Overseas Study and Internships
As
part of the program, students may spend a semester or summer at a
university abroad and earn six (6) units of credit toward their degree
at USF. Students may choose this option as a substitute for the
electives in their respective concentration areas. Overseas study must
be approved by the program advisor and the coordinator of the area of
concentration. On a more limited basis, students may also substitute an
internship for one elective course upon approval by the graduate
program advisor. Students choosing the internship option must complete
ECONG 696.
Research Paper, Thesis, and Honors Program
The
Masters degree requires that all students undertake a research project
in their area of concentration. All students must present their
completed research project in the Graduate Seminar (ECONG 690) before
the entire Economics faculty and turn in a research paper.
The
Department highly recommends that students choose an area of
concentration by the end of their second semester of graduate studies
or after having completed twelve (12) units of graduate work. Students
should choose a research area within their area of concentration by the
beginning of the Fall Semester of their final year at the latest. The
research paper will be completed during the Graduate Seminar (ECONG
690) offered in the Fall Semester.
Students
who have completed ECONG 601 and 602 with a grade point average of 3.5
or higher, or who have undertaken outstanding research work (in ECONG
697 and 690), are eligible to write a Master's Thesis within their area
of concentration. The petition for thesis completion must be addressed
to the Economics Department along with the research paper and the
endorsement of the research advisor. The completion of a Master's
Thesis will follow the traditionl procedure, which includes an oral
examination, signature of the final product by three faculty members
including the thesis advisor, and final approval by the Dean of the
College of Arts and Sciences. A copy of the thesis will be made
available for general consultation in Gleeson Library.
Not
more than six (6) units of the basic program minimum of 33 units may be
counted toward research associated with a thesis or research project.
Students may register for additional research units over and above the
basic program requirements.
