Economics, Industrial Relations Concentration, M.A.

Mark Owens, Program Director
(615) 898-5617
Mark.Owens@mtsu.edu

The mission of the graduate program in economics is to provide students with advanced studies in economic theory and research methodology. To accomplish its mission, the Department of Economics and Finance offers two degree programs: the Master of Arts (M.A.) with a major in Economics and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) with a major in Economics.

The department’s approach to these degree programs is global, interactive, and innovative. In the M.A. program, students are offered three curricular paths: general economics, Industrial Relations, and Financial Economics. M.A. students in economics are offered preparation for careers in private business and public service. The focus of the M.A. program is on decision analysis and applied research. The Industrial Relations concentration offers the opportunity to obtain applied skills for careers in industrial relations. The technical analysis of employment relations includes issues in the workplace, compensation, and benefits. The program attempts to integrate this concentration into the broader business and economic environment. Traditional case analyses and projects are combined with emerging issues in work and employment. The curriculum design integrates multidisciplinary exposure, practice, problem solving, and innovative instruction.

Please see undergraduate catalog for information regarding undergraduate programs.

Admission Requirements

The required test score for admission to the master’s program is 380 on the Miller Analogies Test or a satisfactory score on the Graduate Records Examination (GRE).

Application Procedures

All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.

Applicant must

submit an application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php);
submit official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE);
submit official transcripts of previous college work.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts in Economics with a concentration in Industrial Relations requires a completion of a minimum of 30 semester hours (10 courses) if a thesis is written or a minimum of 33 semester hours (11 courses) if a thesis is not written. At least 24 hours (8 courses) must be in courses numbered exclusively as 6000-level graduate courses (other courses can be taken at the 5000 level). A minimum of 18 of these semester hours must be in economics and include ECON 6010 , ECON 6020 , and ECON 6060 .

Candidates must successfully complete a written comprehensive examination that may be taken no more than twice. For the major in Economics, the comprehensive examination covers the three core areas: macroeconomics, microeconomics, and econometrics.

Before taking the comprehensive examination, the student is expected to attend and actively participate in regularly scheduled departmental student/faculty workshops where research papers are presented and discussed by the participants.

Curriculum: Economics, Industrial Relations

Students in the Industrial Relations concentration may choose to take the theoretical track (involves more mathematics) or the applied track. Candidate must complete 30 hours (if writing a thesis) or 33 hours (if not writing a thesis) in the following course of study:

Theoretical Track (9 hours)

ECON 6010 - Macroeconomics I 3 credit hours
ECON 6020 - Microeconomics I 3 credit hours
ECON 6060 - Econometrics I 3 credit hours

Applied Track (9 hours)

ECON 5620 - Econometrics and Forecasting 3 credit hours
ECON 6000 - Managerial Economics 3 credit hours
ECON 6450 - Seminar on Monetary Policy 3 credit hours OR
FIN 6450 - Seminar on Monetary Policy 3 credit hours

Required (9 hours)

In addition, candidates choosing the concentration in Industrial Relations are required to complete:

ECON 5390 - Employee Benefits 3 credit hours
ECON 6500 - Modern Issues in Labor and Industrial Relations 3 credit hours
ECON 6510 - Theory and Analysis in Labor Economics and Industrial Relations 3 credit hours

Thesis or Electives (12-15 hours)

Students completing a thesis must take 9 hours of electives and 3 hours of ECON 6640 . Students completing the non-thesis option must complete 15 hours of electives.

Students without Substantial Experience

Students without substantial experience in the field of industrial relations may be required to complete the following as initial courses in the concentration:

ECON 5420 - Labor and Human Resource Economics 3 credit hours
ECON 5490 - Industrial Relations Legislation 3 credit hours
ECON 5510 - Unions and Collective Bargaining 3 credit hours
ECON 6040 - Survey of Employment Relations 3 credit hours

Program Notes

Students may include a minor in their degree programs. A minor consists of a minimum of 12 semester hours of approved courses. Students not electing a minor may include a cognate area of up to 6 semester hours in their programs. Cognate areas can be formed from courses in accounting, agriculture, finance, geography, geology, history, insurance, management, political science, psychology, real estate, and sociology.

Candidate must

file a degree plan in the College of Graduate Studies prior to the completion of 21 credit hours (with the assistance of the M.A. advisor);
file a Notice of Intent to Graduate form in the College of Graduate Studies within the first two weeks of the term in which the student intends to graduate.