The College of Business expands degree programs beginning Fall 2019

Economics department updates its master of arts program 

Beginning in Fall 2019, the Economics department will offer students a master of arts in economics that can be completed in one year. This program is offered alongside the department's two minors, B.A., B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. programs, making it the powerhouse department within the College of Business.

"Our M.A. is becoming a more applied and policy-oriented program," Economics Chair Mehmet Tosun said of the program revision. "We are bringing more flexibility by allowing more course options that will help students specialize in areas such as regional economics, health economics and policy, data analytics and public policy."

Careers in the fields of business, consulting, health care and data analytics are typical for this degree; however, there are several applications that are outside of traditional channels. Students have gone on to have successful careers locally, nationally and internationally in the areas of finance, banking, economic consulting, urban planning and government and at not-for-profit agencies.

This competitive change to the M.A. program not only fast-tracks students who are looking to get into the workforce, it also opens up the possibility of an advanced degree to those already in private industry who may be able to take a leave to pursue additional education.

"Full-time degree programs are usually out of reach for working professionals; however, in the economics industry, it's not unheard of for companies to grant employees a sabbatical for professional development," Tosun said.

For more information, visit the Master of Arts in Economics page.

The College of Business adds a second Ph.D. program to degree offerings

The only program of its kind in Nevada, the College of Business will offer a Ph.D. in business administration with a concentration in management starting in fall 2019. This program is the second doctoral program and the ninth graduate degree within the College.

"The enhancement of graduate programs is a top priority within the strategic plan for the College of Business," Kambiz Raffiee, associate dean for graduate programs and research, said. "This will be a strong addition to our existing graduate programs."

Students getting a Ph.D. in business administration will develop cutting-edge skills in theory development and data analysis and will be well prepared for research careers in academia and industry. The academic jobs that graduates could pursue include professors or positions in social science research centers and laboratories. Job prospects in industry would include opportunities with management consultants, executive-level positions, survey firms, training and organizational development departments and human resource managers.

"Students can concentrate in organizational behavior, strategic management, entrepreneurship and/or behavioral decision making, allowing for a lot of flexibility in career paths," program director Jim Sundali said. "We couldn't be more thrilled to kick off this program in the fall of 2019."

For more information, visit the Ph.D. in Business Administration page.

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