The Joint Master's of Science Degree Program in Economics and Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University

I. Rationale

There is a natural linkage between economics and urban and environmental policy and planning issues. Important public policy and planning questions have motivated some of the classic studies in economics, and the tools of economic analysis can be applied to a wide variety of policy and planning questions. Many students receiving master degrees in economics find employment in the policy and/or planning sector, and would benefit from courses explicitly directed at public policy and planning issues. Students studying public policy and planning would benefit from an exposure to the analytical tools of economics.

II. Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the general requirements of the Tufts University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in addition to those of both cooperating departments.

III. Application Procedures

Applicants should apply via Embark.com and choose "Urban/Env. Policy & Planning and Economics" as the program of study. One personal statement addressing interest in the joint degree program should be submitted. Applicants must meet all application guidelines and deadlines set forth by the individual academic departments. Learn more >.

Applications are evaluated by both programs using the same criteria that are applied to applicants of the MA degree in UEP and the MS degree in Economics. An applicant will be accepted into the joint program only if he/she is accepted by both the UEP and Economics Departments. Applicants who are accepted into only one program can choose to enroll in the graduate degree program in that department.

Tufts graduate students currently enrolled in the MS program in Economics or the MA program in UEP may apply for admission to the joint degree program after discussing this plan with their advisor and submitting a letter to the director of their current program. The letter should include a statement of the student’s academic objectives. Candidates should apply via Embark.com. The application fee is waived for current Tufts graduate students, and the application process is streamlined. Current students need not submit credentials already on file with GSAS, including transcripts and GRE scores. An updated personal statement addressing interest in the joint degree program should be submitted. The financial aid section of the online application should be completed for students requesting scholarship for the joint degree program, even if scholarship was previously awarded with admission to the MS or MA program. Current Tufts students must meet the same admissions standards as outside applicants; admission to one academic program does not guarantee admission to the joint degree.
 
IV. Joint Degree Requirements

The candidates for a joint master's degree in Economics and UEP must satisfy the joint degree requirements specified by each of the two departments. The joint degree requirements for each department are listed in the following section. Candidates must also meet the standards and requirements set forth by Tufts' Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The policy on academic standing and degree progress can be found in the Graduate Student Handbook. Guidance for joint degree candidates will be provided by advisors from each department. The advisors will help the candidate design a coherent program and aid in the direction of the thesis.

A student who completes these requirements is awarded a single joint MS degree in Economics and UEP (versus an MS degree in Economics and an MA degree in UEP).

Students enrolled into the joint degree program can opt out at any time and decide to pursue the graduate degree in UEP or Economics. The student would then need to meet all the regular requirements for that program.

1. Economics Requirements

The Economics requirements for the joint degree program consist of a core of four required courses, and two elective courses to be selected from a list of approved courses. The core courses provide tools in statistics, econometrics, and microeconomic theory that can be applied to a wide variety of problems. The elective courses provide an introduction to the use of these tools in particular areas of economics.

Core Courses (4 credits):
Economics 201 (Statistics)
Economics 202 (Econometrics)
Economics 203 (Microeconomic Theory I)
Economics 204 (Microeconomic Theory II)

Elective Courses (2 credits): Each semester, the Economics Department selects a set of courses that satisfy the requirement for elective courses for the MS degree. Typically they include upper level undergraduate courses in the Economics and Mathematics Departments and courses in the Fletcher School. See the Economics Department website for a list of these courses each semester.

2. Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Requirements

The UEP requirements for the joint degree program consist of a core of three required courses, four elective courses, a noncredit internship, and a thesis. The choice of four elective courses, internship, and thesis are dependent on the interests of the student. There are no specializations at UEP and the student, in consultation with his/her advisor, will determine the optimum arrangement.

Core Courses (3 credits):
UEP 250 (Foundations of Public Policy and Planning)
UEP 252 (Cities in Space, Place and Time)
UEP 255 (Field Projects: Planning and Practice)

Elective Courses (4 credits): A wide range of UEP and University courses qualify as electives. These are chosen by the student with the approval of the UEP advisor.

Internship (noncredit)

3. Joint Requirement

Thesis (1 credit): The thesis requires that students conduct a research project that applies the knowledge and skill that they have developed. The thesis committee for joint degree candidates must include at least one faculty member from each department. The advisor can be from either department. After selecting a thesis topic the student must present a written prospectus to the committee for its approval. Upon completion of the written thesis, there shall be an oral defense of the thesis before the members of the thesis committee.

4. Tuition and Financial Aid Information

The student's tuition obligation for the joint degree program will be identical to that of the UEP degree program. Currently, the tuition rate for each of the two years of the program is set at 70% of the GSAS tuition rate.

Please contact the departments directly to inquire about the availability of financial aid for joint degree candidates.

VI. Course Descriptions and Additional Information

Course descriptions for each department and information about the requirements of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences can be found in the Arts and Sciences Bulletin of Tufts University (available online). Any questions about the program or its requirements should be directed to either of the sponsoring departments.

© 2012 Department of Economics, Tufts University. All rights reserved.
Site designed and maintained by ITS.