Program Overview

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Master of Arts in Economics Program

The MA program offered by the Department of Economics is STEM-designated and offers a rigorous curriculum with quantitative training in economics. The program has a strong track record of preparing and placing students in highly-ranked PhD programs, as well as in careers that require advanced tools in economic analysis, econometrics, and data science. Students receive one-on-one mentoring and advising to help them achieve their academic and professional goals.

Program Highlights

Accelerated Degree

The MA Economics degree can be completed in as little as 10 months (July through May), while developing skills in economic analysis and data science. 18m and 24m tracks are also available.

World Class Faculty

Students have the opportunity to study with the Department’s world-class faculty. The cohort size is limited to keep classes small and to facilitate interactions outside the classroom.

OPT Extension

The program’s STEM designation means that international students may receive a 24-month extension of Optional Practical Training (OPT) for employment within the U.S.

Program Goals

The MA Program helps students achieve the following goals:

• Qualifying for jobs in the private or government sector that require greater expertise in economic, analytical, and statistical tools than provided by an undergraduate degree
• Obtaining the background in economics and mathematics required to gain admission to a high-quality economics PhD program
• Studying economics as a complementary field to another area of expertise (law, political science, public health, statistics, energy, marketing, sociology, finance, etc.)

Important Dates

• Application Opens: September 2025
• Application Deadline:
  • February 1, 2026, for international applicants
  • March 1, 2026, for domestic applicants
• Classes Start: July 13, 2026

Program Information

The MA Economics program is ranked #8 among U.S. Master’s in Economics programs by the TFE Times. The program allows students to expand on both their theoretical knowledge about economics, statistics, mathematics, and also helps them become adept at applied research tools like Stata, R, etc. The small cohort size facilitates frequent interactions with the faculty, which is a definite plus.

Testimonials

• The program allowed me to expand on both my theoretical knowledge about economics, statistics, mathematics, and also helped me become adept at applied research tools like Stata, R, etc. The program helped me push my boundaries and strive to do my very best in every course. I’m now a well-rounded professional and I give all thanks to the supportive faculty. - Aishwarya Agarwal, Class of 2018
• For someone coming from a non-economics background, the MA program gives you a good exposure to all major areas of economics, which is great to figure out your probable areas of interest for a PhD program. The small cohort size facilitates frequent interactions with the faculty which is a definite plus. - Swapnil Motghare, Class of 2014
• I was admitted to another top-ranked Economics master’s program as well, but their program just didn’t offer the personal attention, sense of community, exploration opportunities (research seminars, etc.), and warm climate that UT’s M.A. Economics program offers. - Isaac Hulsey, Class of 2020

Class Profile

The twelfth cohort of students started their coursework in July 2025. The class is comprised of 45% domestic students and 55% international students. Around 30% intend to pursue PhDs after graduation, while other students intend to pursue non-academic careers or are undecided.