Program Overview

Introduction to the Master of Science in Economics and Social Policy

The Master of Science in Economics and Social Policy is a dual-degree program offered in combination with the Bachelor of Arts in Economics. This program is designed for current undergraduate students at the University of Denver who are pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

Program Requirements

To be eligible for the program, students must meet the following requirements:

• Be a current undergraduate student at the University of Denver pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, with Economics as their first or second major.
• Complete at least 20 credits worth of ECON courses with a GPA in the Economics major of 3.5 or greater.
• Submit an application before the end of the first quarter as a senior, which is before the completion of 135 credits towards the Bachelor of Arts degree.
• No GRE or other standardized test is required for admission.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Science in Economics and Social Policy degree requires a minimum of 45 credits. The coursework requirements include the following courses and credits, totaling 24 credits for the required courses and 21 credits for electives and other requirements, to reach a total of 45 credits for the degree, broken down as follows: 24 credits for required courses and electives, and the remaining credits for other requirements such as the comprehensive exam or internship, and additional electives to meet the 45-credit requirement for the degree. The specific required courses are as follows: ECON 3670: Econometrics: Multivariate Regression Analysis for Economists (4 credits), ECON 3850: Mathematics for Economists (4 credits), ECON 4020: Advanced Macroeconomic Theory (4 credits), ECON 4030: Advanced Microeconomic Theory (4 credits), and ECON 4050: Origins of Modern Economics (4 credits). Additionally, students must choose either a comprehensive exam (ECON 4994) or a policy-oriented internship (ECON 4980) to fulfill the program's requirements. Students also select six elective courses (ECON 3XXX) totaling 24 credits, but the total credits for electives and other requirements such as the comprehensive exam or internship should be adjusted to meet the 45-credit requirement for the degree, considering the 24 credits from required courses and the credits from the comprehensive exam or internship, and additional electives as needed. All 3000-level courses taken for credit towards the MS must be taken for graduate credit, and students must meet the standards expected of all other graduate students enrolled in these courses. The comprehensive exam/internship requirement will be graded P/F and will not affect the minimum GPA calculation. The total credits for the degree include the required courses, electives, and other requirements such as the comprehensive exam or internship.

Non-Coursework Requirements

Demonstrated competency using the tools (including relevant quantitative approaches) and concepts of economics to analyze and assess social policy options is required. This competency is assessed either via a comprehensive exam or a policy impact assessment that the student submits to the department after completion of a policy-oriented internship.

Grade Requirements

A student must earn a grade of B- or better in each of the required courses. The minimum grade for an individual elective course is C-, but the minimum GPA required for the program is 3.0.