Graduate Student Highlights

"The master’s program in economics at UNO provides students with immense opportunities and exposure to research. A few of the most valuable resources are the one-on-one time with faculty and group research projects in the program that facilitated my learning. The professors in the economics department are committed to the progress and academic success of their students. Since graduation, I have applied the coding and economics research curriculum directly to my career and it has had a positive impact on my work."

"The economics graduate program gave me an opportunity to hone in my analytical skills and gave me technical skills to put them to use. I was taught python and machine learning to solve a variety of optimization and classification tasks. Because of that experience, I have been able to solve more complicated problems at work including being tasked to overhaul our current forecasting methodology. Overall the program has made me more valuable to my current job and put me on a career path I am passionate about."

"The UNO graduate economics program has been instrumental in shaping my professional growth and achievements. The program's rigor not only expanded my technical skills but also instilled in me a deep understanding of real-world applications in the economic, financial, and analytical domains. The professors, with their extensive expertise and enthusiasm, not only made the coursework captivating but also provided unique insights that would be difficult to find elsewhere. Additionally, the faculty’s value of applying skills to real world problems created valuable opportunities to collaborate with local and national organizations on consulting projects. I wholeheartedly recommend this program to anyone seeking to further their career."

Tyler Billings
Data Scientist

"Unlike most graduates from the economics department, I decided to leverage my background in economics in pursuing a legal education. The importance of my economic knowledge cannot be understated in my pursuit of a law degree and the early stages of my career. Many of my peers fail to appreciate the important role economics plays in informing the American legal system and how economic analysis is a useful tool in evaluating legal issues.

While a lot of people view the legal system in terms of fairness and justice, our legal system also emphasizes efficiency. Understanding how incentives and disincentives can cause individuals to change their behavior is a foundational element to understanding how the law functions. I am constantly using basic economic concepts such as efficiency, externalities, the free-rider problem, and the principal-agent problem in my legal analysis. Having a strong understanding of these concepts is critical to any thoughtful legal analysis. Perhaps more importantly, my economic background allows me to make creative arguments for how the law should function based on the facts of a given case.

For anyone interested in meshing law and economics, there is no shortage of legal practices that require a strong economic understanding. To name a few, antitrust, intellectual property law, tax, and regulatory law are all areas where economics overlaps with the law to a large extent. There is no doubt that my education in economics has opened new doors to me as I begin my legal career."

I was well-placed in my career, but looking for a way to further develop my own human capital. I found the UNO Economics Graduate program offered a several concentrations with interesting courses in numerous subjects under the umbrella of Economics. The professors at UNO make an effort to know their students and keep pace on business in Omaha. Throughout my time in the program, I was able to build upon a foundation in theoretical principles, understand the mechanics of business and finance, and hone my research and analytical skills. Now that I am a graduate, I continue to apply the same tool set to opportunities big and small in my job.

"The UNO graduate economics program helped me to develop my skill set, become highly competitive in the labor force and facilitate a career change. The professors taught economic principles and analytical and programming skills to apply those principles effectively in my business and personal life. Several of the course projects analyzed real-world problems which allowed me to build a portfolio of work to show potential employers. Plenty of networking opportunities were provided. Following my graduation I was able to secure the role I desired when entering the program within 6 months. Financially, the program has paid for itself very quickly."

"The UNO graduate economics program enabled me to develop a analytical and logical mindset, and also helped me secure an internship position with a data analytics startup before I graduated, and eventually this was converted to a full-time position. The uniquely designed courses are a blend of both traditional economic and data analytics concepts, and hot skills like programming (R, python, sql etc) which benefitted me immensely while looking for a job. The projects that I worked on during the program were close to real-life scenarios that I face at work. I made some strong connections with the faculty and fellow students and I can reach out to them at any time without any hesitation. I also received an opportunity to work as a Graduate Advisor which helped me professionallly and financially."

"I originally enrolled in economics because I wanted to learn more about the world. Later in my studies, I discovered that studying economics provides practical abilities for empirical analysis as well as statistical tools and procedures that are applicable to other subjects. These are a huge aid in my comprehension of causal relationships. Thus, in my opinion, you may alter the world little by little by thinking globally and acting rationally. A degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha can lead to a variety of opportunities. I began my journey towards obtaining my degree in 2021, when my child was just three months old, and I am appreciative of my family and friends for their unwavering support during this journey. As a proud member of the Class of 2024 and a UNO alumnus, I'm looking forward to the next chapter."

Hema Mistry