Economics - Master of Applied Economics

The program requires 48 units of course work. This course work includes eleven graduate-level courses (44 units) in economics to be completed while in graduate status at UCLA: four (400 series) courses in the fall, four (400 series) courses in the winter, and three (400 series) courses chosen from a selection of course offerings in the spring. All courses must be taken for a letter grade.

In addition, all students are required to complete three quarters of the Economics in Action (410) course which consists of one week mini courses and distinguished guest speaker seminars. This course will take place during fall, winter, and spring quarters (4 units total).

With permission from the Academic Adviser, students may take one additional Econ 596 course (4 units), which cannot apply toward the 48 units required for the degree.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Encouraged but not required.

Capstone Plan

The capstone for the Master of Applied Economics degree is either a final project or a final exam that is evaluated by three faculty members. The topic of the capstone project will be determined by the student in conjunction with their Faculty Adviser. Each student will choose to either 1) prepare a final project based on the content of one of these elective courses, and submit the results of that project in the form of a research paper; or 2) with the permission of three instructors, take a final exam based on a set of these elective courses.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

The normative time-to-degree is approximately 3 quarters. Students may choose to extend the program to 4 quarters in order to work more extensively on their capstone paper. Normally, the MAE is one academic year or 3 quarters, starting in fall and ending the following spring. If students choose to extend the program through the second fall quarter, they will be required to pay tuition for that quarter. In addition, MAE students may choose to take some electives during the second fall quarter.

MAXIMUM TTD

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for termination of graduate study. A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons. The most common is failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.00) required by the Academic Senate to remain in good standing (some programs require a higher grade point average). Other examples include failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students (those with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00) are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. University guidelines governing termination of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Recommendations for academic disqualification are made by the Master of Applied Economics Committee. Students should complete the capstone project within three quarters, or by the end of the following fall quarter. If a student does not complete the capstone project by the end of the subsequent fall quarter, the student will be referred to the MAE Committee for review and possible academic disqualification.

UCLA is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and by numerous special agencies. Information regarding the University's accreditation may be obtained from the Office of Academic Planning and Budget, 2107 Murphy Hall.