Graduate Course Descriptions

The following directory lists the graduate courses which the University expects to offer, although the University in no way guarantees that all such courses will be offered in any given academic year, and reserves the right to alter the list if conditions warrant. Click on the links below for a list of courses in that subject area. You may then click “View Classes” to see scheduled classes for individual courses.

5101. European Economic History

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

The economic development of Europe from the Industrial Revolution to World War I. Emphasis on the economic and social factors that led to the industrialization of Europe.

View Classes »

5110. History of Economic Thought

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

History and methodological underpinnings of economic ideas from ancient times to the present. Particular attention to Smith, Marx, Marshall, and Keynes.

View Classes »

5128. Economic Rights

Also offered as: HRTS 5390, POLS 5390

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Explores the conceptual bases, measurement, and policy applications of economic rights. Specific topics will include: child labor, the right to development, non-governmental initiatives, and the institutionalization of economic rights (e.g., constitutionalization versus statutory implementation versus discretionary policies).

View Classes »

5201. Microeconomics

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Not open for credit to students who have passed ECON 2211Q.

Grading Basis: Graded

Beginning graduate microeconomics covering consumer and producer theory, price determination, economic efficiency, and welfare analysis.

View Classes »

5202. Macroeconomics

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Not open to students who have passed ECON 2212Q.

Grading Basis: Graded

Survey of the field: its historical foundations and development, conceptual framework, and application to current macroeconomic problems.

View Classes »

5301. Mathematical Economics

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Use of mathematical concepts such as matrix algebra, optimization, and comparative statics, to study economic problems.

View Classes »

5311. Applied Econometrics I

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Statistical theory and linear regression applied to business and economic problems.

View Classes »

5312. Applied Econometrics II

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ECON 5311.

Grading Basis: Graded

View Classes »

5314. Causal Program Evaluation

Also offered as: PP 5314

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Survey of the statistical methods and tools commonly used to evaluate causal claims about the impact of public policies and programs. This course is a required Master of Public Policy course.

View Classes »

5315. Financial Econometrics

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Introduction to the mathematics of finance. Theoretical reasoning (proofs), modeling, useful simplifying approximations, and computing. Students will write basic programs in R.

View Classes »

5317. Machine Learning for Economists

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to students in the Master of Science in Quantitative Economics program; others by consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Machine learning techniques and causal inference. Applications to economic data.

View Classes »

5318. Panel Data Econometrics

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ECON 5312; open to students in the Master of Science in Quantitative Economics, others by instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Standard panel-data models, which apply to datasets that follow cross-sections of individuals through time. Emphasis on determining when causal relationships can be inferred from panel data.

View Classes »

5321. Programming and Computation with R for Economists

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to students in the Master of Science in Quantitative Economics program; others by consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Basics of R programming. Objects, data structures, logical design, functions. Applications to matrix algebra, optimization, data visualization, and econometric analysis.

View Classes »

5322. Open Source Programming with Python for Economists

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to students in the Master of Science in Quantitative Economics program; others by consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Introduction to Python. Code structure; control flow; data input/output in various formats; testing and debugging.

View Classes »

5323. Convex Optimization with Python

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to students in the Master of Science in Quantitative Economics; others by consent. Not open for credit to students who have passed ECON 4323.

Grading Basis: Graded

Methods of convex optimization, including linear, quadratic, and general constrained and unconstrained problems. Applications, using Python, in economics and finance.

View Classes »

5326. Operations Research for Economics

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Use of mathematical programming for optimization of input-output mixes, of delivery routes, of communication networks and for performance evaluation based on economic theory of producer behavior.

View Classes »

5348. Economic Development Policy

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

The role of government in the economic development of underdeveloped countries. Topics include: alternative paradigms of development and the resulting place for government in the economy; the theory, institutions, and policies of government in planning, fiscal, and monetary concerns; analysis of policy instruments influencing international trade and financial flows; and the influence of international organizations on the development process.

View Classes »

5421. International Trade: Theory and Policy

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

The economic aspects of international relations, including the pure theory of international trade and the instruments of commercial policy. Topics include comparative advantage; international economic policies; and regional economic integration.

View Classes »

5441. The Labor Market

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

A thorough examination of the labor market. Topics include human capital, wage determination, public policy, and money wage rates.

View Classes »

5461. Industrial Organization

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Survey of contemporary theory and models of the organization of industry. Topics include oligopoly; product differentiation; advertising; innovation; contestable markets; the financial theory of the firm; dynamic and evolutionary models; and transaction-cost economics.

View Classes »

5463. The Economics of Organization

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Surveys the modern agency, transaction-cost, and evolutionary theories of organization. Topics include measurement and monitoring costs, asset specificity, incomplete-contracts theory, the dynamic capabilities approach, and alternative organizations.

View Classes »

5473. Economic Development

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

An examination of the problems facing the less developed nations. Comparisons of alternative paradigms of economic development (orthodox to political economy) and the strategies and policies they imply.

View Classes »

5474. Seminar in Development and Growth

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

A continuation of ECON 5473. Topics include agriculture and industry in development, investment criteria, essentials of developing planning, the promotion of domestic saving and fixed investment, foreign aid, improvements in international trade, and human capital formation.

View Classes »

5495. Topics in Economics

3.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 9 credits.

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

View Classes »

5499. Independent Study in Economics

1.00 - 3.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 12 credits.

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

View Classes »

5500. Writing in Economics

1.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Techniques for, and practice in, research, writing, citation, and data presentation in economics.

View Classes »

5501. Writing and Communication for Economics and Business I

2.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to students in the Master of Science in Quantitative Economics program; others by consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Practice in written and oral communication of economic ideas. Development of skills and techniques for success in business and professional environments.

View Classes »

5502. Writing and Communication for Economics and Business II

1.00 credits

Prerequisites: ECON 5501.

Grading Basis: Graded

Application of skills from ECON 5501 to writing and presenting a research paper developed in a third-semester Master of Science in Quantitative Economics course.

View Classes »

5612. Spatial Econometrics

Also offered as: GEOG 5612

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: GEOG 3500Q or equivalent; or instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Concepts, theories, methods, techniques, and programming for spatial econometrics. An introduction to estimating and interpreting econometric models for analysis of socioeconomic relationships and human-environment interactions.

View Classes »

6110. History of Economic Thought

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Advanced treatment of the history and methodological underpinnings of economic ideas from ancient times to the present. Particular attention to Smith, Marx, Marshall, and Keynes.

View Classes »

6201. Microeconomic Theory I

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ECON 5201 or ARE 5201.

Grading Basis: Graded

Neoclassical consumer and producer theory, choice under uncertainty, competitive and monopoly markets, and an introduction to general equilibrium.

View Classes »

6202. Macroeconomic Theory I

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ECON 5202.

Grading Basis: Graded

A rigorous course in dynamic general equilibrium models. Emphasis on analytical techniques and numerical solution methods.

View Classes »

6211. Microeconomic Theory II

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: A grade of B- or better in ECON 6201.

Grading Basis: Graded

Game theory, information, and related topics.

View Classes »

6212. Macroeconomic Theory II

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: A grade of B- or better in ECON 6202.

Grading Basis: Graded

Stochastic modeling, recent developments in the literature, and policy applications. Topics may include real business cycle theory, new classical economics, neo-Keynesian theory and growth models.

View Classes »

6301. Advanced Mathematical Economics I

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

An introduction to advanced mathematical topics with applications to economics. Topics and applications may include set theory, logic, topology, difference and differential equations, game theory, preference theory and matching models.

View Classes »

6302. Advanced Mathematical Economics II

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: A grade of B- or better in ECON 6301.

Grading Basis: Graded

Topics and applications may include: dynamic programming, fixed-point theorems, measure theory, Markov chains and processes, functional analysis, and advanced optimization.

View Classes »

6310. Econometrics I

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open only to Economics graduate students.

Grading Basis: Graded

First advanced course in econometrics methods used in economics. Properties of classical linear regression. Statistical theories that underpin econometric methods.

View Classes »

6311. Econometrics II

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ECON 6310.

Grading Basis: Graded

Large sample linear regression, time series analysis, maximum likelihood, GMM, and qualitative choice models.

View Classes »

6312. Econometrics III

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: A grade of B- or better in ECON 6311.

Grading Basis: Graded

Special topics from recent advances in econometrics.

View Classes »

6400. Independent Study

1.00 - 3.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 9 credits.

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Students pursue an in-depth study of an area of interest under the guidance of a faculty member.

View Classes »

6411. Advanced Macroeconomics I

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ECON 6212.

Grading Basis: Graded

Advanced treatment of material covered in ECON 6202 and 6212.

View Classes »

6412. Advanced Macroeconomics II

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ECON 6411.

Grading Basis: Graded

Advanced treatment of material covered in ECON 6202 and 6212.

View Classes »

6441. Advanced Labor Economics I

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ECON 6211.

Grading Basis: Graded

Labor supply with an emphasis on the family. Applications in the area of demography, development, and health.

View Classes »

6442. Advanced Labor Economics II

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ECON 6211.

Grading Basis: Graded

Labor demand and other applied topics in labor economics.

View Classes »

6461. Industrial Organization Theory

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Advanced treatment of the behavior and performance of firms in imperfectly competitive markets. Topics may include product differentiation, entry deterrence, advertising, industrial R&D, and mergers.

View Classes »

6462. Empirical Industrial Organization

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Advanced treatment of the behavior and performance of firms in imperfectly competitive markets. Topics include empirical estimation of demand and production functions; static models of competition in prices and quantities; empirical models of market entry and exit; single-agent dynamic models; and dynamic games.

View Classes »

6463. Economics of Organization

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Advanced treatment of material covered in ECON 5463.

View Classes »

6466. Environmental Economics

Also offered as: ARE 6466

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ARE 5201 or ECON 5201.

Grading Basis: Graded

Economic analysis of environmental problems and corrective policy instruments. Theory of externalities and public goods, role of uncertainty and imperfect information in policy design, benefit-cost analysis, and non-market valuation. Applications to environmental problems (such as air and water pollution, hazardous waste, and occupational health and safety).

View Classes »

6473. Economic Development: Microeconomic Issues

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Overview of current literature on microeconomics of development, including human capital, internal structure of households, functioning of factor markets, and the role of institutions in mediating change.

View Classes »

6492. Teaching Economics

1.00 - 3.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 9 credits.

Prerequisites: Instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Acquisition, development and practice of teaching skills for effective instruction in Economics. Intended for Economics Ph.D. students in the first semester in which they are assigned as an Instructor of Record at UConn as well as for Ph.D. students in at least their second year who would like to improve their Economics teaching skills while teaching a course at UConn or at another institution.

View Classes »

6494. Graduate Seminar

1.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 8 credits.

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Participation in departmental research seminars and presentation and discussion of original research projects.

View Classes »

6498. Variable Topics

3.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 45 credits.

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

View Classes »