MA in Economics

The Department of Economics offers a master's program with five distinctive tracks, a faculty that combines high-quality teaching and an interest in economic policy with serious scholarship, and the special rewards of studying economics in Washington, D.C.

The economics master's degree program is an applied, policy-oriented program that offers five different tracks which master's students can pursue: general, development economics, gender analysis in economics, financial economic policy, and applied economics (online only).

The department has an especially rich offering of courses that deal with global economic issues. Most of our faculty have carried out research or taught in other countries and bring that experience to the classroom.

The Department of Economics master's coursework is designed to prepare students for careers in government agencies, congressional committees, financial institutions, economic consulting firms, think tanks, multilateral organizations, and non-governmental organizations among other institutions, both nationally and abroad. Alumni often secure full-time employment with organizations where they had internships or part-time employment while students.

This economics MA degree program offers students:

• Concentrated faculty strength in major applied fields of economics and a policy-oriented curriculum
• Faculty with linkages to think tanks, research institutes, and international organizations around the globe
• State-of-the-art statistical software commonly used in applied economics research
• A Washington, D.C., location that provides access to an extraordinary array of professional opportunities for trained economists

Most graduate-level courses are offered in the evening and the master's degree can be completed in either full-time or part-time status.

TRACKS

• Applied Economics (Online Degree Only)
• Development Economics
• Gender Analysis in Economics
• Financial Economic Policy
• General Track

Admission to the Program

Applicants must meet the minimum university requirements for graduate study. Admission is based on the academic record and two letters of recommendation. In general, a B+ average in undergraduate or previous graduate coursework is required. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test is required. Admission is not automatic for students who qualify and may be limited by programmatic constraints.

A student whose undergraduate background does not meet the standards for admission may be considered for admission after completing 12 credit hours of approved graduate coursework in nondegree status with a grade point average of at least 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale). ECON-600, ECON-601, and ECON-605 must be taken within these 12 hours.

An online track in applied economics (see requirements below) will be available beginning May 2014. Switching between the online applied economics and the other MA tracks is not permitted.

Dean's Welcome

CAS Dean Peter Starr The College of Arts and Sciences at American University offers you a challenging liberal arts education within a vibrant and diverse community of students from all 50 states and 150 countries. The College of Arts and Sciences faculty includes nationally and internationally noted artists, scholars, and teachers committed to innovative approaches to instruction and excellence in research and creative endeavors. Every year, world leaders, distinguished scholars from other institutions, and well-known practitioners in their fields come to campus to encourage open debate on current issues and to expose students to cutting-edge developments in their fields. Whether you choose an established undergraduate major or field of graduate study or design your own interdisciplinary degree, you will engage in serious intellectual inquiry in the classroom. You will benefit from the wide range of internships and community service activities in the arts, education, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences in Washington, D.C., and have the opportunity—on your own or in collaboration with a member of the faculty—to participate in research and creative endeavors as well as in the many clubs, student activities, and service organizations on the AU campus. Your experiences inside and outside of the classroom will create the broad vision and understanding you will need to be successful in your future career and to become an educated and responsible citizen of the world.

Mission & Facts

The College of Arts and Sciences is dedicated to excellence in teaching, scholarship, the arts, and service to its local, national, and international communities. The college provides a rich education in the liberal arts and sciences for all of American University's undergraduate students, offering challenging programs of study for its undergraduate and graduate majors; and fosters outstanding research, practice, and creative activity. The college is committed to the core purposes of liberal education: promoting free and rational discourse, fostering an understanding of the diversity of human experience, providing the critical intellectual skills necessary to navigate a rapidly changing world, and integrating knowledge across disciplinary boundaries.

History

A global outlook, practical idealism, a passion for public service: They're part of American University today, and they were in the air in 1893, when AU was chartered by Congress. George Washington had dreamed of a "national university" in the nation's capital. But it took John Fletcher Hurst to found a university that, in many ways, embodies that dream. President Woodrow Wilson officially dedicated the university on May 27, 1914, and the first graduate students were admitted. The College of Liberal Arts was established in 1925, with the first 75 undergraduate students admitted that fall. Throughout the history of American University, the College of Arts and Sciences has changed its name several times. At first known as the "College of Liberal Arts," the name was changed to the "College of Arts and Sciences" in 1939. For a brief period, it was known simply as the "Undergraduate College" until the name was converted back to the "College of Arts and Sciences" in 1956. The largest school or college at American University, the College of Arts and Sciences currently has 2,931 students, 339 full-time faculty, and more than 150 degrees offered. While the College is continually growing, the commitment to promoting free and rational discourse, fostering an understanding of the diversity of human experience, providing the critical intellectual skills necessary to navigate a rapidly changing world, and integrating knowledge across disciplinary boundaries never changes.