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MASTER'S DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Two degree options are offered: Option A and Option B.
 Under Option A, required minimums are: 20 semester credits (including the core courses of graduate coursework), and 10 semester credits of thesis. For those who have satisfied coursework prerequisites, the required degree coursework should be completed in two semesters. The thesis must be acceptable to the student's graduate committee and to the College of Graduate Studies, and it must demonstrate independent and original research.
Under Option B, a thesis is not required. This option includes at least 30 semester credits of graduate coursework. Students who select Option B are required to include a research paper (ECON 575; maximum of 4 credits in a semester and a maximum of 6 credits for the program) as part of their program. For those who have satisfied coursework prerequisites, the required degree coursework (other than the research paper) should be completed in two semesters. The paper must be original, of professional quality (meet style and format requirements set forth in the College of Graduate Studies' Guide for Preparation of Thesis and Professional Papers), be acceptable to the student's graduate committee, and receive final approval by the Department Head.
Two examinations complete degree requirements. Each student is required to pass a Microeconomics Theory Core Exam – a written exam administered by the Department's Graduate Affairs Committee. The exam is offered early spring semester, and may be offered one additional time each year; it will consist of questions covering the fundamental concepts of microeconomic theory and their application. Results of the Core Exam will be reported to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies as constituting the comprehensive examination.
In addition to the Core Exam, each student is required to pass an oral examination in defense of their thesis (Option A) or research paper (Option B). The oral examination is administered by the student's graduate committee and is open to all members of the faculty. Students are expected to present a typed draft, in final form, of the thesis or research paper to each member of their graduate committee at least seven days prior to the scheduled date of their examination. The examination for Option A students should not be scheduled until the student's thesis committee agrees that the thesis is essentially in a form acceptable to the University Library (that is, copies of the typed draft should be readable and have a table of contents, list of tables and figures, chapter titles, section headings, bibliography, and consecutively numbered pages). The examination for Option B students should not be scheduled until the paper is in a form which satisfies style and format requirements.
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