Master of Science in Economics

The Master of Science in Economics program with a concentration in Financial Econometrics or Financial Economics in the Department of Economics at Texas A&M University is a STEM program that aims to provide rigorous training in economics, econometrics, analytical and quantitative skills for students in order to prepare them for immediate careers in business or government, or further study in top economics and finance Ph.D. programs. This terminal, professional Master’s degree program was rebuilt in 2011 after a two-years extensive design and review process, created in response to the increasingly high demand from students seeking a professional master’s degree in economics and employers looking for candidates with advanced training. Students are able to complete the program in 18 or 24 months. The Economics Department had previously operated a terminal Master’s degree program since 1931.

Most students are in the non-thesis option and complete 36 credit hours to receive their degree. Thesis option students must complete a total of 32 semester hours of graduate course credits, a thesis under the guidance of an Advisory Committee, and pass an oral/final exam in the final semester of their studies.

Master of Science in Economics and Master of International Affairs Combined Degree Program

The Department of Economics and the Department of International Affairs offer students the opportunity to receive both a Master of Science in Economics (MS ECON) and a Master of International Affairs (MIA) in a three year period. Students are provided with rigorous advanced training in economics, econometrics, analytical and quantitative skills, international policies, global economy, American foreign policy, and research methods. Students who have a disposition toward leadership will be better prepared for careers in business, government, and nongovernment organizations, and public service.

Program Features

• World-class and highly ranked econometrics and applied microeconomics faculty
• STEM discipline (Econometrics and Quantitative Economics with Code 45.0603)
• 2 concentrations: Financial Econometrics and Financial Economics
• 2 options: Thesis and Non-thesis
• 32 credit hours (a thesis and a final exam); 36 credit hours (no thesis, no final exam, but includes a Capstone course)
• 18 months or 24 months in length for MS Economics
• A new combined degree program with MS ECON and Master of International Affairs begins Fall 2022!
• 36 months in length for MS Economics & MIA
• Rigorous economics, econometrics, quantitative skills, SAS and other programming language training
• Career support from the Department, the College, and the University
• The world’s most powerful alumni network
• Affordable education with the highest return on investment (ROI)
• Successful placement on both industry side and academic side
• Merit-based scholarships available for both 1st and 2nd year M.S. students with outstanding academic records
• BS/BA ECON students can participate in a 5-year program to earn both Bachelor and Master degrees
• ECON Minor to Master’s program
• Accelerated Master’s program for non-major Bachelor students

The course structure for this STEM program includes a set of required core courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics, and a capstone course that provides students with experience in carrying out an applied research project. The curriculum also includes concentration courses in Financial Economics or Financial Econometrics and elective courses that students can use to improve their understanding and skill set in areas focused towards their career goals. Students are encouraged to participate in an internship in the summer of their first year.

While there is a thesis option, the majority of the students participate in the 36 credit hour no-thesis, no final exam option. In lieu of a final examination, the students are required to enroll in a Capstone course. The 36 credit hour non-thesis course outline is as follows:

• Core Courses (15 credit hours)
  Students are requied to complete four (4) core courses and a Capstone
  • ECON 607 Foundations of Microeconomics Theory (Fall semester)
  • ECON 611 Foundations of Macroeconomics Theory (Spring semester)
  • ECMT 673 Economic Analytics (Fall semester)
  • ECMT 674 Economic Forecasting (Spring semester)
  • ECON 675 Capstone (Fall semester)
• Concentration Courses (9 credit hours)
  Students will select three (3) courses to identify their concentration in Financial Economics or Financial Econometrics
  • Financial Economics
    • ECON 612 Money, Banking, and Financial Markets (Fall semester)
    • ECON 614 Economics of Microfinance (Spring semester)
    • ECON 617 Economics of the Multinational Firm (Spring semester)
    • ECON 618 Behavioral Financial Economics (Fall semester)
    • ECON 633 Energy Markets and Policy (Fall or Spring semester)
    • ECON 663 International Transfer Pricing (Fall or Spring semester)
    • ECON 668 Decisions Under Risk and Uncertainty (Fall or Spring semester)
    • ECON 680 Financial Economics (Fall semester)
    • ECON 685 Directed Studies (Spring semester)
  • Financial Econometrics
    • ECMT 660 Mathematical Economics (Fall semester)
    • ECMT 670 Econometric Analysis of Financial Data (Fall semester)
    • ECMT 680 Financial Econometrics (Spring semester)
• Elective Courses (12 credit hours)
  Students may select four (4) courses in related academic areas that contribute to their career objective. Examples include accounting, agricultural economics, finance, international affairs, math, public policy and administration, statistics, and urban planning. A student may enroll for an internship course in the Summer of their first year or in the Spring of their second year.

MS ECON ranked #13 in the Nation by TFE Times for 2022 Best Master’s of Economics Programs

MS ECON ranked #17 in 2019 – 2021 in the U.S.A. by Eduniversal Best Masters Rankings, #18 in 2018, and #20 in 2015 – 2017

The primary goals for the Master of Science in Economics program is to provide rigorous training in economics, econometrics, analytical and quantitative skills to our students in order to prepare them for immediate careers in business or government, or further study in top economics and finance Ph.S. programs.

With close to 100% job placement, our students have secured employment at the Big Four and other large accounting firms, banks, energy companies, airline companies, real estate companies, and companies that provide financial services. Students have a high ROI and receive competitive salaries and start up packages.