Convenience:  All classes are conducted in the evening, making them ideal for working adults.

Availability:  Qualified applicants may enter the program in the Fall, Winter, or Spring quarters.

Efficiency:  Most students complete the program in one year.

Uniqueness:  Our Master's degree is unique in this region of the country by virtue of its innovative blend of applied and social economics. In addition to a solid foundation in micro- and macroeconomics, students take courses in economic measurement and forecasting to develop quantitative skills, as well as courses on contemporary policy issues—such as the interface between economics and ecology—designed to enhance critical thinking.

Hands-on Experience:  The program culminates in an internship in which M.S. candidates apply economic analysis to real-world problems for a business, non-profit organization, or government agency. Students build a documented portfolio of accomplishments while providing assistance to regional employers.

Professionalism:  Courses are taught exclusively by full-time professional economists holding doctorates in the discipline. In addition to publishing state-of-the-art research, our faculty have served as consultants and advisors to many prominent government agencies, nonprofits, and corporations, including the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the National Institute of Technology and Standards of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Research Triangle Institute, the Rand Corporation, the Educational Testing Service, and the government of Vietnam.

Marketability:  The MS provides a valuable entrée into employment in either the public or private sector. Many of our graduates are employed in financial services, government agencies, and educational institutions.

Flexibility:  The MS in Social and Applied Economics is also advantageous to those who wish to pursue further graduate studies in law, economics, political science, or other doctoral programs in the social sciences.