Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from this program will:

• Apply the theory and methods of the ‘standard’ approaches in both micro and macroeconomics given a variety of social and economic issues.
• Have a capacity for critical thinking and its role in challenging the ‘standard’ approach to economic problems.
• Demonstrate well-developed written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrate competency in a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods that will become part of their problem-solving toolkit.
• Have an advanced knowledge of the basic areas of the field.
• Be able to integrate their knowledge with critical thinking skills.
• Be able to articulate their knowledge, both orally and in writing.
• Be able to effectively research the literature of this field.

Eligibility

Students with a cumulative minimum of 3.0 in their economics major courses are good candidates for the program. Students whose cumulative GPA is less than 3.0 in their economics major courses may petition to be considered for the dual-degree program. Student applications will be reviewed and approved or denied at the discretion of the MA Program Advisor in the Department of Economics.

Students must pass a college-level calculus course before entering the MA program. MATH 206 Brief Calculus and Linear Algebra or ECON 421 Mathematical Economics or an equivalent is recommended; MATH 210 Calculus I is also acceptable.

Application Process

Students may apply for the Dual Degree program after completion of 60 credit hours toward their B.A. program and before the start to their anticipated undergraduate graduation term. Students must apply for the BA-MA option before applying for graduation with the BA degree. Applications must be submitted before

• December 1 for start in the Dual Degree program during the spring term
• May 1 for start in the Dual Degree program during the fall term

To apply, students must submit a completed Application Form and a completed Declaration of Major forms via email to the MA Advisor.  

• Application Form
• Declaration of Major Form

BA-MA Program Requirements

BA Component – see the requirements for the BA-Economics program. Once the student transitions to the graduate program, then the requirements for retention in the graduate program apply.

Transition to Graduate Program

Students who have been accepted into the B.A./M.A. Dual Degree must contact the MA Advisor for information on the process to transition to graduate study in the final semester of their B.A. coursework.

MA Component