Graduate Programs

Explore Our Graduate Programs

The Department of Economics at the University of Oregon offers graduate programs leading to Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. Excellence in teaching and research and a spirit of shared learning are characteristic of graduate study in economics at the University of Oregon.


Two graduate students holding up signs about how great econ is

Master’s Degree

Award-winning faculty prepare students for consulting, applied research, and data science careers in private industry and government. The program also offers outstanding preparation for students interested in pursuing a PhD. Our master’s degree program was ranked in the top 30 of the 2023 TFE Times Best Master’s of Economics Rankings.


Student studying

Doctoral Degree

A PhD in economics prepares students to teach at liberal arts and research universities; to work in state, federal, and international organizations; and to conduct research or work as a consultant for private industry. Our program, with its low student/faculty ratio, is structured to develop high-quality research and teaching skills as well as facilitate successful and timely completion of the degree.


picture of Jean Falconer

Supporting Your Growth

“UO's graduate economics program does an excellent job of setting its students up to succeed. The program is structured in a way that incentivizes collaboration over competition, and the overall environment is very supportive and collegial. My current colleagues are often surprised to hear how much I enjoyed my time in graduate school, as that is very much outside the norm. In addition, students are helped to complete their degree in a timely manner through periodic "check-ins" (e.g. a paper due at the end of the third year, a prospectus defense at the end of the fourth year) and strong mentorship. My advisors were very accessible and generous with their time, in addition to being supportive of my specific career goals (I can't help but mention the fact that they wrote and submitted recommendation letters on my behalf two years in a row, the second time as I underwent a joint job search with my partner). I feel so positively about UO's graduate economics program that I encouraged one of my students to apply there after they expressed interest in going to graduate school. They are now enrolled in the PhD program.”

—Jean Falconer, Assistant Professor of Economics, St. Norbert College, '18


Courses

The Department of Economics has an internationally-recognized faculty, with research specializations covering a broad range of disciplines inside the field of economics. Master's students can choose from more than 20 different elective courses in economics each year.

Courses


Funding Your Graduate Studies

The Department of Economics provides funding to select PhD candidates through graduate employment opportunities.

Funding and Research Support


Prepare for the Professional World

A graduate degree in economics prepares students for a wide variety of careers in both the public and private sectors. Many of our graduates have found placement at prominent research universities around the world.

Career and Professional Development


Photo of Boyoon Chang

Developing Job Skills

“The economics PhD program at the University of Oregon helped me prepare for the professional world mainly in two ways: First, I was able to hone my programming skills, which are often required for private sector jobs. Second, I was able to improve my communication skills (plus presentation skills) through numerous teaching experiences either as a sole instructor or a discussion leader. It also helped me understand deeper of the topics that I teach.”

—Boyoon Chang, 4th-year PhD student, '24


Group of economics graduate students

Our Graduate Students

Our graduate students pursue their academic research within a vibrant community of engaged and inquisitive peers.

Resources for the Graduate Community


Events

Let's Talk - Wednesdays 2-4PM @ BCC
Dec6
Let's Talk - Wednesdays 2-4PM @ BCC Dec 6 Lyllye Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center
Special Collections Research Fellows Speaker Series: Zoey Kambour, 2023 Martha Thorsland Baker Fellow
Dec21
Special Collections Research Fellows Speaker Series: Zoey Kambour, 2023 Martha Thorsland Baker Fellow Dec 21
Reading by Claire Luchette & Morgan Thomas
Jan10
Reading by Claire Luchette & Morgan Thomas Jan 10 Knight Library
Special Collections Research Fellows Speaker Series
Jan18
Special Collections Research Fellows Speaker Series Jan 18
New Media and Culture Certificate Open House
Jan22
New Media and Culture Certificate Open House Jan 22 Knight Library
Wine Chat: "The Sisterhood: How a Network of Black Women Writers Changed American Culture"
Jan25
Wine Chat: "The Sisterhood: How a Network of Black Women Writers Changed American Culture" Jan 25 Capitello Wines
Never Convicted, Never Prosecuted: How Traitors Wrote Their Way Out of Prison and Into Lost Cause Mythology
Jan30
Never Convicted, Never Prosecuted: How Traitors Wrote Their Way Out of Prison and Into Lost Cause Mythology Jan 30 McKenzie Hall
Winter Career & Internship Expo
Feb1
Winter Career & Internship Expo Feb 1 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)
Guest Worker: Lives across Borders in an Age of Prosperity, 1919-75
Feb13
Guest Worker: Lives across Borders in an Age of Prosperity, 1919-75 Feb 13 McKenzie Hall
Poetry Reading by Aaron Baker 
Feb14
Poetry Reading by Aaron Baker  Feb 14 Knight Library