MAPSS-Econ

Economics students must have prior exposure to real analysis, econometric theory, and advanced coursework in multivariable calculus, linear algebra, probability, and statistics. A solid foundation in calculus-based micro and macroeconomics is required. Students who are seeking graduate work with less mathematical orientation may find alternatives in the Harris School of Public Policy, the Booth School of Business, Political Science, and occasionally in Sociology, Law, or History.

Students admitted to MAPSS-Econ, the economics concentration in MAPSS, will receive an additional letter of admission alongside their formal offer. Only those students are eligible to work with a member of the Economics faculty on the MA thesis.

All MAPSS-Econ students must complete:

• Economics Math Camp (Econ 30400) the summer before they enter the MAPSS-Econ program
• Perspectives on Social Sciences Analysis (MAPS 30600)
• One methods course
• At least 3 master's level ECMA courses (or PhD-level economics courses if approved)
• 4 electives, selected in consultation with their advisor

All MAPSS-Econ students are required to complete an article-length MA thesis involving substantive economic references under the guidance of their advisor or another Economics PhD faculty at the University of Chicago. As preparation for developing the thesis, we strongly recommend that at least two of the 9 required courses have a paper-writing requirement. This will provide critical professional training and a key foundation for high-quality, graduate-level academic writing.

Students will be supported in their course selection, choice of faculty advisor, and MA thesis by the staff of Instructional Professors in the Griffin Department of Economics. The group of Instructional Professors has expertise across the different fields within economics. They run reading groups by topic during the fall and winter quarters to support students in the development of the MA thesis proposal. Victor Lima, Senior Instructional Professor in Economics, Min Sok Lee, Assistant Senior Instructional Professor in Economics, will match students to potential instructional professor advisors and reading groups based on their respective fields of interest.

The Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics has a March 15 deadline for current MAPSS -Econ year two students to apply for UChicago’s PhD Program in Economics. This allows students to submit application materials that include their performance in year one and the first two quarters of year two. If admitted, students begin their doctoral program in the subsequent academic year.

International students on F-1 or J-1 student visas who complete the Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences (MAPSS) with this concentration may be eligible for employment benefits associated with their respective visa type. The MAPSS–QMSA Concentration is listed as a STEM designated degree by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the purposes of the STEM OPT extension allowing eligible students to apply. However, approval for STEM OPT is at the discretion of U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. To learn more visit our Office of International Affairs website.

Graduates of MAPSS-Econ go on to doctoral programs in Economics and a range of careers in government, non-profit, and the private sector. MAPSS-Econ provides the opportunity to evaluate the prospect of continued doctoral study in Economics.

In a typical cohort, roughly 30% of MAPSS-Econ graduates pursue doctoral study, at UChicago and elsewhere. The remainder pursue professional careers, which are detailed here. In recent years, our graduates have been admitted for the PhD in Economics at UChicago, LSE, Duke, Maryland, UPenn, Columbia, UCLA, Brown, Minnesota, Stanford, Northwestern, Texas-Austin, Erasmus University Rotterdam, UC-Davis, Simon Fraser, Boston University, Wisconsin-Madison, Princeton, Caltech, Cornell, and University College London.

Graduates have also been admitted for Business School PhDs at UChicago-Booth, London, Yale, Stanford, UCLA, INSEAD, Northwestern, UC-Berkeley, Illinois-Urbana Champaign, and UIC. They have gone on for PhD work in Public Policy at UChicago-Harris, Ohio State, Harvard, the University of Southern California, Colorado-Denver, and Duke.

Our MAPSS-Econ graduates have been admitted for Marketing/Behavioral Science PhDs at Toronto, Northwestern, UCLA, Hong Kong, NYU, UC-San Diego, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Colorado-Boulder, and Hong Kong Polytechnic.

Finally, many of our graduates have taken full-time research assistantships after graduating, at UChicago-Econ, UChicago-Booth, Duke-NUS, Yale, MIT, NYU, Princeton, Stanford, Wharton, UCLA, Columbia, and UC-Berkeley.

All MAPSS-Econ students must complete:

• Economics Math Camp (Econ 30400) the summer before they enter the MAPSS-Econ program
• Perspectives on Social Sciences Analysis (MAPS 30600)
• One methods course
• At least 3 master's level ECMA courses (or PhD-level economics courses if approved)
• 4 electives, selected in consultation with their advisor

All MAPSS-Econ students are required to complete an article-length MA thesis involving substantive economic references under the guidance of their advisor or another Economics PhD faculty at the University of Chicago. As preparation for developing the thesis, we strongly recommend that at least two of the 9 required courses have a paper-writing requirement. This will provide critical professional training and a key foundation for high-quality, graduate-level academic writing.