Duke University | Economics: What's New?

Duke MA in Economics: What's New?

New Calendar Year Completion Option

In response to growing demand by mid-career professionals, the MA program has implemented an option for students to complete their degree in one calendar year. Students interested in this option are able to matriculate early, beginning their coursework during Summer Term 2, which generally begins in early July. With a full course load during the Fall and Spring semesters, students can complete their MA at the end of Summer Term 1 of the following Summer session.

Expanded Options in MA-level Macroeconomics

Core course offerings in Macroeconomics continue to expand – now a 3-course sequence!

Until this year, we have offered a single macroeconomics course, Econ 210/602. At present, it emphasizes dynamic general equilibrium models – a critical part of macroeconomics, but not the whole story. To bolster it, the senior undergraduate Growth Economics (Econ 252/552) seminar is now adding a master’s section, so that students will have a choice of advanced macroeconomics courses, or can take the entire sequence.

In addition, those with international interests can take a third course, International Monetary Economics (Econ 266/656S).

Advanced Field Courses

There are a limited number of advanced field courses in which MA and PhD students interact: most MA students tend to take doctoral courses in theory and econometrics, but not in applied topics. However, the following PhD field courses do welcome MA students, and have been taken by MA students in recent years:

Economic History (Econ 285/385), an advanced graduate seminar aimed both at MA and PhD students;
Health Economics (Econ 357/757), an intermediate PhD seminar that is accessible to advanced MA students;
Economic Development 395 seminars;
Business Administration 551, a core PhD Finance course