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- Programs that emphasize business economics, usually with an emphasis on topics such as managerial and financial economics, and applied econometrics – but limited amounts of rigorous, formal theory. The University of North Carolina – Greensboro http://www.uncg.edu/bae/econ/ma_overview.html is an example of an excellent program of this sort, as is the University of Arkansas http://gsb.uark.edu/ECON/default.asp. Boston University http://www.bu.edu/econ/graduate/ma/index.html has programs both in the first category as well as a joint MA economics – MBA program.
- Programs that emphasize applied econometrics, but with very limited theory. The University of Colorado at Denver http://econ.cudenver.edu/home/graduate_program.htm, where one can take four of 10 courses in econometrics or forecasting, is an excellent example. Beyond that are a range of MS programs in Statistics. CU-Denver also has a dual degree program in economics and finance.
- Programs that emphasize the MA: in addition to UNCG, Arkansas, and UC-Denver above, Miami University of Ohio http://www.sba.muohio.edu/sba_home/graduateprograms/econ/maecon.asp is nationally renowned in this area, as is the University of Delaware http://www.lerner.udel.edu/Economics/Grad.
- Programs that emphasize agricultural economics, generally accompanied by strong applied econometrics. Iowa State http://www.econ.iastate.edu/programs/graduate/prospectiveStudents/masterProg.asp is a standard example.
- Programs that mix policy with the opportunity to take rigorous PhD coursework for advanced students. Vanderbilt http://www.vanderbilt.edu/Econ/GPED, Michigan http://www.econ.lsa.umich.edu/econ/grad/mae, and Illinois http://www.mspe.uiuc.edu/ are leading examples.
- Programs with a high degree of rigor, though not intended to lead to a PhD. Some of the tracks at the London School of Economics (LSE) http://econ.lse.ac.uk/study/grpr.html fall into this category, as would New York University http://www.econ.nyu.edu/graduate/ma.html.
- Programs that lead to the PhD. In Britain, M.Sc. programs at leading institutions are highly rigorous, though one typically takes courses from a limited set of options within Economics. LSE is a preeminent example. In the USA, the University of California – Santa Barbara http://www.econ.ucsb.edu/graduate.htm exemplifies programs at which strong master’s students continue on to doctoral work; UCSB also has a strong business focus. Among the very best of these programs in the world are the top programs in transition economics, including EERC at the Kyiv Mohyla Academy in Kiev, Ukraine http://www.eerc.kiev.ua/, the Central European University in Budapest http://www.ceu.hu/econ/economic/mprogram.html, and the New Economics School in Moscow http://www.nes.ru/russian/index.htm.
- Programs that offer a MS in Mathematical Finance. USC http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/CAMS/MF is a good example, and Princeton http://www.princeton.edu/~bcf/master.htm has an extremely prominent program.
- Two other programs that appear to be highly flexible, with good quantitative courses, and with good financial aid prospects are San Diego State University http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/econ/e1.html and the University of North Texas http://www.econ.unt.edu/ .
Most students who apply to Duke’s MA program in Economics will apply to one or several of these other institutions. There are also some who want to attend Duke, but want a more applied, policy-oriented program than the Economics Department’s MA offers. Fortunately, Duke also has a master’s program in International Development Policy with an Applied Economics concentration: http://www.pubpol.duke.edu/centers/dcid/pidp_specialization.php. Those who want a policy focus comparable to programs like Columbia or Johns Hopkins should apply to the PIDP program, which is hosted by the Sanford Institute of Public Policy.
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