K 066/971 Attention: Please note that this is only a translation of the German Curriculum. Only the German version is officially binding. Curriculum for the Master s Degree Program Economics Page 1 of 8
Table of Contents 1 Qualification Profile... 3 2 Admission... 4 3 Composition and Structuring...... 5 4 Required subjects / modules... 6 5 Elective subjects / modules... 6 6 Courses... 7 7 Subject and Course Substitutions... 7 8 Master's Thesis... 7 9 Examination Regulations... 8 10 Academic Degree... 8 11 Legal Validity... 8 Page 2 of 8
1 Qualification Profile (1) The master's program in Economics offers an advanced scientific education in the area of economics. The degree should prepare students for a scientifically oriented career and for continuing studies at the doctoral level (PhD in Economics). (2) The master's program thereby targets individuals who would like to pursue challenging tasks in national and international organizations in the fields of economic policy and research, as well as in private enterprises and in public administration or who aspire to a career in science and research. (3) Students will receive an advanced knowledge of modern methods in economic theory and empirical economic research. By choosing appropriate courses, students can specialize according to their interests in various economic topics, such as international trade, labor economics, industrial economics, or public economics. The courses in this program are offered primarily in English, which allows students to acquire active and passive language skills in their topic of specialization and beyond. (4) Students who have completed a bachelor's degree program in economics with a focus on business and economics can broaden their knowledge of economics and management by choosing related core subjects according to their career goals. Any students beginning the master's program in economics, who have not completed the specialization in economics during their bachelor studies in economics and management, will have the opportunity to attain the basic knowledge they may lack regarding the methods of economic theory and empirics by attending the courses of "Principles in Economics and Management" (see 5 below) at the beginning of the master's program. (5) Graduates of the master's program in Economics: possess an excellent knowledge of economics and are able to become acquainted with new areas of responsibility quickly and autonomously, can use their acquired knowledge professionally in order to solve problems from their area of expertise, are able to successfully apply the acquired methods in their research, to critically question said methods and to develop them further, have acquired professional and social competencies, which prepare them for managerial and executive positions. Page 3 of 8
(6) The master s degree program in Economics facilitates the pursuit of a variety of professional tasks in Austria and abroad. Typical career paths include: work in the analytical departments of providers of financial service and multinationals, scientific analysis in bodies of the EU, OECD, UN and similar organizations, research positions at the Austrian National Bank or European Central Bank, economic researcher at the Institute for Advanced Studies, the Austrian Institute of Economic Research and similar institutions, research and teaching associate at a university or university of applied sciences, economic policy advisor (budget, environmental policy,...), specialist in the state or national administration (regional planning, ministry of finance,...) 2 Admission (1) The master's degree program in Economics is assigned to the Faculty of Social Sciences, Economics and Business according to 54 Abs 1 UG. (2) Prerequisite for admission to the master s degree program in Economics is a bachelor's or "Diplom" degree. The program builds on the bachelor's degree program in Wirtschaftswissenschaften (reference degree program) offered at the Johannes Kepler University Linz. Successful completion of the reference degree program or the Diplomstudium Wirtschaftswissenschaften at the Johannes Kepler University Linz qualifies a candidate in any case without further requirements for acceptance to the master's degree program in Economics. (3) Based on the completion of another academic degree at universities, universities of applied sciences, or other post-secondary educational institutions in Austria or abroad, candidates will be accepted into the master s degree program in Economics, if and only if the completed course of study is equivalent both in content and in scope to the reference degree program in (2). The academic degree will be considered equivalent if courses from the following areas were successfully completed as part of a bachelor's degree program or Diplomstudium in the specified minimum amount: Courses in economics and management of at least 40 ECTS points, of which at least 24 ECTS points in economics Courses in mathematics and statistics: 6 ECTS points Page 4 of 8
(4) A program is considered equivalent, in general, if the applicant can prove the successful completion of at least 50% of the minimum amount of ECTS points stipulated in (3). In the case of general equivalence, the rector's office can grant admission conditional on the successful completion of examinations up to a total amount of 23 ECTS points from the reference degree program in (2). (5) In case the applicant has completed an academic degree in scientific methods, such as mathematics, statistics, or physics, that included mathematics and statistics courses of at least 40 ECTS points, it will also be considered equivalent, in general. In such cases, the rector's office can grant admission conditional on the successful completion of examinations in economics and management courses up to a total amount of 40 ECTS points, of which at least 24 ECTS points must be acquired in economics. 3 Composition and Structuring (1) The master's degree program in Economics generally takes four semesters and comprises 120 ECTS points. These ECTS points are distributed among the following subjects and components of the program: Required subjects 66 ECTS Electives 18 ECTS Master's thesis (including master's thesis seminar) 24 ECTS Free course choices 12 ECTS (2) The category of free course choices foresees the successful completion of examinations (including in-class examinations) of 12 ECTS points in total, which may be selected from the entire range of examinations offered by all accredited postsecondary educational institutions in Austria and abroad. They serve primarily for the acquisition of additional qualifications beyond the core subject of this master's degree program and may be completed at any time during the course of study. (3) Recommendations for particularly suitable courses from this category can be found on the homepage of the Department of Economics. (4) The recommendation for a typical and ideal course of study in the master s degree program in Economics is as follows: 1st Semester: 4 ECTS points from the required subject Gender aspects in Economics 18 ECTS points from the elective subject Principles in Economics and Management 8 ECTS points from the required subject Advanced Topics in Economics and/or free courses Page 5 of 8
