Program Overview

Economics MA, Business Economics Emphasis

Introduction

The Economics MA with a Business Economics Emphasis is a graduate program designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of economic principles and their application in business contexts.

Admission Requirements

• An undergraduate major in economics is not required for acceptance into the program.
• Application for admission may be submitted at any time, although class work formally begins in late August, mid-January, and mid-June.
• Candidates must meet the general admission requirements of the Graduate School.
• Submit GRE scores (Advanced Economics optional).
• Submit two letters of recommendation from persons qualified to judge the candidate's potential for success in the program.
• The admissions decision is based on the applicant's academic transcript, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and a personal narrative on the application form.

Degree Requirements

• The Business Economics option requires 30 credit hours.
• Subject to approval from the Director of Graduate Studies, as many as nine credit hours may be waived based on previously completed graduate education.
• Independent of any waived courses, the 30 credit-hour program must be completed within a six-year period.
• A minimum of 21 credit hours must be completed while enrolled in the MA program at UMSL.

Required Courses

• ECON 5001: Microeconomic Analysis (3 credits)
• ECON 5002: Macroeconomic Analysis (3 credits)
• ECON 5100: Econometric Theory and Methods (3 credits)
• Electives (21 credits)

Financial Economics Electives

• ECON 5120: Advanced Topics In Time Series Econometrics
• ECON 5200: Advanced Monetary Theory and Policy
• ECON 5210
• ECON 5300
• ECON 5301
• Choose 3 courses

Finance Electives

• FINANCE 6500: Financial Management
• FINANCE 6520: Security Analysis
• FINANCE 6521: Financial Forensics: The Science of Derivatives
• FINANCE 6580: International Financial Management
• Choose 2 or 3 courses

Other Electives

• Any Economics 5000-level course not used above and approved by the Department Director of Graduate Studies
• Any Economics 4000-level elective approved by Department Director of Graduate Studies
• Choose 1 or 2 courses

Total Hours

• 30 credits

Departmental Honors

A student may earn departmental honors with a GPA of 3.75 in all required courses for the M.A. degree and the recommendation of the department.

Complementary Areas of Study

Students with a public policy focus can complete the M.A. in Economics and the Public Policy Administration (PPA) Graduate Certificate in Policy and Program Evaluation (PPE). It is possible to earn the Certificate without any additional coursework beyond what is required for the M.A. alone.