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Fall 2025 Graduate Catalog

Economics, MA
Economics Department, College of Arts and Sciences
Degree Awarded: Master of Arts in Economics
 
Co-Chairperson
Juan Carlos Conesa, Ward Melville Social and Behavioral Sciences Building, N-607, (631) 632-7527
Eva Carceles-Poveda, Ward Melville Social and Behavioral Sciences Building, S-629, (631) 632-7527
Graduate Program Director
Alexis Anagnostopoulos. Ward Melville Social and Behavioral Sciences Building, S-621, (631) 632-7526
Graduate Program Coordinator
Tim Chin, Ward Melville Social and Behavioral Sciences Building S-607, (631) 632-7537
 

The MA program in Economics is a research oriented program which prepares students to enter into a PhD program while also providing the opportunity to obtain a terminal MA degree after three to four semesters and pursue a career with a significant research component in the government, NGO or private sector.Our MA students are treated as prospective PhD students and therefore benefit from the same level of dedication by faculty members and resources such as office space. They also share the majority of the courses with our PhD students, which means they are taking classes at a high level of academic rigor. MA students have some flexibility on the exact coursework required for their degree depending on the student’s choice of one of the following tracks:

  1. Basic MA Track (33 credits)
  2. Advanced MA Track (42 credits)
  3. Advanced MA Track with Advanced Certificate in Finance (48 credits)
  4. Advanced MA Track with Advanced Certificate in Data and Computational Science (45 credits)

The MA program has a STEM-designated, allowing F-1 visa students to work in the U.S. for up to 36 months to work in their field of study. For more information, please visit the Department of Homeland Security webpage.

The program of study does not depend on prior knowledge of economics, though that is useful. Because of its emphasis on mathematical modeling, the graduate program is highly suitable for those whose undergraduate degrees are in physics, engineering, and mathematics. Those whose undergraduate degrees are in economics are usually expected to have taken a number of mathematics courses at a level not typically required for their undergraduate degree in order to be prepared for a graduate program.

Admission Requirements

 
The MA program admits students only for the Fall semester. Minimum requirements to be considered for admission, in addition to the minimum Graduate School requirements, are as follows, although exceeding these requirements increases the probability of admission:
  1. A bachelor’s degree. Applicants with majors in economics, mathematics, computer science, the physical sciences, or engineering are encouraged.
  2. Letters of recommendation from three instructors or academic advisors. The referees should be able to evaluate the research potential as well as the mathematical preparation and ability of the applicant.
  3. Submission of results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test (verbal, quantitative, and analytical parts).
  4. For foreign students, provide scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the IELTS. However, if you have a degree (high school diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD) from an institution where English was the primary language of instruction, or if you have worked as a Teaching Assistant at an English-speaking institution, this requirement may be waived.
Students should be aware that admitted students generally exceed these requirements. However, students who do not meet or exceed all these requirements may apply if they think that their preparation as a whole shows they are capable of succeeding in the graduate program.  Given the mathematical rigor of the graduate classes, it is important to have at least one year of introductory differential and integral calculus and at least one semester of linear algebra in courses whose level is that required for physics majors in research universities with proficiency demonstrated by a grade of at least B in the courses. Additional semesters of multivariate calculus are highly recommended. Further mathematics such as real analysis and topology are very helpful.
 
Financial Support and Application Deadlines
All admissions are for the academic year starting in the fall semester. The application deadline is March 15 for foreign students and July 15 for domestic students.
 
Students in the MA program do not receive financial support and are expected to pay tuition.
 
Students who do well in the advanced MA program (see MA program details) are prime candidates to be accepted into the PhD program upon completion. Since the course requirements for both programs are almost identical they would only need to complete the teaching practicum (see PhD program details) and can start their research immediately.

Degree Requirements

Basic MA Track

To earn the MA Degree under the Basic MA Track students must complete 11 courses (33 credits) in 3 semesters as follows

Fall Year I

Spring Year I

Fall Year II

Advanced MA Track

To earn the MA Degree under the Advanced MA Track students must complete 14 courses (42 credits) in 4 semesters as follows.

Fall Year I

Spring Year I

Fall Year II

  • Elective in Economics
  • Elective in Economics
  • Elective in Economics

Spring Year II

Advanced MA Track with Advanced Certificate in Finance

Students in the Advanced MA Track can also earn an Advanced Certificate in Finance  from the College of Business by completing a total of 16 courses (48 credits) in 2 years as follows.

Fall Year I

Spring Year I

Fall Year II

Winter Year II

  • Elective in Finance

Spring Year II

Advanced MA Track with Advanced Certificate in Data and Computational Science

Students in the Advanced MA program can also earn an Advanced Certificate in Data and Computational Science  from the Institute of Advanced Computational Science by completing a total of 15 courses (45 credits) in 4 semesters as follows.

Fall Year I

Spring Year I

Fall Year II

Spring Year II

Electives

Electives in Economics vary from year to year. Please see below for a list of commonly offered electives: