How Is Undergraduate Economics Different From Postgraduate Economics?
Posted by Stephen Cline on January 9th, 2010I have done undergraduate economics before – most of it is mainly theory with diagrams and models. There is a lot of rote memorisation and a bit of calculations.
I am now going to start postgraduate studies in economics. I had a look at one postgrad economics exam paper, and I was shocked to see so much mathematics in it – especially calculus and formulas. Especially Hamiltonian and Lagrangian.
My maths isn’t so good especially applied calculus. How can I cope with postgrad economics?
Tags: Different, Economics, From, Postgraduate, Undergraduate
Hate to break it to you, but grad-level econ is mostly math. Don’t panic, though. If you continue to keep up with your classes (especially microeconomics is going to be tough), and keep on visualizing what the math is trying to do vs. your (economics) intuition, you’ll be fine.
A Master’s and Doctorate in Economics often get into more specific applications of Economics. Where a Bachelor’s degree is a generalized “liberal arts” program, graduate school is often very specific, and usually requires formulating, theorizing and researching a specific issue.
Yah, that’s true. Postgrad econs tend to be more mathematically inclined. Approach your local college professor for some help on some math self-help books before you start doing your postgrad.