The first strength of the MA program is that it directly links the theories to real world data analysis. Therefore you will find the projects at work look familiar and you will not be intimidated. The second strength of the program is that it's a cross-functional program. You can elect to take courses from not only economics, but also finance, marketing, mathematics and information systems, etc. As a result, when you face a problem in the business world that requires a broad range of knowledge, you have the advantage.

The program was very important in giving me the practical skills that are needed to succeed in business. I considered an MBA, but felt that this program provided all the skills of an MBA and a whole lot more. After posting my resume to the internet I had several interviews and a job within two weeks.

The MA in Applied Economics provided me with an extensive background in economics and practical econometric skills. The best thing about the program was how applicable the core courses were and the flexibility I had in selecting courses. I have extensively used the skills I acquired in the program in my job to help me forecast loan demands, test hedge policy, and calculate risk based capital.

In my current job, the statistics and SAS programming I learned in the Applied Economics program have proven to be very useful. Using my training in cost-benefit analysis, I am now collaborating with an epidemiologist and a health economist.

I'm currently doing market financial analysis for a large health insurance company. There is currently a raging debate in our region about how much health care should cost and who should bear the burden. It's quite a thrill to be right in the middle of it. I'd like to think my MA in Applied Economics has allowed me to approach the problem in a disciplined way, considering that this is a communitywide resource allocation problem, not just a series of short term budgets that have to be met. In my role, I'm often called on to talk to employers, hospitals and physicians about the economic forces conspiring to drive healthcare costs up.

The MA in Applied Economics helped increase my analytical skills and taught me how to manipulate and analyze data. These skills are really in demand in the business world. My training has made it easy to grasp the concepts of direct mail and post marketing analyses that I am currently being asked to implement.

After joining the Applied Economics program as an international student, I was impressed from the first by the great team spirit here. The MA in Applied Economics offered me the possibility to study in a professional and comfortable atmosphere that allowed me to study side-by-side with the most knowledgeable and helpful professors. The best thing about MA in Applied Economics is the practical and flexible program design that allowed me to grow and achieve my career goals based on my interests and characteristics. The MA not only let me learn the theoretical knowledge, but also provided me with many opportunities to practice on real-world projects.

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