Master of Arts in Political Economy with Data Analytics
The Master of Arts (MA) program in Political Economy with Data Analytics offers a rigorous and multidisciplinary education centered around political economy themes. It equips students with the quantitative skills necessary to apply their knowledge in academic research, government, and industry.
The focus of the MA-PECN is on empirically analyzing policy-relevant questions using a variety of analytical tools. Political economy examines interactions among economic and political development; cooperation and conflict among nations, groups, and individuals; the distribution of material resources and political power; the effects of political actors and institutions on economic outcomes; the causes and consequences of technological and structural change, growth, and globalization; and local, national and international regulation.
MA-PECN students learn about interactions between economics and politics, and develop quantitative skills with the flexibility to take courses in a wide range of Tulane schools and departments.
The program is designed to be completed in three semesters. The first two semesters focus on learning methods and tools of data analytics by introducing students to widely used statistical software packages, including Stata, R, and Python. The final semester introduces students to contemporary topics in political economy, where the newly acquired tools can be employed to collect and evaluate data.
Program Highlights
Curriculum: The program curriculum provides a comprehensive understanding of political economy and data analytics and is designed to be completed in three semesters (fall, spring, fall).
Data Analytics Tools: Students gain proficiency in data analytics through core courses that introduce widely used statistical software packages, including Stata, R, and Python.
Policy Impact Evaluation: The program emphasizes evaluating the impacts of policy using data-driven approaches.
Contemporary Topics: In the final semester, students explore contemporary topics in political economy, applying their newly acquired tools to collect and evaluate data.
Open to All Backgrounds: The MA-PECN program welcomes students from diverse backgrounds, particularly those interested in political economy, economics, political science, sociology, and philosophy.
Tuition and Financial Aid: The tuition for the MA-PECN is offered at a special, reduced tuition rate and all applicants are automatically considered for tuition assistance.
Program Requirements
The Master of Arts in Political Economy with a Data Analytics is is an interdisciplinary program designed to train public policy specialists using advanced technologies and data analytics.
(30) credit hours of graduate coursework is required with a cumulative GPA ≥ 3.0. The 30 hours include 12 hours of core courses and 18 hours of graduate Data Analytics Electives. The program is designed to be completed in three semesters.
Students with undergraduate majors in economics, political science, statistics, engineering, or mathematics will likely be prepared for the quantitative courses in the MA-PECN. Courses in calculus and statistics (or equivalent) are encouraged. Applicants with less statistics training may benefit from supplemental study before beginning the MA-PECN program.
For more information, please contact Professor Justin Cook, Director of the MA-PECN program.
