Master of Arts in Economics
Contact: Dr. T. Popp.
The Department of Economics and International Business and the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business cooperate in offering graduate programs in economics and agricultural economics. All students must successfully complete core courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics. Students in Agricultural Economics must also complete a research component.
The Master of Arts in Economics degree is offered by the Department of Economics and International Business and the Master of Science in Agricultural Business is offered by the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business. The College of Agriculture and Home Economics provides Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business Graduate Program information and contacts. The combined programs offer a graduate curriculum in both theoretical and applied economics and agricultural economics.
Graduate students are able to work one-on-one with more than 30 full-time faculty members with degrees from leading universities throughout the United States. The combined faculties offer expertise in all areas of economics, agricultural economics, resource economics, and agribusiness. The student’s program of study, beyond the basic requirements, is formulated by the student and a faculty advisory committee with reference to the student’s professional goals.
Graduate classes range in size from 10 to 15 students. The Graduate Student Organization selects students to serve on the Graduate Program Committee. The graduate faculty assists master’s graduates in finding professional opportunities in research, teaching, government, and business, as well as in securing admission to and financial support in top Ph.D. programs.
Since a Ph.D. degree is not offered, master’s graduate students are the recipients of the attention of all of the graduate faculty members. The attention to master’s training plus the personal touch leads to a very strong professional program.
My education at NMSU has proven invaluable to the success of my career here at the U.S. Department of State.
The solid foundation I received with my Master’s in Economics degree prepared me to discuss a wide variety of issues, from sanctions and bilateral trade agreements to telecommunications policy and business law.
I use my economics degree almost daily in advising senior policy makers, producing white papers and summarizing those dreaded 300+ page reports into simple executive summaries and bullet points – just like Dr. Popp, Dr. Gegax and Dr. Blank warned us we would!
NMSU equipped me with the knowledge and toolset that helped me win a Meritorious Honor team award – a cash bonus – within my first year at State. While my job duties change daily, the sheer applicability of what I learned at NMSU about analysis and projects management, from initial concept to completed plan presentation, continues to serve me well.
My employers trust the solid foundation I bring to the table and from among a pool of Harvard and Princeton educated co-workers; they frequently designate me for leadership positions on critical programs or products for Cabinet-level policymakers.
NMSU equipped me to play with the big girls and boys on an international level.
Angi Pendergrass
Careers
When finished with their Master’s degrees, some students go on to Ph.D. programs and an academic career. Other students find placement in state- or firm-level regulatory positions, or in state-level policy positions. Virtually all of the Mater of Arts in Economics graduates have found placement thus far. Student retention is not a problem for this degree because of the advising and counseling by the faculty and the director of the program. Students are encouraged to use NMSU’s Career Services, but many of the employment possibilities come from faculty contacts and the Center for Public Utilities.
The directors of the Center for Public Utilities invite current students in the Regulatory Option to attend training seminars provided by the center. The students meet potential employers through this process. Many of the faculty have contacts in state government. Through these contacts, students learn of employment possibilities.
Samples of Companies/State Agencies Hiring our Graduates
- Tucson Electric Power
- Indiana Public Utilities Commission
- Bonneville Power Administration
- Massachusetts Utilities Board
- Public Service Company of New Mexico
- Pacific Gas and Electric Company
- Tri-State Utilities®