Economics

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OFFICE: Nasatir Hall 329
TELEPHONE: 619-594-1675 / FAX: 619-594-5062
WEBSITE: http://economics.sdsu.edu/

Undergraduate Information

The Major

Economics is the science which studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Economics majors explore how producers, distributors, and consumers make their decisions. Majors also analyze the events that shape and result from these decisions. Inflation, unemployment, taxation, money and banking, efficiency, international exchange, and growth are some of the many parts of this complex system studied through the economics major at SDSU.

The Department of Economics offers two emphases which students may select to satisfy a wide range of career goals: (1) International Economics, where students can focus on worldwide economic policy and global business; and (2) Public Policy, in which students prepare for graduate study in law school, health administration, and business administration. A specialization in Quantitative Analysis is also offered which focuses on developing analytical and mathematical skills for conducting economic research. A fourth option is the comprehensive program offered in the general economics major, which provides breadth by covering areas from the emphases and specialization.

Economics majors may find employment in government, financial institutions, business, and international agencies. The combination of an economics major with a business minor provides a foundation for a variety of careers. And, students interested in studying the developing nations, the environment, government policies, or population will find that economics is a useful approach.

Many entry-level positions in business and government are available to students with a bachelor’s degree in economics. A graduate may find employment as a research, statistical, data, or pricing analyst. There are management trainee positions with banks, savings and loan associations, or other lending institutions. Economics majors may also be employed as sales representatives for firms which produce both “high tech” and consumer- related goods. A student contemplating graduate study in the field of economics should consider a career as an economics consultant, or as an economist for banks, investment companies or industry.

Advising

All College of Arts and Letters majors are urged to consult with their department adviser as soon as possible; they are required to meet with their department adviser within the first two semesters after declaration or change of major.

Graduate Information

Assistantships

A number of teaching and research assistantships are available for qualified students. Appointments permitting up to 20 hours of service per week are available. In addition, students interested in pursuing teaching careers may apply for a teaching associate position. Application forms and additional information may be obtained from the graduate student coordinator of the Department of Economics.

Scholarships

Two general scholarship programs are available for qualified incoming and continuing economics M.A. students. Applications for the Terhune Scholarship and the McCuen Scholarship must be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships by March 15 for awards distributed the following academic year. Terhune awards can be up to $10,000 and McCuen awards can be up to $20,000 annually. The department administers several additional scholarships, which are awarded each spring semester. These include the Center for Public Economics awards ranging from $300 to $1,500. Application forms and additional information may be obtained from the department office for these scholarship opportunities.

General Information

The Department of Economics offers a Master of Arts degree in economics. The program provides students with advanced training in decision-making techniques and quantitative analysis by building on a core of applied microeconomic and econometric classes. Students learn to apply analytic methods to business and policy issues, use advanced econometric methods and computer software. An internship program provides students with valuable work experience. The program is designed to (1) prepare students for careers in consulting, domestic and multinational firms and government agencies, (2) provide students with university-level teaching experience, and (3) provide advanced training in economics for students planning on entering a Ph.D. program.

Admission to Graduate Study

Students applying for admission to the Master of Arts program in economics should electronically submit the university application available at http://www.calstate.edu/apply along with the application fee by March 1 for fall admission.

All applicants must submit admissions materials separately to SDSU Graduate Admissions and to the Department of Economics.

Graduate Admissions

The following materials should be submitted by April 1 for fall admission:

Graduate Admissions
Enrollment Services
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-7416

1. Official transcripts (in sealed envelopes) from all postsecondary institutions attended;

• Students who attended SDSU need only submit transcripts for work completed since last attendance.
• Students with international coursework must submit both the official transcript and proof of degree. If documents are in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

2. GRE scores (http://www.ets.org SDSU institution code 4682);
3. English language score, if the medium of instruction was in a language other than English (http://www.ets.org SDSU institution code 4682).

Department of Economics

The following materials must be submitted electronically via Interfolio, http://apply.interfolio.com/66442, by March 1.

1. Two letters of recommendation;
2. A personal statement of no more than 750 words that describes why you wish to pursue graduate study in economics.

