Graduate Programs
The Department of Economics at SMU offers rigorous graduate programs designed to prepare students for careers in academia, research, business, finance, policy and other data-driven fields.
Graduate students benefit from close interaction with research-active faculty, advanced training in economic theory and quantitative methods, and opportunities to engage with current economic research. Located in Dallas, SMU also connects students with the professional opportunities and resources of one of the nation’s largest metropolitan economies.
Master’s Programs
SMU offers two master’s degree programs designed to serve a range of academic and professional goals:
Our master’s programs combine a strong foundation in economic theory with quantitative and analytical training that students can apply across business, finance, government, consulting and other professional settings.
Ph.D. in Economics
SMU’s Ph.D. in Economics prepares students to conduct original economic research and pursue careers in academia, research organizations, government and the private sector. The program maintains a close-knit environment that allows doctoral students to work closely with faculty while developing advanced expertise in economic theory, quantitative methods and their chosen areas of research.
The Department of Economics has a longstanding tradition of doctoral education. In 1959, Economics became the first department at SMU to offer a Ph.D., and in 1963, the department awarded SMU’s first doctoral degree.
Our Ph.D. graduates have pursued academic appointments at universities across the country as well as careers with organizations such as the World Bank, Bank for International Settlements, Fannie Mae and ExxonMobil.
An Active Research Community
Graduate students are part of an engaged intellectual community within the Department of Economics. The department hosts an external speaker seminar series as well as internal research workshops where faculty and Ph.D. students present ongoing research, exchange ideas and engage with current developments across the field.
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Annie Williams
"SMU Department of Economics challenged me to become a better student and I learned real life applications that prepared me for immense opportunities for post graduate careers."
Brook Elias
"I really appreciate all of the dedicated Economics Department staff for putting in their time and effort to make me the most successful person I could become."
Dasha Flowers
"The wide variety of topics I covered during my time with the department has provided me with the knowledge to have intelligent conversations with professionals of many backgrounds."
Sarah Luckey
"I am so thankful for the way that my professors made the effort to get to know me personally and began to actually care about my wellbeing not just as a student, but as a person."
Shaun Reid
"The SMU Economics Department gave me the opportunity to challenge myself and prepared me very well for life after college."
Tooba Faizan
"Throughout my experience at SMU, the Economics faculty played an integral role in ensuring students were adept with skills to become global leaders."