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    Nov 21, 2024  
American University Catalog 2024-2025 
    
American University Catalog 2024-2025

Economics (MA)


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Offered by the Department of Economics , College of Arts and Sciences .

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. Prior to enrollment in the program, applicants must have completed the following: MATH-221 Calculus I (4) ; STAT-202 Basic Statistics (4)  or STAT-203 Basic Statistics with Calculus (4) ; and ECON-603 Introduction to Economic Theory (3)  or ECON-300 Intermediate Microeconomics (3)  and ECON-301 Intermediate Macroeconomics (3) . Prerequisites may be waived for qualified persons with comparable prior education or experience. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test is optional. 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 Microeconomics (3) , ECON-601 Macroeconomics (3) , and ECON-605 Introduction to Mathematical Economics (3)  must be taken within these 12 credit hours.

Degree Requirements


Course Requirements


Core (15 credit hours)


Note: ECON-600  and ECON-601  must be completed within the first 12 credit hours of the program with grades of B- or better.

Specialization (12 credit hours)


Complete one of the following specializations:

Applied Economics (12 credit hours)


Complete 12 credit hours from the following, or other courses approved by advisor:

Note: 3 credit hours may be taken outside the Department of Economics  with the advisor’s approval.

Note: Students may not receive credit for ECON-670 Survey of International Economics (3)  if they take either ECON-671 International Economics: Trade (3)  or ECON-672 International Economics: Finance (3) .

Applied Economics (Online) (12 credit hours)


Complete 12 credit hours from the following, or other courses approved by advisor:

Note: 3 credit hours may be taken outside the Department of Economics  with the advisor’s approval.

Development Economics (12 credit hours)


Financial Economics (12 credit hours)


Gender Analysis in Economics (12 credit hours)


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