The program can be completed within one to two years. The majority of our students stay in the Program for at least one and one-half years. Students with an excellent background in economics and quantitative methods, and a high level of proficiency in English can complete the Program in one year (fall and spring semesters plus one summer session). However, students who wish to take advantage of the extensive course offerings at Illinois - to study in additional areas or fields beyond the minimum requirements - may remain in the Program up to two years.

The program of study in Policy Economics consists of 40 graduate credit hours of course work (10 graduate courses each 4 credit hours). A core of four courses, General Microeconomic Theory (Econ 500), Economic Statistics (Econ 506), and Applied Econometrics (Econ 508) and Macroeconomic Theory (Econ 509)  is required of all students in the Program. Beyond that core, students select one field, from the 12 described here, in which they wish to concentrate their work in economics. Two graduate credit courses are to be completed in the selected specialization. Four additional graduate credit courses complete the 40 graduate credit hours. Two of these must be taken in economics and an additional two courses may be in economics or in areas outside of economics. These courses may serve to provide one or two additional areas of specialization. More details are given here. The minimum length of stay in the Program is one year (fall and spring semesters plus one summer session).