FALL 2025
Orientation (mandatory for incoming fall 2025 students)
August 18 - 23, 2025
Fall 2025 MSPE Orientation Schedule
Various University of Illinois campus locations
Opportunity to get to know the other students in the program, learn more about specifics about their course of study and campus.
Library Resources Presentation (seminar)
**Attendance mandatory for new fall 2025 students**
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
1:00 - 1:50 PM
119 DKH
Presented by Professor Mandi Arlain, Visiting Social Sciences Librarian, Economics, Labor & Employment Relations
Focus: How best to utilize the University Library's immense resources in the most efficient and reliable way for your research projects.
Introduction to Python (seminar)
**Attendance mandatory for new fall 2025 students**
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
12:30 - 1:50 PM
119 DKH
Presented by Professor Jorge Lemus , Department of Economics, University of Illinois
Topic: Discover Python in just 90 minutes! Join Professor Lemus for an introductory seminar where you'll learn the basics of coding and see how ChatGPT can do most of the heavy lifting. Don't miss the chance to gain a valuable skill that can boost your career!
MSPE Social Event
Thursday, September 25, 2025
5:00 - 7:00 PM
Location: Outside DKH on southeast side
An opportunity for incoming and continuing MSPE students, program staff, and Economics faculty to interact. Engage in some fun activities and enjoy some pizza.
Ph.D. Informational Session (seminar)
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
12:30 - 1:50 PM
119 David Kinley Hall
If you are a MSPE student who is planning to apply for a Ph.D. program, we highly suggest you attend this informational session conducted by Professor Stefan Krasa.
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (field trip)
October 2 - 4, 2025
Chicago, IL
CMAP is the comprehensive planning organization for the 7 counties and 284 communities of northeastern Illinois. An interactive panel will discuss regional economic policy with a few of their in-house experts and perhaps other agencies, who will also share their background and how they found their way to regional economic policy. A tour of their historical building, The Old Post Office, will be included.
Eduardo Zilberman, Adjunct Professor of Economics, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (seminar)
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
12:30 - 1:50 PM
119 David Kinley Hall
Topic: From Academia to Asset Management: Forecasting with Machine Learning
Thanksgiving Luncheon (social event)
Friday, November 21, 2025
11:30 am - 12:45 pm
Illini Room C, Illini Union
Holiday Party (social event)
Friday, December 19, 2025
5:30 - 8:30 PM
Ballroom, Alice Campbell Alumni Center
Graduation Dinner (social event)
Saturday, December 20, 2025
6 – 9 PM
Chancellor Ballroom, I Hotel Conference Center
Dinner honoring our fall 2025 graduating students.