Accelerated Masters of Arts in Economics (Minor/MA)
Only current KU undergraduate students are eligible to apply to the accelerated M.A. program. If you are not a current undergraduate student at KU, please review the admission requirements for the regular M.A. program.
Our minor/accelerated M.A. program is available to KU undergraduate students minoring in economics. The ideal candidate will have a strong math foundation and have a complementary major (e.g., engineering or similar math-intensive major).
Accelerated undergraduate-graduate degrees are increasingly becoming more common. A master’s degree in economics provides not only professional skills but also deeper foundational knowledge. This combination attracts employers and strengthens the profiles of students preparing for further study in doctoral programs. As a result, many students see a master’s degree as essential to their future success.
Admission to Graduate Studies
Admission Requirements
- All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy.
- Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
- English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required.
Careful course selection and steady progression through the undergraduate career is necessary to ensure all requirements for both degrees may be completed within the 5-year time frame. All prospective students should discuss their interest in admission to the accelerated M.A. program with their undergraduate advisor and the department’s graduate advisor no later than the student’s junior year, the first semester of year 3.
Admission’s checklist
- KU student earning bachelor's degree and economics minor;
- on-track to complete all undergraduate degree requirements by the 2nd semester of senior year (year 4);
- major and cumulative GPA of at least 3.25; and
- has submitted an online application for the accelerated M.A. program in the 2nd semester of junior year (year 3)
After review of the application for admission, the Department of Economics will notify the student on their eligibility to begin course work in the program.
Final acceptance to the graduate program will occur following the completion of year 4 and be contingent upon the following:
- Successful completion of all requirements for the bachelor’s degree and Economics minor;
- an undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.25;
- a GPA of at least 3.25 in graduate-level course work taken in year 4; and
- grades of B or above in all graduate-level course work taken in year 4.
The Accelerated Master of Arts in Economics Minor/M.A. requires 30 hours and allows for the following degree completion options:
- Course Work-Only
- Master's Thesis Final Defense
This accelerated program uses a carefully planned combination of prerequisite course work, graduate-level courses taken for both undergraduate and graduate credit in academic year 4 (defined as when a student has completed 90 credit hours and therefore has senior standing), and graduate credit courses taken in academic year 5 (defined as after a student has been awarded an undergraduate degree). At initial enrollment in graduate course work, each candidate must discuss a preliminary plan of study with the M.A. program director. This plan may be revised over time. The student must be approved to begin course work toward the master’s prior to enrolling in any classes that are to count for both undergraduate and graduate credit.
Undergraduate Degree Requirements
Requirements for the Economics Minor
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| College Algebra or Pre-Calculus Prerequisite. Satisfied by the following: | ||
| College Algebra: _____ | ||
or MATH 104 | Precalculus Mathematics | |
| Calculus Prerequisite. Satisfied by the following: | ||
| Calculus I | ||
or MATH 125 | Calculus I | |
| Calculus II | ||
or MATH 126 | Calculus II | |
| Econometrics Prerequisite. Satisfied by the following: | ||
| Introduction to Econometrics | ||
Needed prior to taking ECON 715. | ||
| Economics Minor Course Requirements | ||
| Students selecting this minor must complete courses as specified in each of the following areas (in addition to the required electives): | 6-7 | |
| Principles of Microeconomics. Satisfied by: | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
or ECON 143 | Principles of Microeconomics, Honors | |
| Principles of Macroeconomics. Satisfied by: | ||
| Principles of Macroeconomics | ||
or ECON 145 | Principles of Macroeconomics, Honors | |
| The following courses must be completed after the student has been approved to begin course work toward the M.A. and will count toward both minor and the master's degree requirements: | ||
| ECON 700 | Survey of Microeconomics 1 | 3 |
| ECON 701 | Survey of Macroeconomics 1 | 3 |
| ECON 715 | Elementary Econometrics | 3 |
| One graduate elective course numbered 500 level or above. | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 18-19 | |
1 ECON 520 and ECON 522, which are listed as prerequisites for ECON 700 and ECON 701, are not required for those in the accelerated master's program.
Graduate Degree Requirements
Course Work Requirements
Upon completion of the bachelor’s degree, students must complete an additional 18 credit hours (6 courses) of graduate electives for a total of 30 graduate credit hours as indicated below. In total, 18 hours of course work (out of 30 hours) must be 700 level or higher.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Course Work Counting Towards M.A. (Year 4) | ||
| ECON 700 | Survey of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 701 | Survey of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 715 | Elementary Econometrics | 3 |
| 500+ level Econ elective | 3 | |
| Graduate Course Work (Year 5) | 18 | |
Electives or Thesis Hours | ||
Students choosing the thesis option should enroll in 6 hours of ECON 899 and an additional 12 hours of ECON electives at the 500+ level | ||
Students choosing the course work only option should enroll 18 hours of ECON electives at 500+ level | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Up to nine hours of elective courses may be in a related field outside of economics (e.g., business, computer science, political science, psychology, public policy, or mathematics) chosen in consultation with the graduate program coordinator and approved by M.A. program director.
