The Doctoral Specialization in the Economics of Education is administered by faculty from the Education Policy Unit in the Department of Educational Administration. Students in the program take a series of doctoral-level courses in economics and education policy to provide them with expertise in econometric methods, economic theory and education policy to produce high-quality research on topics in the intersection of economics and education.
Focus on education issues
The foci of the doctoral specialization, both substantive and methodological, is built around work in the economics of education. Education issues include teacher quality, school finance, school choice and the effects of many other factors on student achievement, as well as methodological questions about the estimation of effects in correlational, quasi-experimental and experimental studies.
Who is eligible?
Enrollment in the specialization is open to students enrolled in any doctoral program at Michigan State University. While there are no formal prerequisites, students are expected to have completed undergraduate coursework in statistics, multivariate calculus and linear algebra. Specific courses may have additional requirements or prerequisites. Students who are unsure if they meet these expectations should contact the program coordinator before enrolling.
Course Requirements
Students must complete the following with a 3.5 grade-point average in courses across the specialization (18 credits):
- Both of the following courses with a grade of 3.0 or higher in each course: (6 credits):
EC 820A – Econometrics IA (3 credits)
EC 820B – Econometrics IB (3 credits) - One additional 3-credit graduate-level advanced statistics or econometrics course as determined by the student’s guidance committee.
- One of the following courses (3 credits):
AFRE 805 – Microeconomic Analysis (3 credits)
EC 812A – Microeconomics I (3 credits) - Both of the following courses (6 credits):
EAD 948 – Advanced Economics of Education (3 credits)
EAD 949 – Advanced Seminar in Education Policy (3 credits) - Complete a substantial research paper on a topic in the economics of education as approved by the student’s guidance committee.
Completion Requirements
Upon completion of all coursework and paper requirements, students must initiate an Economics of Education Completion form, used to notify the program administrators that the student has met all of the program requirements.
The student initiates the process. They should fill out the form which is then routed by the student to their guidance committee chair/director. The student and guidance committee member must sign the form, confirming completion of the requirements. The form is then routed to the Economics of Education Coordinator for their signature. Once all signatures are collected, the form should be sent to the Program Assistant at edpolicy@msu.edu.
If the student has completed all of the requirements, they must apply to graduate from the specialization. The Graduation Application is now available at student.msu.edu . After clicking on the Academic Progress tile, you will see a link to Apply for Graduation in the left-hand navigation under the Graduation heading. Application for graduation can occur at the time the specialization requirements are complete or at the same time as the student’s doctoral degree.
Application Process
Applicants must be admitted to a doctoral program at Michigan State University. To apply for a specialization in Economics of Education, submit the Intent to Enroll form linked below. Once signed by the applicant and their advisor/guidance committee chairperson, the Intent to Enroll form must be sent to imberman@msu.edu or can be mailed to Economics of Education Doctoral Specialization Program, Erickson Hall, 620 Farm Lane, Room 402, E. Lansing, MI 48824.
Apply Now
Contact
Professor Scott Imberman
Mailing Address:
486 W Circle Dr.
110 Marshall-Adams Hall
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
Office Location:
25D Marshall-Adams Hall
Phone: 517-355-4667
Email: imberman@msu.edu
