Proposal for a New MA in Economic Education

 

Submitted by

Department of Economics, Lerner College of Business and Economics and

School of Education, College of Education and Public Policy

 

Proposal Date:  Fall 2009

 

Contents

 

I.        DESCRIPTION.. 1

II.       CURRICULUM SPECIFICS. 1

 

I.        DESCRIPTION

Separately, we have proposed a new PhD in Economic Education.  We are also proposing a companion MA degree in Economic Education that will function as an exit degree for students who must leave the program before completion and as a requirement for continuation in the PhD program.  No students will be admitted directly into the MA program.

 

All general features of the proposal are identical to that in the PhD proposal.  Please see that proposal for rationale and demand and all other issues. 

 

II.      CURRICULUM SPECIFICS

A.       Institutional Factors

State the degree to be awarded to those who complete the program and explain why this is the appropriate form of recognition.

 

MA in Economic Education 

 

The Master of Arts in Economic Education requires 31 - 34 credits of graduate-level coursework. The required coursework includes: 

 

Proseminar Courses (EDUC 805, EDUC 806)                                                                  8 credits

Research Methods Courses (EDUC 850, EDUC 852)                                      6 credits

Economics Courses (ECON 801, 802, 803, 829, and 2 electives)*             17 credits

Research Paper (ECON 868 or EDUC 868)**                                                  0-3 credits

TOTAL                                                                                                                     31 - 34 CREDITS

* Electives must be approved. ECON 811 and 812 may be substituted for ECON 801 and 802; ECON822 may be substituted for ECON803.

** Research paper required only if MAEE received as terminal degree.

                                                       

Students must pass all required exams in Economics, including mathematical proficiency, Microeconomic Theory, and Macroeconomic Theory.  Students who receive an A or an A- in ECON 801 or ECON 811 are exempt from the Microeconomics Exam. Students who receive an A or an A- in ECON 802 or ECON 812 are exempt from the Macroeconomics Exam.  The examinations in Microeconomics and Macroeconomics will typically be taken in the semester after the relevant coursework has been completed.  A faculty committee consisting of at least two faculty members from the Department of Economics will be responsible for the writing and grading of the examinations. Students who do not pass an examination on the first attempt may retake it two additional times.

Students must also pass an examination based on the first year Education Proseminar courses (EDUC 805 and 806) and EDUC 850.  This exam will be administered at the end of the spring semester and is designed to assess students’ ability to synthesize the ideas and research methodology presented in these three first year courses.  The faculty instructors for these courses will be responsible for the writing and grading of this Proseminar Assessment. Students who do not pass the examination on the first attempt may retake it one additional time prior to the beginning of the fall semester. 

Students must be fully matriculated for at least two semesters and have taken at least 18 graduate credit hours before taking the comprehensive exam. The comprehensive examinations will typically be taken in the semester after all coursework has been completed. Candidates for the M.A. degree must have regular status and must be in good standing in order to obtain the M.A. degree (i.e., pass all courses with a C- or better, pass all comprehensive exams, and maintain a 3.0 GPA.) 

 

Only students who complete the M.A. as a terminal degree (i.e., do not continue in the Ph.D. program) will be required to complete the Research Paper. The M.A. for these students will consist of 34 total credit hours. Students in the Ph.D. program who continue their enrollment in the Ph.D. will not be required to complete the Research Paper requirement.  For these students, the doctoral dissertation will serve as their original contribution in scholarly writing.

 

MA in Economic Education

Suggested Student Schedule*

FALL                                                                       

ECON 801 or 811                                                 3 cr.

ECON 803 or 822                                                 3 cr.

EDUC 806                                                              4 cr.

 

SPRING

 

ECON 8XX                                                              3 cr.

ECON 829                                                              2 cr.

EDUC 805                                                              4 cr.

EDUC 850 or 852                                                                 3 cr.

FALL                                                                       

ECON 802 or 812                                                 3 cr.

ECON 8xx                                                               3 cr. ECON 868**                                                          3 cr.

EDUC 850 or 852                                                                 3 cr.

 

 

 

* This schedule is one of many alternative ways to fulfill requirements.  Specifics would be determined by advisor and may depend on availability of courses in particular semesters.
** Required only for terminal degree