Economic Development, M.S.

Chad Miller, Ph.D.
Program Director

The goal of the Economic Development program is to assist students in acquiring professional competency in the concepts, skills, working tools, and creative approaches essential to those involved in the field of economic development, whether at the community, state, regional, national, or international level.

Admission Requirements:

1. Have a 3.0 (4.0 scale) grade point average over the last two years of the student’s undergraduate studies.
2. Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Records Exam (GRE) - A candidate should strive to acheive a good balance of verbal and quantitative area scores. Official scores must be submitted to the Graduate School. Applicants who have previously earned a Master’s degree or higher qualify for a test score waiver. Applicants who can demonstrate 5 years or more of progressively responsible, managerial work experience may request test waiver consideration; work experience test waivers are reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee in the College of Business and are approved on a case-by-case basis. Students whose native language is not English must submit an official TOEFL or IELTS score.
3. Provide three letters of recommendation from persons qualified to assess the applicant’s readiness for graduate study.
4. In exceptional cases, students may be admitted conditionally. Such students must earn a 3.0 on the first nine (9) semester hours of coursework numbered 500 or above or on all coursework taken while completing this nine (9) hour requirement in order to qualify for regular admission.
5. Students may be required to take some prerequisite courses in geography or business.
6. Submit statement of purpose and goals, and resume.

Integrity Assurance Program (IAP)

All faculty holding Regular or Associate graduate faculty status must complete CITI training modules required by the Graduate School and their departments. All graduate students must complete the CITI training modules required by the Graduate School and their departments the first semester they are enrolled in graduate school. The IAP policy and training information are found on the Graduate School web page – www.usm.edu/graduate-school. Contact the Dean of the Graduate School if you have any questions regarding the policy of training information.

Degree Requirements:

Successful completion of a minimum of thirty (30) hours as follows:

1. Required courses (18 hours): ED 646 - Marketing and Business Development , ED 722 - Economic Development Theory and Research Methods , ED 725 - Entrepreneurship and Tech-Based Development , ED 736 - Real Estate and Land Use Planning , ED 698 - Thesis  or ED 789 - Capstone , ED 791 - Internship  
2. Completion of 12 hours of approved 600 or higher level graduate credit courses with at least 6 hours of these courses being economic development elective courses
3. Successful completion of a comprehensive written or oral examination
4. A 3.0 GPA is required for graduation.

Continuous Enrollment Requirement: Students must meet the requirement specified in the front section of this Bulletin.