For information regarding the admissions process, visit the department’s website at http://economics.sdsu.edu/.

International students interested in applying should first contact the International Student Center.

Visit the website at http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~econ/graduate.htm.

Faculty

Chair: Sabia, Joseph J., Professor of Economics (B.S., B.A., Ph.D., Cornell University)

Undergraduate Adviser:

Shahriar, Quazi H., Professor of Economics (B.S.S., University of Dhaka, Bangladesh; M.A., Ph.D., University of Arizona)

Graduate Advisers:

Abman, Ryan, Associate Professor of Economics (B.S., University of Colorado at Boulder; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara)

Balsdon, Edmund M., Associate Professor of Economics (B.A., College of the Holy Cross; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara)

Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty

Foad, Hisham. Professor of Economics (B.A., Kenyon College; M.A., PhD., Emory University

Hilmer, Christiana E., Professor of Economics (B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara; M.S., Ph.D., North Carolina State University)

Hilmer, Michael J., Professor of Economics (B.A., California State University, Northridge; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara)

Imazeki, Jennifer Y., Associate Chief Diversity Officer, Faculty and Staff Success; Professor of Economics [Senate Distinguished Professor] (B.A., Pomona College; M.S., Ph.D., University of Wisconsin)

Lee, Kangoh, Professor of Economics (B.A., M.A., Seoul National University, South Korea; Ph.D., University of Illinois)

Shadbegian, Ronald, Professor of Economics (B.A., Assumption College; M.A., Ph.D., Clark University)

Lundberg, Clark C., Associate Professor of Economics (B.S., University of Washington; M.A., George Washington University; Ph.D., University of Washington)

De Lucena, Thiago, Assistant Professor of Economics (B.A., Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro; M.A., Sao Paulo School of Economics, Ph.D., University of California, Davis) 

Fe, Hao, Assistant Professor of Economics (B.A., University of Minnesota; M.A., Ph.D., University of Rochester)

Liang, Yang, Assistant Professor of Economics (B.A., University of Science and Technology Beijing, China; M.A., Ph.D., Syracuse University)

Penglase, Jacob, Assistant Professor of Economics (B.A., Colby College; M.A., Ph.D., Boston College)

Emeritus Faculty:

Adler, Renatte K., Ph.D., 1982-2009, Professor of Economics

Boddy, Raford D., Ph.D., 1980-2004, Professor of Economics

Clement, Norris C., Ph.D., 1968-2000, Professor of Economics

Frantz, Roger S., Ph.D., 1978-2012, Professor of Economics

Gerber, James B., Ph.D., 1985-2015, Professor of Economics

Grossbard, Shoshana A., Ph.D., 1981-2013, Professor of Economics

Hambleton, John W., Ph.D., 1969-2003, Associate Professor of Economics

Kartman, Arthur E., Ph.D., 1968-2005, Professor of Economics

Leasure, J. William, Ph.D., 1962-1992, Professor of Economics

Madhavan, Murugappa C., Ph.D., 1968-1999, Professor of Economics and Asian Studies

Nam, Woo Hyun, Ph.D., 1968-1998, Professor of Economics

Popp, Dean O., Ph.D., 1969-2003, Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs; Professor of Economics

Poroy, Ibrahim I., Ph.D., 1967-1987, Professor of Economics

Sebold, Frederick D., Ph.D., 1969-1987, Professor of Economics

Steinberg, Dan, Ph.D., 1989-1998, Associate Professor of Economics

Stewart, Douglas B., Ph.D., 1971-2001, Professor of Economics

Thayer, Mark A., Ph.D., 1981-2010, Professor of Economics

Turner, Marjorie S., Ph.D., 1954-1977, Professor of Economics

Venieris, Yiannis P., Ph.D., 1967-1998, Professor of Economics

Programs

• Economics Minor
• Economics, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Economics, Emphasis in International Economics, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Economics, Emphasis in Public Policy, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Economics, M.A.
• Economics, Specialization in Quantitative Analysis, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences

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