideration in mind when we designed our program's curriculum, we do have alumni who have enrolled in PhD program's after completing our master's degree or our graduate certificate. Brian Bonis is one example. You can read about Brian's experience on the Alumni Profiles page of our website.
Professional development of applied economists was the primary consideration when our program's curriculum was designed. Our program is more focused on preparing people to be analysts rather than academic researchers.
Is the program math-intensive?
The courses in our program require the basic skills of differential calculus that would be covered in any 1st semester calculus course (college, community college, or high school). Our courses also build upon those fundamental calculus skills. Many of our applicants complete the prerequisite course requirements at a local community college or online. Online, blended, and traditional face-to-face calculus courses are offered by the University of Maryland Global Campus.
What is the time commitment for a given course?
Classes in the Washington, DC version of our program meet once a week for 12 weeks from 6:45-9:30 p.m. (There is always a 15-minute break somewhere between 7:45 and 8:30.) Students should expect to spend at least twice as much time outside of class each week, studying and working on homework. All the Washington, DC courses also require students to participate in online discussions outside of class.
In College Park the classes also meet once per week - from 6:30-9:15. But the College Park program's traditional semester-based academic calendar permits 15 meetings per term, rather than just 12. So the College Park courses do not have weekly online discussion requirements like the Washington, DC courses.
A given course covers exactly the same material at exactly the same level of rigor in both College Park and Washington, DC. Since the Washington, DC program compresses the same amount of material into 12 weeks instead of 15 weeks, the Washington, DC courses require more work per week than the College Park courses.
Who are the instructors in your program?
All of our instructors are PhD economists with extensive experience in economic analysis and teaching. Most of our instructors work full-time at government agencies, NGOs or private consulting firms. A few of our courses are taught by lecturers from our department's College Park faculty. The College Park lecturers are also PhD economists. The College Park lecturers tend to be full-time teachers who also do some economic consulting on the side. Most of the instructors in our program, however, are full-time professional economists who do some teaching on the side - in our program and in other Washington, DC area economics programs.
The affiliation and curriculum vitae for each of our program's instructors is listed on the Faculty page of our program's website.
What is the typical sequence of courses for students in the Washington, DC program?
The Washington, DC program's academic calendar is on a quarter system. A typical sequence of courses for a student taking 2 courses each quarter in Washington, DC would be:
1st quarter (fall or spring):
Microeconomic Analysis
(ECON 641)
Empirical Analysis I (ECON 643)
Empirical Analysis I (ECON 643)
2nd quarter (winter or summer):
Topics in Applied
Macroeconomics (ECON 642)
Empirical Analysis II (ECON 644)
Empirical Analysis II (ECON 644)
3rd quarter (fall or spring):
Empirical Analysis III
(ECON 645) and
Financial Economics (ECON 670) or Economic Analysis of Law (ECON 674)
Financial Economics (ECON 670) or Economic Analysis of Law (ECON 674)
4th quarter (winter or summer):
Choose 2 from:
Economics of Health Care (ECON 671)
Program Analysis and Evaluation (ECON 672)
Environmental Economics (ECON 675)
Applied Time Series Analysis and Forecasting (ECON 684)
Economics of Health Care (ECON 671)
Program Analysis and Evaluation (ECON 672)
Environmental Economics (ECON 675)
Applied Time Series Analysis and Forecasting (ECON 684)
5th quarter (fall or spring):
Choose 2 from:
Game Theory and Market Design (ECON 673)
Development Economics (ECON 676)
International Macroeconomics and Finance (ECON 683)
Game Theory and Market Design (ECON 673)
Development Economics (ECON 676)
International Macroeconomics and Finance (ECON 683)
What
is the typical sequence of courses for students in the
College Park program?