2nd Semester: 30 ECTS points from the required subject Methods in Economics or the required subject Economic Theory 3rd Semester: 30 ECTS points from the required subject Advanced Topics in Economics and/or free courses 4th Semester 6 ECTS points from the required subject Advanced Topics in Economics and/or free courses 1 ECTS points from the master's thesis seminar 23 ECTS points from the master's thesis 4 Required subjects / modules The following required subjects must be completed to obtain a total of 66 ECTS points: Code Title ECTS 971MECO10 Methods in Economics 18 971ECOT10 Economic Theory 12 971ATEC10 Advanced Topics in Economics 32 977GAEC10 Gender Aspects in Economics 4 5 Elective subjects / modules (1) The elective module "Principles in Economics and Management" must be completed to obtain at total of 18 ECTS. In this module, students choose courses from up to three subjects of the bachelor s degree program in Wirtschaftswissenschaften (reference degree program) offered at the Johannes Kepler University Linz. Courses already completed in the reference degree program or other degree programs prerequisite to the acceptance to the master s degree program in Economics may not be chosen if any other option is available. Code Title ECTS 971PEMG10 Principles in Economics and Management 18 Page 6 of 8
(2) If all courses of one subject, including any applicable examinations, are chosen in accordance with (1), this will be documented in the final transcript. Any remaining courses will be summarized in the module "Principles in Economics and Management" and evaluated by means of a cumulative subject examination. (3) In case admission is granted based on the completion of another degree program ( 2 (3)), it must be established upon admission which prerequisites have been fulfilled and, respectively, which subjects are no longer available for selection in accordance with (1). 6 Courses (1) The title and type of each subject s individual courses, the corresponding amount of ECTS points, the number of hours per semester, the course capacity, the priority ranking system for inscription in courses with limited capacity as well as any prerequisites for registration can be found in the handbook of subjects and courses ( Studienhandbuch ) of the Johannes Kepler University Linz. (2) The course types used and the corresponding examination procedures are defined in 12 16 of the Laws of Study section of the charter of the Johannes Kepler University Linz. 7 Subject and Course Substitutions Subjects in accordance with 4 and 5 or courses in accordance with 6 ( 1) may be substituted by other study-specific subjects or courses up to a total amount of 18 ECTS points, provided that the goal of preparing for a future career in academia is not impaired and that the choice of recommended subjects or courses has a clear purpose with regard to the program s aims outlined in the qualification profile, scientific coherences, and the supplement the preparation for a future career in academia. The application for subject or course substitutions must be submitted to the vice rector (VizerektorIn für Lehre). 8 Master's thesis (1) In the course of the master's degree program in Economics, students must write a master's thesis in accordance with 81 UG and 36 of the Laws of Study section of the charter of the Johannes Kepler University Linz. (2) The master's thesis must be composed in the form of a written essay in the amount of 23 ECTS points. Page 7 of 8
(3) The master's thesis serves to prove the student s capacity to work on a scientific assignment independently as well as methodically and substantially correct. The topic of the master s thesis is to be chosen from one of the following subjects: Methods in Economics, Economic Theory or Advanced Topics in Economics. The assignment should be devised in such a way that it can be reasonably treated within six months. (4) The master's thesis can also be composed in a foreign language provided that the supervisor agrees to such an undertaking. In this case, it is recommended to involve an instructor qualified with the subject matter in the foreign language. (5) Accompanying the composition of the master's thesis, a master's thesis seminar (1ECTS point) must be successfully completed. (6) Required subjects from this curriculum in the amount of at least 24 ECTS points must be successfully completed before a master's thesis topic can be assigned. 9 Examination Regulations (1) The examination regulations of the subject examinations as well as the standards for in-class examinations can be found in the handbook of subjects and courses ( Studienhandbuch ) of the Johannes Kepler University Linz. (2) The master's degree program in Economics is concluded with a master's examination. The master's examination represents a comprehensive examination, which is to be completed in the form of subject examinations of the required subjects and the chosen electives in accordance with 4 and 5. The successful completion of the master s degree program further requires a positive (i.e. passing) grade on the master's thesis, the master's thesis seminar and the free courses in the minimum amount stipulated in 3 (1). 10 Academic Degree (1) Graduates of the master's degree program in Economics will be awarded the academic degree "Master of Science", abbreviated "MSc" or "MSc (JKU)". (2) The corresponding diploma will be issued in German with an English translation. 11 Legal Validity (1) This curriculum takes effect on October 1st, 2010. (2) The changes in 2 take effect on October 1st, 2011. (3) The changes in 8 take effect on October 1st, 2013. (4) The changes in 5 take effect on October 1st, 2015. Page 8 of 8