Program: Economics, Financial Economics Concentration, M.A. - Middle Tennessee State University

Apr 25, 2025

2018-19 Graduate Catalog

Adam Rennhoff, Program Director
(615) 898-2931
Adam.Rennhoff@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 three degree programs: the Master of Arts (M.A.) with a major in Economics, the Master of Science (M.S.) with a major in Finance, 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.

The M.A. program offers two curricular paths: general economics 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 M.S. in Finance offers three concentrations: Corporate Finance, Investments, and General Finance. M.S. students are offered a graduate-level knowledge base and expertise for work in the growing field of finance. Ph.D. students in economics are trained for careers in teaching and applied research. The Ph.D. provides students with the opportunity to combine advanced training in economics with educational pedagogy and research methodology.

Please see undergraduate catalog for information regarding undergraduate programs.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are expected to possess a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record 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 Financial Economics requires 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 , ECON 6060 , and ECON 6070 .

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, Financial Economics

Students in the Financial Economics concentration may choose between the thesis option (30 hours) or non-thesis option (33 hours) in the following course of study:

Thesis Option (30 hours)

Core Courses (12 hours)

ECON 6010 - Macroeconomics I 3 credit hours
ECON 6020 - Microeconomics I 3 credit hours
ECON 6060 - Econometrics I 3 credit hours
ECON 6070 - Econometrics II 3 credit hours

Required Financial Economics Courses (12 hours)

ECON 6460 - Equity Valuation 3 credit hours OR
FIN 6460 - Equity Valuation 3 credit hours
FIN 6710 - Financial Analysis 3 credit hours
ECON 6730 - Financial Institutions 3 credit hours OR
FIN 6730 - Financial Institutions 3 credit hours
FIN 6740 - Bond Market Analysis 3 credit hours

Elective (3 hours)

Three hours of electives must be chosen from the following:

ECON 6430 - Public Finance 3 credit hours OR
FIN 6430 - Public Finance 3 credit hours
ECON 6450 - Monetary Policy 3 credit hours OR
FIN 6450 - Monetary Policy 3 credit hours
ECON 5620 - Econometrics and Forecasting 3 credit hours
ECON 6000 - Managerial Economics 3 credit hours
ECON 6530 - International Economics I 3 credit hours
FIN 6720 - Cases in Financial Management 3 credit hours
FIN 6860 - International Financial Management 3 credit hours

Thesis (3 hours)

ECON 6640 - Thesis Research 1 to 6 credit hours (3 credit hours)

Non-thesis Option (33 hours)

Core Courses (12 hours)

ECON 6010 - Macroeconomics I 3 credit hours
ECON 6020 - Microeconomics I 3 credit hours
ECON 6060 - Econometrics I 3 credit hours
ECON 6070 - Econometrics II 3 credit hours

Required Financial Economics Courses (12 hours)

ECON 6460 - Equity Valuation 3 credit hours OR
FIN 6460 - Equity Valuation 3 credit hours
FIN 6710 - Financial Analysis 3 credit hours
ECON 6730 - Financial Institutions 3 credit hours OR
FIN 6730 - Financial Institutions 3 credit hours
FIN 6740 - Bond Market Analysis 3 credit hours

Electives (9 hours)

Nine hours of electives must be chosen from the following:

ECON 6430 - Public Finance 3 credit hours OR
FIN 6430 - Public Finance 3 credit hours
ECON 6450 - Monetary Policy 3 credit hours OR
FIN 6450 - Monetary Policy 3 credit hours
ECON 5620 - Econometrics and Forecasting 3 credit hours
ECON 6000 - Managerial Economics 3 credit hours
ECON 6530 - International Economics I 3 credit hours
FIN 6720 - Cases in Financial Management 3 credit hours
FIN 6860 - International Financial Management 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 entry into the program;
file a Notice of Intent to Graduate form in the College of Graduate Studies within the first two weeks of the term in which candidate intends to graduate.