Applied Economics

Master's Program

Opportunities for graduate studies

The Institute of Applied Economics at the University of North Texas offers a master of science degree with an emphasis on economic development and public policy. The program provides you with a strong background in political economy and quantitative research methods as well as the opportunity to specialize in a specific field of interest. It also prepares you for doctoral studies in public policy or economics.

Interdisciplinary by design, the applied economics program encourages you to take classes in business, geography, public administration and other social sciences, in addition to core courses within the department. This approach permits you to develop a degree plan tailored to your career or intellectual interests. You may also choose department courses in alternative dispute resolution as electives.

The Institute of Applied Economics operates in conjunction with the University Center for Economic Development and Research, which conducts economic and public policy analyses for public-, private- and nonprofit-sector clients. These research projects provide you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in economic and public policy research.

Admission requirements

You must meet the admission requirements of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. For graduate school requirements and possible exceptions, access the graduate catalog online at www.unt.edu/catalogs.

In addition, the Institute of Applied Economics requires the following:

• acceptable scores as established by the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies on either the GRE (verbal, written and quantitative sections) or GMAT
• information about your employment and/or educational background, involvement in community activities, career and academic goals, research experience, and assistantships or scholarships you have earned
• any other important information you wish to provide to assist with the admission decision

This information can be provided by submitting a 750- to 1,500-word essay or through an interview with the program director or graduate advisor.

More information about admission requirements can be found in the student guidelines available at www.unt.edu/aeco/guidelin.htm.

Degree requirements

A total of 36 semester hours, which includes a directed research project, is required for the M.S. degree. The program is tailored for each student, with a high degree of involvement from faculty advisors.

Of the 36 semester hours, you must complete 21 hours in applied economics. The remaining 15 hours of course work are to be selected from the offerings of related disciplines.

Financial assistance

Each semester, the Institute of Applied Economics awards several competitive scholarships from its Economic Development Scholars fund as well as the William A. Luker Endowment. Research assistantships are also available to support graduate students.

Library system

The UNT libraries contain printed books, periodicals, electronic databases, maps, documents, microforms and audiovisual materials, as well as a large and growing number of electronic journals and books.

Catalogs for major research libraries throughout the world can be searched electronically and documents ordered through UNT’s interlibrary loan department.

Through the Tex-Share program, administered by the Texas State Library, UNT has borrowing privileges with academic and public libraries throughout the state. UNT libraries also hold membership in the Center for Research Libraries, giving patrons access to unique materials no longer available in other libraries around the country.

Computer technology

UNT has hardware and software for a wide range of instruction and research. Computer networks are installed in all academic departments, providing connections to a variety of general-purpose and specialized computing equipment.

The university offers you the ability to schedule classes, check accounts and pay tuition via the Internet. With the use of WebCT software, UNT electronically enhances curriculum in more than 500 classes and offers graduate programs and certifications through videoconference and the web, with more on the way.

The central resources for academic computing consist of several UNIX multiuser computers, including a cluster of systems that support high-performance computing.

You can use UNT’s considerable computing resources through its wireless network. Fourteen general-access student microcomputer laboratories provide PC and Macintosh formats as well as laser printing, and one lab is open 24 hours a day. One lab is reserved for use exclusively by graduate students.