Engineering graduate seeking to learn economics for non-traditional reasons

[Jabberwocky]

As the title says, I am an engineering graduate (Electrical) who is working full time at a private company. I am not frantically looking for admission - so please bear with me if my situation does not seem important.

For reasons that are difficult to describe, I have acquired some curiosity about economics and desire to educate myself formally. I say that my situation is a little unusual because I have no particular desire to change my career.

Here's how it is:

1. I have no economics background. No undergrad courses (actually there was one, but it was a long time back and is as good as forgotten).

2. I have had a pretty rigorous education. This includes an engineering undergrad from one of the top Asian schools, and a PhD from a top-10 US school. As expectable in any good EE undergrad/grad programs, a reasonable amount of Math has come my way. This includes real and complex analysis, multivariable and vector calculus, and a smattering of other subjects such as mathematical physics (Physics minor during my MS), but no statistics. I am not going to prove a new theorem, but I can handle Math.

So I suppose, I should go through some undergrad level economics courses. Is there any way of doing this without enrolling in a whole new undergrad program? I have no time for that sort of thing, or need. Can I get credit for individual UG economics courses? If so, from where?

Subsequently, would it be possible for me to enroll in an economics Master's program? Oh, I forgot to mention that it would have to be part-time or somesuch.

You may ask, if all I want to do is learn a new discipline, why the need to do it formally?

1. If I tried to do it on my own, considering that I work full-time (and am not exactly a starry-eyed teenager), I doubt I would ever persist.

2. I have always attended good schools at low or no cost - thanks to scholarships/assistantships. So paying large sums of money for education is an alien idea to me. I know this is normal in the US, but difficult for me to accept, especially considering that such an undertaking in economics is probably not going to bring me any financial returns. My living is not going to depend on it. But if I do have to pay substantially (likely), I would certainly want credit for it.

I know that's a difficult list of requirements, but you can't blame a guy for wanting to do different things. Can anyone shed light on my prospects? I am keen to hear from people that know the system. Thanks.

[CalmLogic]

While you are waiting to hear from the economics students...

Have you considered getting an MBA (with a concentration in economics) since a lot of engineers eventually become managers?
OTOH, I think MBAs are overrated, e.g.:Ten-day MBA.

btw: The Secrets of Economic Indicators (Wharton School Publishing Paperbacks)

[Jabberwocky]

I could have sworn the last time I checked, your reply said something about statistics...

As for MBA, I'm not really interested. It doesn't seem like me. I look at MBA as a means to a career change and that is not something I am contemplating. It may also add to my qualifications and give me a better shot at managerial positions, but: 1) I am too inexperienced to be a mananger in a technical company, 2) I don't particularly want to be a manager. In fact, if that was the way I wanted to go, I would never have spent all those extra years in school doing a PhD.

So, once again, I wouldn't mind if a degree like this added to my resume, but it is not necessary that it does.

[CalmLogic]

If you are interested in distance learning:

Master of Science in Applied Economics - GSU

To take prerequisite courses online:
Intermediate/Upper Level Economics Courses - Distance Learning Discussion Forums
Micro/Macro econ 101 - Distance Learning Discussion Forums
Anyone used Univ. of Tennessee Independent Study? - Distance Learning Discussion Forums
Inexpensive AACSB accredited MBA economics course? - Distance Learning Discussion Forums

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

I could have sworn the last time I checked, your reply said something about statistics...

Oh yes, I originally wrote you may want to consider getting a graduate certificate or MS in a subject area that is related to both economics and electrical engineering, e.g. statistics. But then I read your post again and saw that you already had a PhD and had taken real analysis. (It's very rare for me to read a post by someone with a PhD ) So I'm sure you could just get a few statistics textbooks and teach yourself if need be.