Economics BS/MA Dual Degree Program

The B.S./M.A. (also known as the “2+3”) program is an accelerated program that allows students to complete a B.S. and a M.A. in economics in five years. The program allows students to apply 12 of the M.A. credit hours towards the B.S., reducing the overall required hours for the two degrees from the standard 150 (120 for the B.S. plus 30 for the M.A.) to 138 hours. 

The M.A. in Economics requires 30 credit hours; at least 21 hours must be completed in residence.

The following 3 courses (9 credit hours) are required:

ECON 5001Microeconomic Analysis3
ECON 5002Macroeconomic Analysis3
ECON 5100Econometric Theory and Methods3

In addition, 21 credit hours of electives must be completed. At most, six of these credit hours may be economics courses at the 4000 level (excluding ECON 4100and ECON 4150 which cannot be utilized as part of the M.A. degree); all other electives must be at the 5000 level or higher.

Of the 30 hours taken in the M.A. program, 12 of these hours (per the approval of the Graduate Director) will also count toward the undergraduate B.S. requirements. All other requirements for the B.S. degree remain in effect.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have completed between 60 and 108 credit hours. Applicants must have a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 (both overall and in economics courses) and must be nominated by a full-time regular economics faculty member. Applicants must have completed all of the general education requirements as well as college algebra (or a higher level mathematics course), introductory microeconomics and introductory macroeconomics. Those accepted with fewer than 90 semester credit hours are accepted only on a provisional basis. Once the student has completed 90 semester hours of coursework (typically including ECON 3001, ECON 3002 , ECON 3100 , ECON 3200 , MATH 1800 , and preferably ECON 4100 ) with a satisfactory G.P.A. (minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 overall and in economics courses) the provisional status is dropped.

It is recommended that applicants apply when they have completed 90 credit hours; further, it is recommended that applicants should complete intermediate microeconomics (ECON 3001 ) and/or introductory econometrics (ECON 4100 ) before applying. 

Awarding of Degree

Both degrees (the B.S. and M.A.) will be awarded when all requirements for the entire program have been completed. In other words, the B.S. and M.A. degrees will be simultaneously awarded at the completion of study.

Students who officially withdraw from the B.S./M.A. Dual Degree Program in Economics and who have successfully completed all of the requirements for the B.S. degree will be awarded the B.S. degree.