Prospective Students - Graduate Information
Our graduate programs provide a unique combination of academic strength and flexibility to accommodate a wide variety of professional interests. Much of our research and teaching is interdisciplinary; we collaborate with social psychologists, anthropologists, and environmental and communications scientists. The School prides itself on the close working relationship it fosters between students and faculty. Class sizes are small; graduate courses typically have fewer than ten students. Each student’s program is designed individually under the supervision of the graduate coordinator and the student’s individual advisor.
Students are provided with opportunities to broaden their knowledge with supporting course work, seminars, teaching and research assistantships, and preparation of scholarly papers and theses. Our graduate degrees are designed to broaden the intellectual horizons of students and enhance their opportunities for choice and advancement in a variety of professional careers.
If you require additional information regarding the graduate programs offered by the School of Economics, please contact us by mail, telephone or email at:
Graduate Coordinator
School of Economics
University of Maine
5782 Winslow Hall
Orono, Maine 04469-5782
(207) 581-3154
E-mail the Graduate Coordinator
Additional information is available from the University of Maine Graduate School.
Graduate Student Funding Opportunities. The School has a number of Graduate Assistantships (GAs) available for qualified students that are awarded on a competitive basis. Both our teaching and research stipends are competitive with other programs. Students who have outstanding academic records in their first year of graduate study may receive an increase in their stipend in their second year. Students awarded a GA also receive a tuition waiver for up to nine credit hours per semester and a health care subsidy. To apply for a GA please check the appropriate box on the graduate school application. For more information see the Graduate Program Handbook.
In an effort to match students’ interests and backgrounds with the research needs of the School, various faculty have posted descriptions of their research assistantship needs below. Note however, that other assistantships are also available so feel free to apply for an assistantship even if your research or teaching interests are different that what is posted below.
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Research Assistantship in Economics of Education & Public Policy
This M.S. assistantship becomes available September 2012. The research assistant will work with Professor Philip Trostel on a project involving education policy issues, with a focus on Maine. Some academic background in microeconomics; excellent GPA and GRE scores; and an interest in either education policy or in public policy in Maine (preferably both) are required.
Some familiarity and experience with data analysis and econometrics is a plus. Support includes a stipend, tuition waiver, and a subsidy for health insurance. In addition to applying to the School of Economics, please submit a letter detailing your interest in this position to philip.trostel@maine.edu with the subject line “Research Assistantship”.
Review of materials will begin in early January and continue until the position is filled.
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M.S. Research Assistantship in Behavioral Economics
This M.S. assistantship becomes available September 2012. The research assistant will work primarily with Drs. Mario Teisl and Shannon McCoy (an environmental economist and social psychologist, respectively) to design and test various models of human environmental behaviors (e.g., environmental voting, purchasing and activist behaviors) to better understand the factors that support or impede these behaviors.~The results from this research will be integrated with concurrent research projects examining forest, land and water management practices, alternative energy development and ecological conservation to guide policies that consider the social, economic and environmental needs of Maine citizens.
A degree in a related field; excellent GPA and GRE scores; and an interest in collaborative, multi-disciplinary approaches to problem solving. Experience in experimental and survey research methods a plus. Support includes a stipend, tuition waiver, and a subsidy for health insurance.
In addition to applying to the School of Economics, please submit to mario.teisl@umit.maine.edu with the subject line “PSYECO MS Research Assistantship”.
- a letter detailing your interest in this position;
- a resume;
- photocopies of GRE scores and transcripts; and
- names, phone numbers, and email addresses of three references familiar with your academic and research history.
Review of materials will begin in early January and continue until the position is filled.
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Doctoral Research Assistantship in Sustainability Science
Maine’s Sustainability Solutions Initiative (SSI) at the University of Maine offers unprecedented opportunities for graduate students to experience a truly interdisciplinary learning experience through a $20 million, 5-year program funded by the National Science Foundation’s EPSCoR program. The SSI’s mission is to create an integrative research program and strong stakeholder partnerships to generate improved solutions to intersecting ecological, social, and economic challenges in and beyond Maine.
SSI is committed to linking academic knowledge with action in partnership with communities to produce meaningful scientific outcomes. SSI’s Knowledge-to-Action (KA) Team studies the range of ways that researchers collaborate with diverse stakeholders and communities to create improved linkages between knowledge and action. The KA Team seeks a doctoral Research Assistant beginning in September 2012 to help advance our research on collaboration and stakeholder engagement, in particular in the area of water resource management. The doctoral student will supplement a dynamic, engaging team of faculty, post-doctoral researchers and graduate students with expertise in communication, community engagement, social psychology, human dimensions of natural resources, and economics.
Qualifications:
A master’s degree (preferably in a social science field); excellent GPA and GRE scores; an interest in collaborative, multi-disciplinary approaches to problem solving, and an interest in collaborative grant writing and research. Support will include an assistantship stipend, a tuition waiver, subsidy for health insurance, and operating funds for research.
Application Procedures:
Please submit the following information to laura.lindenfeld@umit.maine.edu with subject line “SSI K-A Fellowship”.~
1. a letter detailing your interest in this position and the goals of the SSI in general;
2. a resume;
3. photocopies of GRE scores and transcripts; and
4. names, phone numbers, and email addresses of three references familiar with your academic and research history.
Review of materials will begin in late December and continue until the position is filled.
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Doctoral Research Assistantship in Environmental Psychology/Behavioral Economics
The Sustainability Solutions Initiative is supporting an interdisciplinary research program across various social and physical sciences aimed at developing more effective ways of converting knowledge about environmental problems into environmental solutions. The research team consists of a core group of psychologists, economists, and communication specialists who work with a broader team of physical scientists and engineers.
Graduate Research Assistantship:
This Ph.D. assistantship becomes available September 2012 at the University of Maine. The research assistant will work primarily with Drs. Mario Teisl and Shannon McCoy (an environmental economist and social psychologist, respectively) to design and test various models of human environmental behaviors (e.g., environmental voting, purchasing and activist behaviors) to better understand the factors that support or impede these behaviors.~Research interest areas can be broad but a focus on energy-related behaviors is of special interest. The results from this dissertation research will be integrated with concurrent research projects examining forest, land and water management practices, alternative energy development and ecological conservation to guide policies that consider the social, economic and environmental needs of Maine citizens.
This research assistant will join M.S. and Ph.D. students already working with the team to bridge the gap in economic and psychological research towards environmental behavior, especially as it relates to energy use. One of the existing students comes from a psychological background, while the other’s strength lies in economics; we seek a third student to further solidify our interdisciplinary approach and extend the scope of work. Support includes an assistantship stipend, a tuition waiver, subsidy for health insurance, and funds for research.
Qualifications:
A degree in a related field; excellent GPA and GRE scores; and an interest in collaborative, multi-disciplinary approaches to problem solving. Experience in experimental and survey research methods a plus.
Application Procedures:
Please submit the following information to Mario Teisl with the subject line “PSYECO PhD Research Assistantship”.
- a letter detailing your interest in this position specifically and the goals of the SSI in general;
- a resume;
- photocopies of GRE scores and transcripts; and
- names, phone numbers, and email addresses of three references familiar with your academic and research history.
Review of materials will begin in early January and continue until the position is filled.