Skip to main content

Certificate in Economic Education

The first and only certificate of its kind in the state, UNO’s Economic Education Graduate Certificate is designed to help high school economics instructors obtain the graduate credit hours required to teach economics as a dual enrollment course.

Teach Advanced Economics Courses

As economics grows in popularity, more secondary schools are requiring economics as a graduation requirement.

This certificate qualifies high school teachers to deliver advanced courses in economics (AP, honors, and dual enrollment) so that high school students can fulfill graduation requirements and also earn college credits.

Return on Investment

  • You will earn the 18 graduate credit hours required by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to teach classes that can be considered dual enrollment.

  • Expanded knowledge of economics theory and practice will help you deliver high quality college-level classes to your students.

  • Certificate credit hours can be applied towards a master’s degree in economics (must meet the standard admission and enrollment requirements).

  • Qualified teachers who teach advanced subject levels are highly sought after by schools and increase opportunities for their students.

  • Elective course selection allows you to customize the educational experience and skill development to your interests.

Curriculum

The Economic Education Graduate Certificate consists of one required course
(3 credit hours) and five elective courses (15 credit hours) for a total of 18
credit hours.


REQUIRED COURSE (3 CREDITS)
ECON 8050 Economic Education (3)

ELECTIVES (15 CREDITS)
ECON 8020 Environmental Economics and Management (3)
ECON 8210 Managerial Economics (3)
ECON 8216 Industrial Organization (3)
ECON 8230 Business Conditions Analysis (3)
ECON 8306 Quantitative Applications in Economics and Business (3)
ECON 8326 Natural Resource Economics (3)
ECON 8346 Economics of Technology (3)
ECON 8600 Health Economics (3)
ECON 8616 International Trade (3)
ECON 8666 International Economic Development (3)
ECON 8736 Economics of Entrepreneurship (3)
ECON 8856 Economics of Urban And Regional Development (3)
ECON 8910 Special Studies in Economics (3)
ECON 8916 Special Topics in Economics (3)
ECON 8920 Independent Study (1-3)

COMPLETING MS DEGREE IN ECONOMICS
If you wish to complete both an Economic Education Graduate Certificate
and an MS in Economics, you must complete a total of 36 graduate hours,
and satisfy missing foundation courses for admission to the MS in Economics
program.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
  • Bachelor’s or master’s degree earned at a regionally accredited college or
    university in the U.S., or the equivalent of such degrees in another country.
  • All applicants must have earned a minimum Junior/Senior GPA of 2.85.
  • Students must have completed Principles of Microeconomics and Principles of
    Macroeconomics.

Download the flier to learn more about the program, including the curriculum.

Funding Opportunities for the Certificate in Economic Education

Teachers who are interested in completing the Certificate in Economic Education are encouraged to apply for a scholarship to help offset some costs associated with the certificate. Scholarship will be $100/credit hour with a maximum 3 credit hours ($300 total) per teacher. Limited scholarships are available. For consideration, eligible teachers must

  • Meet the standard admission and enrollment requirements for the Certificate in Economic Education.
  • Commit to using the certificate to teach dual enrollment for the University of Nebraska at Omaha. If you are unsure if you (or your school) is eligible please reach out to Kelly Malone, Assistant Director of Dual Enrollment at UNO (malonek@unomaha.edu).

If interested in pursuing the Certificate in Economic Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha please contact Dr. Jamie Wagner by email (jfwagner@unomaha.edu).

Additionally, if interested the Nebraska Council on Economic Education is offering $100/credit hour with a maximum of 3 credit hours per teacher through the Richard L. Guffey Memorial Scholarship Program. For more information on receiving this scholarship please visit the Guffey Memorial Scholarship Page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • How quickly could I complete the certificate?

    The pace is really up to you and your schedule. How many credits can you reasonably complete given your work/family/etc. commitments. The flexibility allows you to take the classes at your pace.

  • How are the courses delivered?

    The classes are UNO masters level classes so you’d be taking classes along side our masters in economics students. The classes on the certificate only have the principles of micro/macro prereq (others in the masters program have additional prereqs.). So the type of instruction is based on the classes instruction. You can look at the classes and their mode of instruction here. Note that all classes are not offered every semester due to small numbers in some classes. Also the required course (Econ 8050) is specifically with Dr. Jamie Wagner so please reach out (jfwagner@unomaha.edu) to find the best way to complete that course.

  • What is the cost of the certificate?

    The courses are subject to the same tuition rates as any other UNO course. Please look at the current tuition rates.

  • Is there funding available?

    Yes, there is some funding available through the UNO Center for Economic Education and the Nebraska Council on Economic Education.

  • Is there still availability to join the program?

    Absolutely!
    APPLICATION DEADLINES
    Fall: July 15
    Spring: December 1
    Summer: April 15
    If you want more information regarding the application process or more information about the graduate program please reach out to Dr. Catherine Co (CCO@unomaha.edu) as she is our department coordinator for the graduate program in economics.