Admission Requirements                                  Apply for the MQSE at WIU!        

Applicants must first meet the general admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies. An undergraduate degree in Economics is NOT required for admission to the MSQE, but some courses in economics are recommended. Majors in Mathematics and Statistics have done particularly well; students with a variety of undergraduate majors have also been successful and have become some of our most notable and supportive alumni. The GRE is not required for regular admission, but the following prerequisites are:

Principles of Economics

• Principles of Macroeconomics (ECON 231) and Principles of Microeconomics (ECON 232)

Intermediate Economic Theory

• Intermediate Macroeconomics (ECON 331) and either Intermediate Microeconomic Theory (ECON 330 or ECON 332)

Calculus and Statistics

Students will require:

• MATH 137 or an equivalent course in calculus. Linear algebra and a second course in calculus are highly recommended.
• STAT 171 or an equivalent course in statistics. 

If you have not completed the prerequisites, you may be eligible for conditional admission. Any remaining prerequisites can be taken during your first semester. Some courses, such as ECON 408, STAT 171, DS303, or ECON 381, may be required as deficiency courses on admission. 

Degree Requirements

The Master of Science (MS) in Quantitative Economics degree program is a 33-semester hour (sh) program consisting of 21 sh of core courses. These courses are Fundamentals of Economic Theory (ECON509), Mathematical Techniques (ECON 581), Macroeconomic Theory and Policy (ECON 500), Price Theory (ECON 504), Econometrics I (ECON 487G), Econometrics II (Econ 507), and DS 490G (Statistical Software for Data Management and Decision Making). 

For their electives, students can select from a variety of courses in ECON and other disciplines to complete their degree plans.  There are three exit options: (1) thesis, (2) internship, (3) non-thesis. 

• The thesis option requires ECON 600 (Thesis Research), ECON 601 (Thesis), and 6 s.h. of electives. 
• The internship option requires ECON 599 (approved Internship, typically over the summer) and 9 s.h. of elective coursework (at least 3 s.h. of electives must be from Economics with the ECON prefix).
• The "all coursework" option requires 12 s.h. of approved electives in which at least 6 s.h. are from Economics (ECON).

All students, regardless of exit option, are also required to complete two semesters of Department seminar (ECON 602, 0 s.h.) and complete the exit examination in their final semester (ECON 603, 0 s.h.).

MSQE Integrated Masters Program

Students in the integrated program are allowed to use nine semester hours of B-level and 500-level Economics and Decision Sciences classes to satisfy either the Bachelor of Arts in Economics and the Master of Science in Quantitative Economics or the Bachelor of Business in Economics and the Master of Science in Quantitative Economics degree. Students may choose from the following: ECON 581B, ECON 500B, ECON 504B, ECON 506B, ECON 507B, or up to three 400B elective courses in Economics or Decision Sciences. The exact bridge courses are determined by the student’s undergraduate and graduate advisor. More information may be found at MSQE Integrated Program.

Apply for the MSQE at WIU!

A Message from the Program Coordinator and Graduate Advisor

Dear Graduate Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in the Economics and Decision Sciences Graduate Programs at Western Illinois University. Our programs are well-suited to students who are looking to enhance their career potential in economics and related fields as well as to students who are thinking about going on for a Ph.D. in economics. Our unique system allows you to select a course of study that fits your goals while the core courses ensure that you are trained in the fundamentals of graduate-level economics.

Our graduate faculty are committed to excellence in training economists. Graduate class sizes are typically small—many in the range of 8 to 15 students—providing an excellent environment for learning. Our graduate curriculum gives careful attention to both theory and practice. This balance is the key to modern economics.

Our facilities are another feature of the program. Nearly all the graduate courses in economics are in the same building, Stipes Hall. Computers in the building have a variety of software packages, including SAS, SPSS, Stata, and Mathematica. A “cyber-café” on the first floor, aptly named “Dividends,” is a great place for individual conversations over a cup of coffee. The Leslie F. Malpass Library is next door, providing a convenient place for group and individual study.

Students without a strong undergraduate background in economics are often required to complete intermediate-level undergraduate courses before enrolling in the graduate core. At least a year of calculus is expected, though all students, regardless of their level of math preparation, are placed in our mathematical techniques course during their first semester.  

Financial assistance in the form of graduate assistantships is available on a competitive basis to qualified students. Assistantship duties include staffing the School office, helping in the classroom, and assisting faculty with research projects — all of which are good practices for those interested in an academic career. Finally, we have an established record of placing our graduates in internships, jobs, and ranked Ph.D. programs.

If you have any questions about the program, please send me an e-mail. We look forward to hearing from you.

Assistantship Opportunities

We offer a limited number of graduate assistantships, which are awarded on a highly competitive basis. The awards range from two-thirds time (requiring 13 hours of work per week) to full-time (requiring 20 hours of work per week). Both awards carry full tuition waivers for multiple semesters and a summer term, as well as a stipend for two semesters, contingent on maintaining a 3.0 GPA and satisfactory academic progress. Students work for the School of AFED as well as assisting faculty with courses and research.

Assistantship recipients must satisfy all of the admissions prerequisites without any deficiencies. To be eligible for an assistantship, entering graduate students must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 and remain in good academic standing.    Apply for Departmental Assistantship                        Apply for WIU Assistantship through the Graduate School