Master of Science in Economics
- Fall January 10
- Pullman: Yes
- GRE No minimum score required
- 550 TOEFL Paper
- 213 TOEFL Computer
- 80 TOEFL Internet
Degree Description:
The M.S. in Applied Economics program provides strong foundations in economic theory, quantitative methods, applications, communication skills, and research analysis. Students can focus their studies in general economics, agribusiness, or agricultural and resource economics by carefully selecting supporting and elective courses. Students can earn an M.S. in Applied Economics to specifically prepare for positions in private corporations and government service as management specialists, policy analysts, forecasters or economic consultants. Two options are offered in the degree: thesis and non-thesis. This degree can be completed by well-prepared students in two years or less. View the graduate student manual for economic sciences.
Admission Requirements:
Statement of Purpose, 3 letters of recommendations, CV, GRE
Student Learning Outcomes:
All graduates will be able to:
- Graduates will understand economic theory and quantitative methods at an advanced level:
- Advanced economic theory and quantitative methods will be well understood for applied economic analysis and empirical research in the field.
- Graduates will be rigorously-trained in critical, integrative, and evaluative thinking:
- Graduates will be able to rigorously apply economic theory, quantitative methods, and institutional knowledge relating to the economic problem context to conduct relevant analysis that facilitates the ability of consumers, agricultural and nonagricultural firms, and/or policy makers to make economically rational decisions.
- Graduates will be capable of rigorous analysis and evaluation of broad economic and social problems concerning the allocation of individual, firm and social resources.
- Graduates will have advanced communication skills:
- Advanced written and oral communication skills are necessary for efficient and clear dissemination of the knowledge generated from rigorous economic analysis, as well as for success in private and public sector careers in the various subfields of economics.
Graduates will develop advanced communication skills through writing and presenting the content of class assignments and research papers written as requirements in graduate courses, as well as in the writing and oral presentation of a Master’s project or thesis.
- Advanced written and oral communication skills are necessary for efficient and clear dissemination of the knowledge generated from rigorous economic analysis, as well as for success in private and public sector careers in the various subfields of economics.
Student Opportunities:
A master’s degree in Applied Economics at Washington State University enhances graduates’ employment prospects and their chances to obtain significantly higher salaries than bachelor degree holders. Public and private organizations are increasingly seeking to hire professionals who can understand and apply economic research. Job opportunities include positions in banking, communication, government, insurance, investment, research, and trade, among others.
In addition, the master’s degree in Applied Economics at Washington State University serves as a preparation for pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Economics.
Career Opportunities:
Management Specialists, Policy Analysts, Forecasters, Economic Consultants
Career Placements:
Former students are placed at the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service and Economic Research Service, Cargill, World Bank, Insightful Corp, Grassbridge Recruiting, Insurance industry, among others.
See this list of student job placements.
Faculty Members:
Bai, Jinhui, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Macroeconomics, Political Economy, Theory
Batina, Raymond G, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Public Economics
Blundell, Wesley, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Econometrics, Environmental, Economics, Industrial Organization, and Applied Microeconomics
Brady, Michael P, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Specialty crops
Water and irrigated agriculture
Modeling coupled human and environmental systems
Land use, value, and ownership
Cowan, Benjamin, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Health Economics, Labor Economics, and Economics of Education
Espinola-Arredondo, Ana Fabiola, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Environmental Economics and Game Theory
Industrial Organization and Applied Microeconomics.
Fortenbery, Randy, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
My research program currently focuses on agricultural price performance in local and national markets. It looks at impacts of new information on relative prices, as well as overall price levels. I also am engaged in studying the impact of futures price action on the stability of cash prices
Galinato, Gregmar, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Natural resource and environmental economics and issues in development economics.
Gallardo, Rosa Karina, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Technology Adoption, Consumer Demand for Food Products, and Tree Fruit Economics.
Gibson, Mark, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
International Trade, Macroeconomics, Growth and Development, and Industrial Organization.
Jessup, Eric L, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Improving freight transportation efficiency across all modes and the spatial characteristics influencing facility location decisions for inter-modal truck/rail investments.
Kuzyk, Patricia, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Institutional Economics, Pedagogy.
Love, Alan, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Industrial Organization, Information Economics, Supply-Chains, and Applied Econometrics.
Luckstead, Jeffrey, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Agricultural Economics, International Trade, Industrial Organization, and Econometrics
Mandal, Bidisha, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Health Economics, Health Care Policy, Economics of Gender
Marsh, Thomas Lloyd, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Consumer Demand, Modeling Commodity Markets, Quantitative Methods, and Natural Resource Economics.
McCluskey, Jill J, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Product differentiation and market power in food industries, including product quality, food safety, and food labeling issues, environmental damage and land use issues.
McCracken, Vicki A, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Specialization in General Marketing and Price Analysis, Fruit Marketing, Consumption Analysis, Applied Econometrics.
Mittelhammer, R C, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Econometrics, Statistics, and Stochastic Economic Analysis
Munoz-Garcia, Felix, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
– Microeconomic Theory, Game Theory and Industrial Organization.
– Public and Environmental Economics.
Neibergs, Joseph Shannon, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Production economics of livestock industries, agribusiness and the commodity markets for livestock products.
Prera, Alejandro, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Environmental and natural resources economics, international and development economics.
Yan, Jia, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Transportation Economics, Applied Microeconomics, and Applied Econometrics.
Yoder, Jonathan, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Environmental, Natural Resource Economics, Contract Theory, Public Policy, and Applied Econometrics.