Economics (Master's) at Michigan State University

Programme overview

The MA in Economics at MSU is available to students in the Economics PhD programme or, with departmental approval, as a second degree for students in other graduate programmes. It is a Plan B (non-thesis) degree built on the first-year PhD core sequence, preparing students to continue in the PhD or for careers requiring high-level training in economic theory and quantitative analysis.

Faculty: College of Social Science | Department: Department of Economics | Duration: 30 credits (22 core credits plus at least 8 elective credits) | Study mode: full-time | Location: East Lansing, MI, United States

What you will study

Required courses (22 credits) are EC 811A/811B mathematical applications and structure of economic analysis, EC 812A/812B Microeconomics I and II, EC 813A/813B Macroeconomics I and II, and EC 820A/820B Econometrics, plus three additional 800-900 level Economics courses (at least 8 credits). Students must obtain a master's-level pass on the written comprehensive examination in microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory and econometrics.

Career pathways

Professional careers that call for high-level training in economic theory and quantitative analysis methods; continuation in the PhD programme.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

A minimum of 25 credits in the social sciences, mathematics, statistics, agricultural economics, accounting or business administration (students with limited economics may need collateral courses). Applicants submit GRE General Test scores, three letters of recommendation and transcripts of all prior collegiate coursework. Open to Economics PhD students or, with departmental approval, students in other MSU graduate programmes.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Graduate applicants can start in fall (late August), spring (January) or summer (May) in the MPH programme; intake terms for other graduate programmes are set by each department or program.

The graduate application fee is $75 for domestic and international applicants, with one fee per application; applicants may submit up to two applications to different graduate majors per semester. Applications are reviewed by the department or program, which sets its own deadlines.

MPH application deadlines (SOPHAS completion): fall May 18, spring October 18, summer February 15; MSU supplemental application: fall June 1, spring November 1, summer March 1.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.msu.edu/apply/graduate-students

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