Ness School of Management and Economics

Joseph Santos, Ness Endowed Director
Nicole Klein, Associate Director
David Davis, Professor and Graduate Coordinator
Ness School of Management and Economics
Harding Hall
605-688-4141

The Ness School of Management and Economics offers both an M.S. in Economics and an M.S. in Operations Management.

The M.S. in Economics prepares students for professions in business and government as well as for advanced studies in economics and finance. The program offers two curriculum options: an economic theory option and an applied business-economics option. 

The economic theory option includes courses in advanced microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics; additionally, this option emphasizes applied economic research - students complete a six-credit research thesis.  Students customize their plans of study with elective courses in business economics, agricultural marketing, general economics, and agricultural and resource economics. A number of research and teaching assistantships and scholarships may be available to qualified students enrolled in this curriculum option. 

The applied business-economics option includes courses in advanced managerial economics, advanced business decision science, financial management, strategic marketing, and a strategic business decision capstone.  Students customize their plans of study with elective courses in finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, agricultural business and marketing, accounting, and risk management. Coursework is offered in flexible formats, including hybrid, evening and online courses, which allow students to complete this option in 12 or 24 months, depending on work and other commitments.

The program also offers an accelerated master’s degree to qualified undergraduate students who maintain an overall undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.5; these students may begin their graduate studies while they complete their undergraduate degree.  Students may apply for admission to the accelerated master’s degree program once they have completed 60 undergraduate credits.

The M.S. in Operations Management (MSOM) is a program for professionals interested in expanding their ability to manage technical functions in an organization as the next logical step in their career path.

Students may elect to pursue the traditional thesis route which is valuable for individuals who anticipate future graduate work toward achieving the terminal degree in a related field. Alternatively, a non-thesis program provides more coursework in lieu of the research component.

Graduate Faculty

Triwit Ariyathugun, Assistant Professor
Rohini Daraboina, Assistant Professor
David E. Davis, Professor and Graduate Coordinator
Matthew A. Diersen, Griffith Chair in Agricultural Finance and Professor
Matthew Elliot, Associate Professor
Michelle Fleig-Palmer, Associate Professor
Hailong Jin, Associate Professor
Nicole Klein, Associate Director and Professor
​Ekaterina Koromyslova, Associate Professor
George Langelett, Professor
Andrea Leschewski, Associate Professor
Huitian Lu, Professor
Brittany McKnight, Assistant Professor
David Palmer, Professor
Sarah Sellars, Assistant Professor
Craig Silvernagel, Milton Nies Endowed Faculty Scholar and Associate Professor
Joseph M. Santos, Ness Endowed Director and Professor
Nacasius Ujah, Associate Professor
Evert Van der Sluis, Professor
Tong Wang, Associate Professor
Zhiguang Wang, Everett and Bernetta DuBois Endowed Professorship in Business Finance and Investments Analysis and Professor
Jason Zimmerman, Professor

Programs

Master’s Degrees

• Economics (M.S.)  (College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences)
• Human Sciences (M.S.) - Family Financial Planning Specialization  (College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences)
• Operations Management (M.S.)  (Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering)
• Professional Science (M.S.)  - Environmental Policy Emphasis (College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences)

Certificates

• Environmental Policy Certificate  (College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences)
• Family Financial Planning Certificate  (College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences)
• Financial Counseling Certificate  (College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences)
• Management Foundations Certificate  (Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering)
• Professional Management Certificate  (College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences)
• Real Estate Certificate  (College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences)

Student Support and Engagement Opportunities

The Ness School of Management and Economics prides itself on providing excellent academic programs and offering high-quality services to students. A limited number of research and teaching assistantships and scholarships may be available to qualified students enrolled in the economic research curriculum option. The Economics Graduate Student Association (EGSA) supports graduate-student engagement opportunities, as well.