Courses

Course Requirements

An MSQE degree requires satisfactory completion of at least 30 credits maintaining at least a “B” (3.0) average. Of these 30 credits, 24 must come from required MSQE core courses, and 6 or more are from electives approved by the student’s major advisor.

The required core courses for the MSQE degree are: ECON 5201 (Microeconomics), ECON 5202 (Macroeconomics), ECON 5301 (Mathematical Economics), ECON 5311 (Applied Econometrics I), ECON 5312 (Applied Econometrics II), as well as one graduate course in Economics in each of the following: Programming and Computation with R, Machine Learning for Economists, and Panel Data Econometrics.

Course Sequence

The following is a typical course sequence for students enrolled in the full-length MSQE program.

Semester I (Fall)

  • ECON 5201. Microeconomics: Consumer and producer theory, economic efficiency, and welfare analysis
  • ECON 5202. Macroeconomics: Conceptual framework, and application to current macroeconomic problems
  • ECON 5301. Mathematical Economics: Matrix algebra, optimization, and comparative statics
  • ECON 5311. Applied Econometrics I: Statistical theory and linear regression

Semester II (Spring)

  • ECON 5312. Applied Econometrics II: Large sample linear regression, time series analysis, maximum likelihood, GMM, and qualitative choice models
  • ECON 5321. Programming and Computation with R: R programming for computational tasks on data analysis and visualization
  • Economics Elective (Open Source Programming with Python)
  • ECON 5501. Writing Communication Economics, and Business I (optional)

Semester (Summer)

Internship (optional)

Semester III (Fall)

  • ECON 5318. Panel Data Econometrics: Analysis of cross-sectional data measured over time, and its implementation in STATA
  • ECON 5317. Machine Learning for Economists: Statistical methods to analyze Big Data, such as classification, resampling, lasso and tree based methods
  • Economics Elective (Open Source Programming with Python for Economists, Causal Program Evaluation, Convex Optimization with Python, Financial Econometrics, Operations Research)
  • ECON 5502. Writing Communication Economics, and Business II (optional)

Elective Courses

Causal Program Evaluation

Learn some of the statistical methods and tools commonly used to evaluate causal claims about the impact of public policies and programs.

Python

Python is a programming language used by both small companies and major corporations like Google and YouTube. UConn’s MSQE program offers electives in Python to help our graduates up to be marketable and agile in the workplace. We offer electives in:

  • Open Source Programming with Python. Use object-oriented programming for rapid application development and scripting.
  • Convex Optimization with Python. Recognize and solve convex optimization problems that arise in economics and econometrics.

Financial Econometrics

Master some of the basic tools and techniques of mathematical finance.

Operations Research

Learn about the optimization of input and output mixes, of delivery routes, and communication networks.

Accelerated Programs

Current UConn undergraduate students may be able to move through the MSQE program in fewer than three semesters by double counting some courses on both their undergraduate and graduate plans of study.

Students who start taking the core MSQE graduate-level courses while they are still undergraduates can count up to 12 credits toward both degrees. By doing this, you can complete the first semester of the typical MSQE course sequence during your undergraduate career.

You can substitute the following graduate-level courses for their undergraduate course equivalent:

  • ECON 5201 substitutes for ECON 2211Q
  • ECON 5202 substitutes for ECON 2212Q
  • ECON 5301 substitutes for ECON 2301
  • ECON 5311 double counts toward the BS degree in economics

Notes: ECON 5311 and 5312 substitute for ECON 2311 and 2312 only if you take both graduate courses. If you have already taken the undergraduate versions of the MSQE core courses, you can still take the graduate versions.

Course Plans

There are two course plans for undergraduate students who consider the accelerated MSQE program:

  1. Undergraduate students take the first semester MSQE required courses (ECON 5201, 5202, 5301, and 5311) and count the credits toward the B.S. in economics major requirements for ECON 2211Q, 2212Q, 2301, and 2311.
  2. Undergraduate students take ECON 5311, any two of the required MSQE courses (ECON 5201, 5202, or 5301), and any one of the MSQE electives (ECON 5314, 5315, 5323, or 5326), all of which count toward the B.S. in economics major requirements.

UConn students taking the accelerated option should consult Professor Min Seong Kim, MSQE faculty advisor, and Lisa Foss, graduate program assistant for the Department of Economics.