Economics Graduate Degree
Master of Arts Degree in Economics
The Master of Arts degree in Economics (M.A.E.) incorporates the traditional social sciences-oriented master’s program in economics with modern quantitative methods and applied analytical tools. The focus of the program is on application and practice of economic theory. The program is designed to serve the need for a terminal graduate degree for professional economists and also to lay the groundwork for students who wish to pursue the Ph.D. degree.
There are three degree concentrations: general economics, financial economics and business data analysis and forecasting to choose from. The concentration of general economics is designed to prepare students for further graduate studies in economics, while the concentrations of financial economics and business data analysis and forecasting are designed to prepare students for professional careers in private industry.
No thesis is required for the degree. Only students in the concentration of general economics may choose a thesis option and this option requires previous outstanding research and coursework. The program and admissions are supervised by the Economics Graduate Program Committee, which includes the Economics Graduate Director. General requirements for completion of the program consist of required courses, electives and a comprehensive examination.
Program Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Foundation Requirements
- Economic Theory: Undergraduate level of economic theory, including Intermediate Microeconomics and
Intermediate Macroeconomics - Mathematics: An ability to apply calculus and linear algebra to equilibrium and optimization models in economics
- Statistics: A basic knowledge of statistics, including hypothesis testing, sampling and probability distribution
Degree Requirements
Students must complete 33 semester credit hours and a comprehensive examination.
Master of Arts Degree in Economics: General Economics Concentration
Master of Arts Degree in Economics: Financial Economics Concentration
Master of Arts Degree in Economics: Business Data Analysis and Forecasting
Master of Arts Degree in Economics Course Descriptions
Master of Arts Degree in Economics–Concentration I: General Economics
This concentration can be used for preparing students for Ph.D. studies in Economics at other universities as the core courses in the program mirror the majority of first year Ph.D. courses in Economics at a slightly lower level. Others may use this option to prepare for careers as economists in the government/public sector.
Students who select this concentration will collaborate with a Graduate Advisor to design a plan of study. Students who select this concentration must complete the 12 semester credit hours of the core courses in the program and 21 semester credit hours of elective graduate courses.
12 semester credit hours of required core courses
- ECO 6013 Microeconomic Theory
- ECO 6033 Macroeconomic Issues
- ECO 6103 Econometrics and Business Forecasting
- ECO 6113 Mathematical Economics
21 semester credit hours of elective graduate work
(9 of which may be non-economics courses) contingent upon approval by the Economics Graduate Advisor. All the required courses offered in the other two concentrations can be chosen as the elective courses for Concentration I. Upon the Graduate Advisor’s approval, a student may choose more than 9 semester credit hours of elective non-economics courses that are the required courses of the other two concentrations. These 21 semester credit hours can also include the credits that students would earn from an internship, and a directed research project (considered as an independent study), or a Master Thesis. Economics elective courses are economics graduate courses not in the student’s required core courses, including:
- ECO 6203 Government and Business
- ECO 6303 Applied Econometrics
- ECO 6323 International Trade and Finance
- ECO 6403 Financial Economics
- ECO 6543 Healthcare Economics and Policy
- ECO 6553 Urban and Regional Economics
- ECO 6573 Game Theory and Business Strategy
- ECO 6583 Special Topics in Econometrics/Forecasting
- ECO 6943 Economics Internship
- ECO 6951-3 Independent Study
- ECO 6971-3 Special Topics
- ECO 6983 Master’s Thesis
Comprehensive Examination
All students must pass a comprehensive examination administered by the Graduate Program Committee in Economics.
Master of Arts Degree in Economics–Concentration II: Financial Economics
This concentration prepares students who desire to find employment in financial industries in which they solve real-world problems in the world of finance. The focus of this concentration is to equip students with both the qualitative analysis skills in economics and the financial modeling tools in finance. The required courses for this concentration are designed to provide students with the opportunity to study domestic and international financial markets, as well as the principles of financial decision-making in the banking, investment management and corporate financial management professions.
Students who select this concentration must complete the 12 semester credit hours of the core courses in the program, the 15 semester credit hours of required courses for the concentration and 6 semester credit hours of electives.
12 semester credit hours of required core courses
- ECO 6013 Microeconomic Theory
- ECO 6033 Macroeconomic Issues
- ECO 6103 Econometrics and Business Forecasting
- ECO 6113 Mathematical Economics
15 semester credit hours of required courses
- ECO 6403 Financial Economics
- ECO 6583 Special Topics in Econometrics/Forecasting
- FIN 5023 Financial Management
- FIN 5733 Banking and the Financial Services Industry
- FIN 6313 Modeling of Financial Decision Making
6 semester credit hours of electives
(from the list below or as approved by the Graduate Advisor). Students in this concentration are encouraged to complete a directed research project in the field of financial economics or to complete an internship in the financial sector. These 6 semester credit hours can include the credits that students would earn from an internship, and a directed research project (considered as an independent study).
- ECO 6203 Government and Business
- ECO 6303 Applied Econometrics
- ECO 6323 International Trade and Finance
- ECO 6543 Healthcare Economics and Policy
- ECO 6553 Urban and Regional Economics
- ECO 6573 Game Theory and Business Strategy
- ECO 6943 Economics Internship
- ECO 6951-3 Independent Study
- ECO 6971-3 Special Topics
Comprehensive Examination
All students must pass a comprehensive examination administered by the Graduate Program Committee in Economics.
Master of Arts Degree in Economics–Concentration III: Business Data Analysis and Forecasting
This concentration is designed for students who desire to prepare for a career in which they apply the theory and techniques of economics to the analysis of practical problem in a variety of fields focusing on data analysis. The required courses for this concentration are designed to enhance students understanding of the core concepts in microeconomics and macroeconomics and develop quantitative skills necessary to work in econometrics and economic forecasting.
Students who select this concentration must complete the 12 semester credit hours of the core courses in the program, then 15 semester credit hours of required courses for the concentration and 6 semester credit hours of electives.
12 semester credit hours of required core courses
- ECO 6013 Microeconomic Theory
- ECO 6033 Macroeconomic Issues
- ECO 6103 Econometrics and Business Forecasting
- ECO 6113 Mathematical Economics
15 semester credit hours of required courses
- ECO 6303 Applied Econometrics
- ECO 6583 Special Topics in Econometrics/Forecasting
- MKT 5063 Marketing Research Design and Application
- STA 5133 Advanced Programming and Data Management in SAS
- STA 6923 Advanced Statistical Learning/Data Mining
6 semester credit hours of electives
(from the list below or as approved by the Graduate Advisor). Students in this concentration are encouraged to complete a directed research project to complete an internship in the related sectors. These 6 semester credit hours can include the credits that students would earn from an internship, and a directed research project (considered as an independent study).
- ECO 6203 Government and Business
- ECO 6323 International Trade and Finance
- ECO 6403 Financial Economics
- ECO 6543 Healthcare Economics and Policy
- ECO 6553 Urban and Regional Economics
- ECO 6573 Game Theory and Business Strategy
- ECO 6951-3 Independent Study
- ECO 6943 Economics Internship
- ECO 6971-3 Special Topics
Comprehensive Examination
All students must pass a comprehensive examination administered by the Graduate Program Committee in Economics
Questions?
For questions about these degree programs, please email MAECON@utsa.edu, or Program Director Edgar Ghossoub.
