Minimum Credit Requirement for Graduation

A minimum of 48 graduate credit hours, all of which must be in economics.

Minimum Grades and Grade Point Average (GPA)

All courses taken to satisfy the Master’s degree program requirements must be taken for a letter grade. Economics master’s degree students must maintain at least a 3.00 GPA in graduate courses taken in the degree program, and may not graduate with less than a 3.00 GPA. Grades of D+ or lower for graduate courses are not accepted for graduate credit but are computed in the GPA. A GPA below 3.00 at any time or the accumulation of more than 5 credits of F grades — regardless of GPA — is considered unsatisfactory and may lead to termination from the program. Ph.D. students who decide to transfer to the Master’s degree program and have completed 607 Core courses may count those credits toward the theory and elective coursework requirements of the Master’s degree program.

Maintaining Enrollment Status

Unless on-leave status has been approved, a student enrolled in an advanced-degree or graduate-certificate program must attend the university continuously until all program requirements have been completed. The student must register for a minimum of 3 graduate credits each term, excluding summer sessions, to be continuously enrolled. A minimum of 30 credits toward the Master’s degree must be taken in residence over a period of at least two terms.

Substitutions and Waivers

Substitutions of alternative courses or courses taken elsewhere require the joint approval of the Master’s program committee and the department head before they can be counted toward the credit minimum. Any other waivers or exceptions to departmental requirements require the approval of the Economics Department faculty.

Distinction between M.A. and M.S. Degrees

The requirements stated above are sufficient to earn a Master’s of Science (M.S.) degree. Students pursuing a Masters of Arts (M.A.) degree must demonstrate competence in one foreign (non-native) language by successful completion of two years of college credit in that language or the equivalent fluency (consult the Graduate School’s minimum requirements for additional details).

Time Limit

The Master’s degree is designed to be completed in one academic year, although a longer time to completion is easily accommodated inside the program. All requirements for the Master’s degree must be completed within a three-year period.

Research Option

An alternative path to the Master’s degree, in which students take less coursework and complete a Master’s thesis or research paper is available. This path generally requires a longer time to complete the degree. If you are interested in this research option please contact the Graduate Coordinator.