Department of Economics at Western Illinois University

Peace Corps Fellows Program

The Master of Arts in Economics offers a concentration in Community Development specifically designed for Peace Corps Fellows. The program requires a minimum of 30 hours of academic credit. The following is an outline of a typical program.

(All courses are 3 semester hours unless otherwise noted.) See below for other program notes such as related courses and required undergraduate background.

Fall Inter-Term (August)

ECON 535 Small Community Development -two week intensive required Fellows course.

First Academic Semester (12 hours)

Fall Semester (9 - 15 hours; 6 - 9 hours of required courses, rest are electives)

ECON 500 Macroeconomic Theory and Policy - Required core course.
ECON 503 Applied Price Theory - Required core course.
ECON 481G Mathematical Techniques - May be required depending on math proficiency.
Other Elective

The seminar "Mapping the Future of Your Community" is a required Fellows activity. There will be three sessions scheduled during the first academic semester.

Spring Inter-Term

GEOG 650 Community Development Skills Seminar - Required Fellows course.

Spring, Summer, and Fall Semesters (6 hours)

ECON 599 Internship - This would be based upon 11 month internship. Up to six (6) hours of credit can be counted in the M.A. in Economics program. Required Fellows course.
"State Rural Development Conference" - Required Fellows activity.

Second Academic Semester (12 hours)

Spring Semester (9 - 15 hours; 9 hours of required courses, rest are electives)

ECON 506 Applied Economic Techniques - Required core course.
ECON 460G Urban and Regional Economic Analysis - Required Fellows course.
GEOG 549 Non-metropolitan Planning - Required Fellows course.
Other Elective

Related Courses

A. ECONOMICS

ECON 432G Public Finance - Available every semester by special arrangement with Dr. Jones, Chair of the Economics Department.
ECON 501 Readings - This is an arranged course (1, 2, or 3 hours) which can be tailored to the student's particular needs or interests. This is an elective course that can be taken any Fall, Spring, or Summer Session. It should not be taken until after the first semester of academic courses.
The Master of Arts in Economics program allows students to take up to 9 hours of coursework from a list of specified courses offered outside of the Department without petition. An additional 3 hours outside the Department may be granted if the student petitions and offers adequate justification.

For the Community Development Concentration, the following courses in the Department of Geography have been approved. Other courses can be considered but must be approved by the Graduate Advisor.

B. GEOGRAPHY

GEOG 448G Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning - This course is offered in Fall every other year.
GEOG 557 Planning Implementation - This course is offered in Fall every other year.

Required Undergraduate Background

The Master of Arts in Economics requires that students have the following background in economics, statistics, and mathematics.

1. Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory (ECON 331)
2. Intermediate Microeconomic Theory (ECON 330 or ECON 332)
3. A statistics course with at least an introduction to regression analysis.
4. A calculus course with at least an introduction to partial differentiation. ECON 481G may be taken for graduate credit to satisfy this deficiency.

The first three courses cannot be taken for graduate credit. However, courses that would satisfy these deficiencies are offered every semester. If your undergraduate degree is not in economics, and/or you have not completed any or all of the first three required courses, please contact the Chair of the Economics Department as soon as possible.

Dr. Warren Jones
Chair, Economics Department
Stipes Hall 442
1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455
W-Jones@wiu.edu
Phone: 309/298-1153