Economics and Data Analysis (DEDA)

DEDA consists of 64 units. You can complete your degree within 28 months, incorporating 5 semesters and 3 pre-semester summer intensives. Your coursework will include core courses, advanced topics, interdisciplinary courses, and a capstone project.

Transdisciplinary Core Courses (6 units)
A unique feature of CGU professional doctorate programs is a shared Transdisciplinary core curriculum created to prepare business leaders. You will learn and collaborate with a diverse cohort of industry professionals on applied projects.

Students can choose 3 of the following courses:

• Leading Change and Innovation (2 units)
• Transdisciplinary Collaboration and Communication (2 units)
• Action in Crisis (2 units)
• Stakeholder Problem-solving (2 units)
• Systems-thinking (2 units)
• Diversity and Team Leadership (2 units)

Core Courses (16 units)

• Game Theory and Asymmetric Information (4 units)

Field course (select 3 courses, 4 units each) from one of the following fields:

• International and Economic Development Policy
• Applied Micro: Behavioral and Experimental Economics
• Applied Micro: Crime and Law Economics

Data Analysis (24 units)

• Computational Tools for Social Sciences (4 units)
• Econometrics I (4 units)
• Econometrics II (4 units)
• Data Visualization (4 units)
• Causal Modeling, Machine Learning & Big Data (4 units) OR Math of Machine Learning (4 units)
• Time Series Analysis (4 units)

Practicum (10 units)

• Practicum: Foundation (2 units)
• Practicum: Intermediate & Advanced Skills (2 units each, taken two times)
• Practicum: Integration and Application (2 units each, taken two times)

Capstone (8 units)

• Capstone: Proposal (2 units)
• Capstone: Progress (2 units)
• Capstone: Completion (4 units)

Your work will be assessed through course exams, research papers, presentations, group projects, practicum, and a capstone project. DEDA does not require a dissertation.

Learning Outcomes

The DEDA program equips you to become a translational researcher, capable of thinking and performing in an integrated, interdisciplinary manner. It prepares you to step into the role of an innovative investigator, forging new paths in your field. Upon successful completion of the DEDA program, you will be able to:

• Articulate the key theories, principles, and concepts in economics, and critically assess their practical value and application
• Demonstrate fluency in statistical techniques, as well as machine learning techniques, for applied economics
• Analyze and interpret complex data sets using econometric and machine learning algorithms, including crawling online content and defeating data hurdles
• Develop and submit grant proposals, create pre-analysis plans, and generate grant reports/interim reports for research projects
• Write reports on technical topics for a non-technical audience, effectively communicating complex concepts in economics and data analytics, and collaborate with practitioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders to ensure practical relevance and applicability
• Exhibit leadership skills in translational research, including the creation and use of new curricular elements and approaches, critical examination of research processes and methods, and leadership roles in a multidisciplinary collaboration aimed at problem-solving

Who Should Apply

Our DEDA degree was designed for working professionals who hold a master’s degree in economics or a related field and want to advance their careers outside of academia and research positions. In some cases, high-quality students with a BA/BS in economics or a related field, and at least 3 years of professional work experience, may be admitted. Your cohort may include students who hold jobs such as:

• Actuary
• Budget Analyst
• Consumer Behavior Scientist
• Data Scientist
• Economist
• Investment Banker
• Statistician
• Vendor Manager