Applied Economics

Faculty

Randy Albelda, PhD, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Public Policy
Labor Economics
Political Economy of Gender and Race

Amit Basole, PhD, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Development Economics
Political Economy
Gender and Development
Informal Sector

Michael Carr, PhD, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Labor Economics
Behavioral Economics
Econometrics

Kade Finnoff, PhD, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Economic Development
Political Economy of Violent Conflict
Gendered Violence
African Development

Anne Fitzpatrick, PhD, University of Michigan

Health Economics
Development Economics
Program Evaluation

Keren Mertens Horn, PhD, New York University

Urban Economics
Housing Economics
Applied Microeconomics

Arjun Jayadev, PhD, University of Massachusetts Amherst

International Economics
Economics of Distribution
Political Economy
Macroeconomic Dynamics

Janis Kapler, PhD, American University

International Trade and Finance
Open-Economy Macroeconomics
Transnational Corporations

Marlene Kim, PhD, University of California-Berkeley

Discrimination and the Working Poor

Yun Kim, PhD, American University

Macroeconomics
Post Keynesian Economics
Monetary Economics

Charalampos (Harry) Konstantinidis, PhD, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Political Economy
Ecological Economics
History of Economic Thought

Adugna Lemi, PhD, Western Michigan University

International Trade and Finance
Development Economics
Poverty and Income Dynamics

Julie A. Nelson, PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Gender and Economics
Philosophy and Methodology of Economics
Ecological Economics
Quantitative Methods

Guy Numa, PhD, Université Paris Dauphine

History of Economic Thought
Monetary Economics
Industrial Organization
Caribbean Political Economy

Andrew Perumal, PhD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Regional and Urban Economics
Labor Economics
Applied Microeconomics
Economics of Education

David Terkla, PhD, University of California-Berkeley

Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
Public Finance
Regional Economic Development

David Timmons, PhD, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Environmental and Ecological Economics
Renewable Energy Economics
Local Food Systems

Emily Wiemers, Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles

Economic Demography
Household Behavior and Family Economics
Economics of Health and Aging

The Program

The Master of Arts Program in Applied Economics brings three distinctive features to the study of economics: emphasis on the practical application of key social science research methods; insights from both traditional and alternative economic approaches; and a focus on urban economic issues. The program is designed for people currently working in a policy setting or desiring jobs as economists in business, government, or nonprofit organizations. Most courses are offered in late afternoons and evenings making it is possible to complete the program in two years on a part-time basis.

The curriculum provides foundational courses in orthodox and heterodox economic theory, methodology, and courses focusing on the analysis of urban issues in a global context. The design of the program strongly emphasizes the set of skills necessary to do applied economic research, including critical analytical thinking and quantitative problem-solving skills. Students will design and implement an independent applied economics research project tailored to their own policy or career interests, culminating in a masters’ research capstone project or a master’s thesis.

Five-Year Accelerated Combined BA/MA program

An accelerated five-year BA/MA program is also available for eligible UMass Boston undergraduate students. If accepted, students can earn a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in applied economics in less time than it would take to earn these degrees separately. Students are accepted into the master’s degree program in their junior year, start taking graduate courses in their senior year and complete the requirements in their fifth year. Once completing all requirements, students are awarded both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Students who do not complete the entire program with required GPA may choose to apply appropriate credits toward the bachelor’s degree. The BA/MA program consists of 142 credits (110 undergraduate and 32 graduate level credits or their equivalents), which can be completed in five years.

Programs

Applied Economics, MA