The College Park program's academic calendar is on a traditional semester-based system. A typical sequence of courses for a full-time student in College Park would be:
1st semester (fall):
2nd semester (spring):
3rd semester (fall):
4th semester (spring):
The College Park program's academic calendar is on a traditional semester-based system. A typical sequence of courses for a full-time student in College Park would be:
1st semester (fall):
Microeconomic Analysis
(ECON 641)
Topics in Applied Macroeconomics (ECON 642)
Empirical Analysis I (ECON 643)
Topics in Applied Macroeconomics (ECON 642)
Empirical Analysis I (ECON 643)
2nd semester (spring):
Empirical Analysis II
(ECON 644)
Financial Economics (ECON 670)
Economic Analysis of Law (ECON 674)
Financial Economics (ECON 670)
Economic Analysis of Law (ECON 674)
3rd semester (fall):
Empirical Analysis III
(ECON 645) and
Development (ECON 676) or International Macro (ECON 683) and
Economics of Health Care (ECON 671) or Environmental Economics (ECON 675)
Development (ECON 676) or International Macro (ECON 683) and
Economics of Health Care (ECON 671) or Environmental Economics (ECON 675)
4th semester (spring):
Choose 1 from:
Program Analysis and Evaluation (ECON 672)
Applied Time Series Analysis and Forecasting (ECON 684)
Program Analysis and Evaluation (ECON 672)
Applied Time Series Analysis and Forecasting (ECON 684)
Game Theory and Market
Design (ECON 673)
Why do full-time students take only 1 course in the final semester of the College Park program?
To be considered a full-time student for international student visa purposes, a student must be enrolled in at least 3 courses in every semester, with the exception of the final term. Since completion of our program requires 10 courses, students can maintain full-time status by following the 3-3-3-1 plan.
All our courses are in the evening, which makes it easy for our students to work at internships during the day. Taking just a single course makes it even easier for students to work at an internship during their final term.
Can I pursue the degree at a slower pace?
Domestic students are allowed to take fewer courses per term than called for in the traditional course sequences. They are also allowed to take certain terms off if necessary. Domestic students receiving financial aid may also be subject to minimum enrollment requirements in order maintain financial aid eligibility. Students should consult the program’s director when planning their course of study.
Students with F-1 or J-1 visas must be enrolled full-time (3 courses per semester) for each first 3 semesters. The only possible exception that might allow an F-1 or J-1 student to remain in the United States while not being enrolled in 9 credits per semester is being on an approved leave of absence for a serious illness or medical condition. Students are advised to consult with International Student and Scholar Services for more information when considering a leave of absence.
What if I do not complete the entire program?
Students who complete just the first 5 courses are eligible for our Graduate Certificate in Economic Analysis.
Can I take terms off while I’m in the program?
The University of Maryland’s Graduate School requires that students be enrolled in at least one course every term while they are pursuing their degree. Waivers to this policy are routinely granted as necessary. Leaves of absence are also possible under certain circumstances.
I am an international student. Am I required to submit TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores? What are the scores required for admission?
Any student - international or domestic - whose previous degrees are all from non-English speaking countries must submit TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores. The list of English speaking countries for UMD Graduate admissions purposes are are posted along with additional detailed information on the Graduate School's website.
For the PTE (Pearson Test of English) a minimum score of 68 is required for full admission. The TOEFL and IELTS requirements for full-admission are listed below. Please note that for the TOEFL and IELTS, the requirement in each section as well as the overall score must be met.
IBT TOFEL Requirements for Full Admission
Total: 96
Speaking: 22
Listening: 24
Reading: 26
Writing: 24
IELTS Requirements for Full Admission
Total: 7.0
Speaking: 6.5
Listening: 7.0
Reading: 7.0
Writing: 7.0
The TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE test is a mandatory and non-negotiable application requirement for students whose native language is not English. Waivers are only permitted if the applicant has earned a degree from an institution in an English-speaking country ( i.e. The United Kingdom, English-speaking Africa, Canada and the Caribbean, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand etc.), prior to entering our program.
All applicants must comply with this policy regardless of citizenship status, number of years residing in the United States, and language of instruction of his or her university.
Request an official copy of your TOEFL scores to be sent to the University of Maryland at College Park - institution code 5814.
We ask that applicants also upload a PDF of their TOEFL, IELTS or PTE report with their online application. Do not assume that your TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores will be reported to the University in a timely manner simply because you have taken the test. We will not be able to complete our review of your application without TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores.
The University of Maryland's graduate admissions requirements for English proficiency are posted on this page of the Graduate School's website:
https://gradschool.umd.edu/admissions/english-language-proficiency-requirements
If my TOEFL, IELTS or PTE exam scores do not meet the full admission standard, can I still be admitted?
In the College Park version of our program, we will consider the possibility of provisional admission for applicants with TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores in the following ranges:
TOEFL: 88-95
IELTS: Score of at least 6.5 on each section of the exam.