Electives
Below is a list of available electives. Courses listed below that were taken prior to official admission to the graduate program (year 5) cannot be retaken for credit.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 305 | History of Economic Analysis | 3 |
| ECON 350 | Environmental Economics | 3 |
| ECON 351 | Philosophy of Economics | 3 |
| ECON 360 | Economic Systems | 3 |
| ECON 363 | Current Economic Issues of East Europe | 3 |
| ECON 382 | Economic Development | 3 |
| ECON 384 | Economic Development of Latin America | 3 |
| ECON 386 | Economic Issues in China | 3 |
| ECON 409 | Sports Economics | 3 |
| ECON 410 | Energy Economics | 3 |
| ECON 413 | Behavioral Economics | 3 |
| ECON 464 | Topics in Applied Economics: _____ | 3 |
| ECON 490 | Game Theory | 3 |
| ECON 497 | Research in Economics | 1-3 |
| ECON 600 | Money and Banking | 3 |
| ECON 604 | International Trade | 3 |
| ECON 605 | International Finance | 3 |
| ECON 620 | Elements of Mathematical Economics | 3 |
| ECON 622 | Public Finance | 3 |
| ECON 630 | Industrial Organization and Antitrust Policy | 3 |
| ECON 640 | Labor Economics | 3 |
| ECON 664 | Topics in Economics: _____ | 3 |
| ECON 669 | The Economics of Financial Markets | 3 |
| ECON 680 | Economic Growth | 3 |
| ECON 696 | Research Methods in Economics | 3 |
| ECON 705 | Development of Economic Thought | 3 |
| ECON 716 | Econometric Forecasting | 3 |
| ECON 718 | Elementary Financial Econometrics | 3 |
| ECON 719 | Digital Economics | 3 |
| ECON 730 | Topics in Industrial Organization | 3 |
| ECON 740 | Theory of Economic Growth and Development | 3 |
| ECON 769 | Financial Economics | 3 |
| ECON 770 | Economics of the Labor Market | 3 |
| ECON 780 | Topics in Economics: _____ | 1-3 |
| ECON 790 | Game Theory and Applications | 3 |
| ECON 791 | Game Theory and Applications II | 3 |
| ECON 800 | Optimization Techniques I | 3 |
| ECON 801 | Microeconomics I | 3 |
| ECON 802 | Microeconomics II | 3 |
| ECON 809 | Optimization Techniques II | 3 |
| ECON 810 | Macroeconomics I | 3 |
| ECON 811 | Macroeconomics II | 3 |
| ECON 816 | Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| ECON 817 | Econometrics I | 3 |
| ECON 818 | Econometrics II | 3 |
| ECON 830 | Game Theory and Industrial Organization | 3 |
| ECON 854 | Advanced Environmental Economic Theory | 3 |
| ECON 869 | Advanced Financial Economics | 3 |
| ECON 870 | Applied Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 880 | Advanced Topics in Economic Theory: _____ | 1-3 |
| ECON 901 | Advanced Economic Theory I | 3 |
| ECON 911 | Applied Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 912 | Advanced Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 913 | Monetary Economics | 3 |
| ECON 914 | Computational Methods for Economics | 3 |
| ECON 915 | Advanced Econometrics I | 3 |
| ECON 916 | Advanced Econometrics II | 3 |
| ECON 917 | Advanced Econometrics III | 3 |
| ECON 918 | Financial Econometrics | 3 |
| ECON 919 | Advanced Health Economics | 3 |
| ECON 950 | Special Problems in Economics | 1-3 |
Master's Thesis & Final Defense
Those choosing to complete the M.A. degree with a written thesis must do an oral presentation and defense of the thesis to a faculty committee in accordance with the Graduate Studies Policy on Master's Final Exams. In the thesis, the student should share the results of the economic research they have undertaken and, most importantly, the contribution the thesis makes to the extant literature on the subject. The oral presentation and defense will not be scheduled until the thesis is complete. The student must submit the thesis to the supervisor and the faculty committee at least two weeks before the final defense. For students interested in pursuing a doctoral program, the thesis degree is recommended.
Progression Requirements
Given the accelerated nature of this program, each student’s progress will be closely monitored at various points during the program:
- Once authorized to begin course work in the accelerated master's, the student must meet with the graduate program coordinator to plan the final year of undergraduate study.
- In the final semester of undergraduate study (year 4), the student must meet with the graduate program coordinator to review the student’s performance in ECON courses. The student must earn a grade of “B” or better in these courses to be eligible for regular admission to the master’s degree.
- Following completion and award of the undergraduate degree (end of 2nd semester year 4), the admitted student will again meet with the M.A. program director to review the course plan for the 5th year of study and update as needed. The student’s performance in the graduate-level courses taken as an undergraduate will be evaluated. To continue in the program, students must earn a combined minimum GPA of 3.25 for these courses, as well as a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.25.
- For those students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement of 3.25, an alternative plan of study to address the student’s deficiencies may be developed, at the department’s sole discretion.
-
If the baccalaureate degree is not completed at the end of year 4, the student will not be permitted to enroll in additional courses for graduate credit toward the master’s degree until the baccalaureate degree has been conferred.
-
Students should complete all requirements for the accelerated Master's within 1 year of receiving the bachelor’s degree. If unforeseen circumstances prevent the timely completion of the master’s degree, the student must consult with their graduate advisor to develop an alternative plan for completion.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Apply tools of economic analysis to critique original research in their specific field or subfield.
- Apply broad knowledge of theory and research methods to questions and current problems in the field of economics.
- Communicate effectively to professional audiences and the public through technical reports and presentations.