Economics students learn to analyze trends indicated by economic data.
The best degrees in the field of economics are offered by the schools that are considered to have the top economics departments at the graduate-degree level. No official rankings list exists for undergraduate economic departments, but it stands to reason that undergraduate economics students also benefit from studying under the top scholars in the field. Most of the rankings lists generally agree that a few schools make up the "cream of the crop" among economics programs.
Harvard
Among the top-ranked schools to study economics, Harvard University offers students opportunities to receive undergraduate and graduate degrees in economics. Harvard has been ranked as the best economics school in 2010 by PhDs.org, "U.S. News & World Report" and Research Papers in Economics, a website devoted to research in economics. Harvard offers undergraduate concentrations in economics as part of its bachelor of arts program. The department's website notes that the undergraduate major in economics is one of the most popular offered at the university. Harvard's graduate program in economics leads to a Ph.D. Harvard admits Ph.D. students on the basis of perceived aptitude, undergraduate preparation and creativity. Harvard's graduate students work with some of the top scholars in the field and are expected to produce research that contributes to the common body of knowledge in economics.
Harvard University
Department of Economics
Littauer Center 201
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-495-8927
economics.harvard.edu
MIT
The top publications and websites devoted to ranking economics programs also agree that the programs offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are among the best. Whereas some top programs focus on graduate education to the detriment of undergraduate education, MIT's economics department website notes that the school takes particular care to divide its energies equally between undergraduate and graduate teaching duties. The undergraduate program requires courses in statistical methods in economics, microeconomics, macroeconomics and economic research and communication. The degree program offers a basic economics concentration or one in the field of development economics.
At the graduate level, MIT also focuses exclusively on the Ph.D., rather than offering a master's degree. The core curriculum of the Ph.D. requires courses in economic theory, econometrics and mathematics for economists. Students spend two years completing coursework before moving on to their dissertations.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department of Economics
50 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA 02142
617-253-8787
econ-www.mit.edu
Princeton
Princeton University is regularly placed among the top universities for the study of economics. Princeton placed from No. 1 to No. 3 among the publications ranking economics programs for 2010. Princeton's undergraduate degree program in economics is one of the most popular offered on campus. Students are admitted to the program based on undergraduate performance during their freshman and sophomore years. Courses offered as part of the bachelor's degree include economics of development, economics of the labor market and portfolio theory and asset management.
Princeton offers the Ph.D. as its primary graduate degree program in economics. The program is highly selective in its admission of applicants. Students come from diverse backgrounds and more than 30 countries. Courses of study include behavioral economics, econometrics and international trade.
Princeton University
Department of Economics
Fisher Hall
Princeton , NJ 08544
609-258-4000
princeton.edu/economics/
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