The Master of Arts degree is offered by the Department of Economics and the Master of Science is offered by the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business. The combined programs offer a graduate curriculum in both theoretical and applied economics and agricultural economics. Current enrollment is about 60, making the program one of the largest in the United States offering only the master's degree.
Graduate students are able to work one-on-one with more than 30 full-time faculty members with degrees from leading universities throughout the United States. The combined faculties offer expertise in all areas of economics, agricultural economics, resource economics, and agribusiness. The student's program of study, beyond the basic requirements, is formulated by the student and a faculty advisory committee, with reference to the student's professional goals.
Graduate classes range in size from 10 to 15 students. The Graduate Student Organization selects students to serve on the Graduate Program Committee. The graduate faculty assists master's graduates in finding professional opportunities in research, teaching, government, and business, as well as in securing admission to and financial support in top Ph.D. programs.
Since a Ph.D. degree is not offered, master's
graduate students are the recipients of the attention of all of the graduate
faculty members. The attention to master's training plus the personal touch
lead to a very strong professional program.
All students in the program must successfully
complete the following core courses:
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Traditional Master of Arts
Students enroll in traditional courses that prepare them for work as economists. This alternative also best suits the needs of students intending to pursue the Ph.D. or to enter a profession such as accounting or law that requires a deeper understanding of graduate -level economics.
Regulatory Economics Option (Offered under MBA as a concentration)
This option within the traditional M.A. in Economics program includes specific courses aimed at an understanding of public utilities and regulatory economics. Course work emphasizes revenue requirements, cost allocation, and pricing in the energy and telecommunications industries, as well as the procedures of utility regulation and current challenges to the regulatory process. NMSU is one of only six universities nationwide offering this graduate option. Students in this option benefit from an association with the Economics Department's Center for Public Utilities, which assists graduates in securing employment. Graduates are currently employed with major electric, natural gas, and telecommunication companies, as well as with state and federal regulatory commissions throughout the country.
For the option in regulatory economics, students
must also complete 24 credits from
the following:
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Policy and Analysis Option (Offered under M.A. and M.S. programs)
Increasingly, economists in the public and private sectors are called upon to render analyses of public policies, including consequences of alternative economic strategies. This option seeks to train master's-level students in the area of policy analysis using economic principles. Students select areas of concentration such as taxation, natural resources and the environment, agricultural and food policy, human resource policy, and regulatory policy. The program is ideally suited to those desiring policy analysis positions in major firms in the private sector and to those who seek careers as members of legislative staff and congressional committees.
For the option in policy analysis, students
must also complete the following courses:
ECON 587, AEEC 522, AEEC 523, AEEC 524, GOVT 530, either
a three-credit internship or AEEC 599 (3 credits), and 6 additional credits
agreed upon with the advisor.
Traditional Master of Science
Students enroll in courses that provide training in the traditional areas of economics, agricultural economics, resource economics, and production economics. This program prepares students for careers in the public and private sectors. This alternative may also best suit the needs of students interested in entering a Ph.D. program.
Agribusiness Option
This option is designed for those who are planning a career in the management of agribusiness firms. In addition to the requirements of the traditional Master of Science degree, course work in accounting and finance offered in the College of Business Administration and Economics is included. The research requirement is oriented to agribusiness problems. Complementary to the management orientation are components on agricultural marketing and international trade.
Design, Appraisal, and Management of Development Projects Option
This option is designed primarily for international students employed by governmental agencies who expect to return to administrative positions in which knowledge concerning project design, appraisal, and management is vital. To complement the emphasis on projects, the option also includes training in policy analysis, public administration, management of organizations, statistics, and computer applications.
Policy Analysis Option (See
description under M.A. program.)