After earning his M.A. in Economics at Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics in 2017, Harrison Shieh went on to earn his doctorate in economics from UC Santa Cruz. Now, the proud Business Titan is an assistant professor of economics at Poughkeepsie, New York’s Vassar College, a private liberal arts college.

As a professor, Shieh enjoys flexibility and opportunities for travel. This year, he has presented at conferences in California, Kansas, China and South Korea. “I grew to appreciate high-quality teaching after going through CSUF’s economics master’s program, and that appreciation developed into a passion for teaching, while I’ve also been very fortunate to research cutting-edge questions in economics,” he says. “At Vassar, I integrate my research into my teaching and courses, which students find valuable since they see what economists actually do. The M.A. program at CSUF solidified my passion for research, and my dissertation is the culmination of some of the work I began at Cal State Fullerton.”

Shieh points to the guidance he received in the CSUF master’s in economics program as central to his success. “In particular, my thesis advisor Gabriela Best, committee members Rachel Pan and Rokon Bhuiyan, Radha Bhattacharya, Andy Gill, Dipankar Purkayastha, and Mira Farka. They were all very supportive of my decision to continue to a Ph.D. program.”

The M.A. in economics at Cal State Fullerton is designed to nurture and support two disparate student paths: private sector employment and Ph.D. preparation for academic career paths. Shieh sees this as a unique value-add speaking to the versatility of the CSUF program.

“My general advice is that students who want to get their feet wet in research or who want more technical skills on their CVs should strongly consider doing an M.A. in economics, as it provides not only flexibility but also technical and critical thinking skills,” he says.

Whether an academic or professional economics career is your calling, Cal State Fullerton’s M.A. in economics is an outstanding option for an accessible and world-class education that synthesizes the latest technology trends, economic forecasting, and internship and entry-level opportunities. For more information or to apply, visit the program’s website. Or read more of our articles about the economics master’s program at CSUF.