PTE: 61-67
We are only able to work with applicants who need English proficiency provisions if they enroll in the College Park version of our program. In our DC location, we can only admit students who meet the full-admissions standards for English proficiency.
In College Park, we will consider applicants with provisional scores on a case-by-case basis. Our review will include consideration of the sectional scores.
If all sectional scores except the writing score meet the full-admission standards, we may offer full admission with a condition of enrollment that the student successfully complete an English writing course at the Maryland English Institute (MEI) during their 2nd semester of study. Students in this situation also have the option of re-taking the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE. If their new scores satisfy all the full admission requirements, the student will be exempted from the MEI English writing course requirement.
If an applicant requires more than just the MEI English writing course, we may offer admission into a "bridge" program rather than our regular degree program. In this case, the applicant will receive a non-degree student I-20 marked "Other-Bridge" and will be enrolled in a semi-intensive English course at the Maryland English Institute (MEI) during their first semester. Students in this situation will take just 2 of our program's usual courses during their first semester. They will take ECON 641 and ECON 643, in addition to the MEI semi-intensive English course. Students in this situation are also able to submit new TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores up to 30 days prior to the start of their first semester for reevaluation.
What resources are available to applicants who do not meet the full-admission standard for English proficiency?
There is an online resource that applicants have found helpful as they prepared to re-take the TOEFL or IELTS exam. This resource was developed to help applicants with provisional offers of admission work towards the full admission standard. The resource is the online VOXY-UMD Bridge Program. The VOXY-UMD Bridge Program is a two month online course designed to improve the English language skills. Upon completion of the two month program students should retake the IELTS or TOEFL exam (or Pearson Exam) and submit a new score to the Graduate School. The TOEFL/IELTS/PTE needs to be retaken before June 21st. Please note that a fee is involved. You can visit the Program Website for more information and to sign up for the program:
https://buy.voxy.com/umdbridge/
Applicants who re-take the TOEFL exam should have the official scores sent to The University of Maryland-College Park -- institution code 5814. Once you receive your personal score report, please also send a PDF of that directly to our program via email. That will permit us to process your application even before the official score report has been processed by our Graduate School.
Does your program offer any placement service for students and graduates?
Our program works with the University of Maryland's Career Center to organize 2 Career Fair/Networking Events each year. We maintain relationships with many area employers who hire our students and graduates, and send their employees to study with us. We receive frequent job postings from area employers, which we routinely share with our students and alumni. And of course our students naturally get to network with each other and with our instructors - most of whom work at DC-area government agencies, NGO's and consulting firms.
Our graduates have had great success in finding employment. The employment rate for our graduates is between 90 and 100%, with most students being hired well before they graduate.
The employers of recent graduates from our program include:
Private Sector
Abt Associates
Berkeley Research Group
Booz Allen Hamilton
Deloitte Consulting
Ernst & Young
Grant Thornton
KPMG Consulting
Mathematica Policy Research
Optimal Solutions Group
Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC)
Rand Corporation
Summit Consulting
Wells Fargo
Government
Bureau of Economic Analysis
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Census Bureau
Department of Agriculture
Department of Defense
Department of Energy
Department of Health & Human Services
Department of Labor
Department of Transportation
Department of the Treasury
Federal Trade Commission
National Institutes of Health
Office of Management & Budget
Non-governmental Organizations
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
Fannie Mae
Freddie Mac
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
National Science Foundation
Resources for the Future
Results for Development
Roosevelt Institute
Social Security Advisory Board
US African Development Fund
World Bank
US federal government agencies are required by law to hire only US citizens, but international organizations like the World Bank and IMF are allowed to hire citizens of any country. We leverage our connections to help our international students find internships with employers in the private sector and at international organizations.
Which field courses should a student take if they want to prepare for the NABE's CBE exam?
Field courses that would best prepare students for the CBE exam are:
670 - Financial Economics
672 - Program Evaluation
673 - Game Theory and Market Design
683 - International Trade / International Finance
684 - Applied Time Series Analysis
How do I apply?
Our application can be completed online. Please see the Application Information posted on our website.
Where can I get additional information?
You can visit our website: https://masters.econ.umd.edu/
You can also contact us via email at masters-econ@umd.edu.
And you can call the program’s director, Dr. John Straub, at (301) 405-3531.