Research Intensive Track

The Research Intensive Track option is intended for students with advanced mathematical and economics skills who are looking to engage in substantive academic research and take advantage of PhD level coursework during their time in the program. Students with the appropriate background and who are interested in pursuing a PhD in the future or applying for research-intensive industry jobs are encouraged to apply to this option.

Admission to the Research Intensive Track is highly competitive. Research Intensive Track students have the opportunity to apply during their MAE year to the Economics PhD program, with an extended deadline of March 15.

RIT Prerequisite Requirements

Applicants must have completed advanced coursework in multivariable calculus, linear algebra, probability, and statistics at the point of matriculation. Prior exposure to real analysis is required. A solid foundation in calculus-based microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometric theory is required.

RIT Application Requirements

Applicants to the Research Intensive Track must provide the same materials required of all MAE applicants, including the 5-10 page Economics writing sample. In addition, they must submit:

-A statement of research experience that establishes the applicant’s record of conducting research in economics.

-A journal length article in economics as part of their application such as an undergraduate honors thesis or an article submitted for publication.

RIT Program Requirements

Coursework Requirement

In the RIT track, students may take up to three economics Core PhD courses in their Autumn quarter. Grades of B+ or better are required to continue each sequence into Winter and Spring quarters. These sequences must be started in the Autumn quarter.

To satisfy the coursework requirements of the Master of Arts in Economics, RIT track, students must complete a total of 9 courses:

  • A minimum of 3 Econ/ECMA courses in total drawn from:
    • PhD level courses numbered ECON 30100 or higher (excluding ECON 30400)
    • MA level courses numbered ECMA 30000 or higher
  • 6 graduate elective courses from drawn from coursework in the Department of Economics, the Harris School of Public Policy, or the Chicago Booth School of Business (undergraduate math and statistics courses can also be counted by petition)

Note: Students admitted to MAE Research Intensive Track intending to complete PhD coursework must complete the Economics Math Camp (ECON 30400) prior to Autumn Quarter. Math Camp is usually held in late August or early September.

Research Requirement

The Master of arts in Economics Research Intensive Track students can meet the research requirement in one of the following ways:

  • Complete an article-length MA thesis under the guidance of a member of the research faculty at the University of Chicago.
  • Complete one ECMA course that requires a paper that applies social science research methodologies to a problem or issue in economics.
  • Engage in an independent research project supervised by an instructional professor (ECMA 39700: Independent Reading and Research).