Master of Arts in Economics

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Students should consult the General Regulations section of the Graduate Catalog for additional information regarding Graduate School admission requirements, transfer credit, and other critical policies and procedures.

The Master of Arts in Economics program provides students with advanced training in economics to prepare for a career as an economist or to pursue a doctoral degree in economics. The Master of Economics program also develop students’ research skills and ability to communicate economic research.

Foundation Requirements for the MA in Economics

Applicants from non-AACSB accredited institutions will automatically go through a Sorrell College admission review before acceptance.

The prerequisite course requirements to enter the MA in Economics program ensure that students have acquired a common body of knowledge in economics.

Candidates for admission to the MA in Economics degree program must within eight (8) years of enrolling in the program have earned an undergraduate degree and completed the following courses from a school holding regional accreditation* for its degree programs:

Intermediate Microeconomics
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Calculus or Business Calculus
Statistics or Business Statistics

These undergraduate degree courses must be equivalent in content and quality, and completed at an equal or higher level to Troy University courses.

Before attempting 6000-level courses, the student will have successfully completed (with a C or better), within eight years of initial enrollment in the program, all of the following courses from a school holding regional accreditation* for its degree programs. These courses must be at an equal or higher level to Troy University Courses.

Intermediate Microeconomics
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Calculus or Business Calculus
Statistics or Business Statistics

Subject	Troy
Intermediate Microeconomics	ECO 3352 (2 hours)
Intermediate Macroeconomics	ECO 3351 (3 hours)
Calculus or Business Calculus	MTH 1125, MTH 1126 (3 hours each), MTH 2201
Statistics or Business Statistics	MTH 2210 or QM 2241

Note: To remain eligible for Federal Financial Aid, all undergraduate courses MUST be completed before students enroll in any graduate courses. Students receiving Federal Financial Aid may NOT enroll in undergraduate courses after they have begun graduate coursework.

Admission Requirements for the Master of Arts in Economics (MAEco)

Applicants from non-AACSB accredited institutions will automatically go through a Sorrell College admission review before acceptance.

Unconditional Admission

Students applying for admission must provide official transcripts.
Applicants who have completed a master’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited university within eight years of enrolling may be admitted unconditionally. (No graduate test scores are required). Official transcripts from all universities attended must be submitted, to include an official transcript showing completion of a master’s or higher degree.
A bachelor’s degree and the following courses from a regionally accredited college or university within eight years of enrolling are required: 1. Intermediate Microeconomics; 2. Intermediate Macroeconomics; 3. Calculus or Business Calculus; and 4. Statistics or Business Statistics. (Students with a baccalaureate degree from an unaccredited or otherwise accredited institution should see Unaccredited or Otherwise Accredited Student Admissions)
Applicants must have at least a 2.5 GPA in all undergraduate work or at least a 3.0 GPA for the last 30 semester hours.
Official graduate admission exam results, i.e., GMAT (500 or above) or GRE (1050 or above in verbal and quantitative), or 294 or above on the revised GRE (verbal and quantitative), must be on file (except for applicants with a previous master’s or higher degree; see #2 above).
One letter of recommendation is required with all applications for the program. The individual’s potential for success in the program, his/her professional, managerial or administrative experience, as well as his/her written and oral communication skills must be addressed in the letter of recommendation.
Students are admitted for the Fall and Spring semesters only.

Conditional Admission

Students with a score of 499-400 on the GMAT or 1049-930 on the GRE (verbal and quantitative)/293-274 on the revised GRE (verbal and quantitative), and the overall 2.5 grade point average/3.0 GPA for the last 30 semester hours may be conditionally admitted to the program. After the student completes the first three 6000 level graduate courses with a “B” (3.0) or better average, the student will be granted unconditional admission. After completing three graduate courses, students not obtaining unconditional admission status will be dropped from the program for one calendar year, after which time the student may petition for readmission. A letter of recommendation is required with all applications for the program and this letter should address the individual’s potential for success in the program as well as his/her written and oral communication skills.

No Admission

Students with an overall undergraduate GPA of less than 2.5/3.0 for the last 30 semester hours or a score of less than 400 on the GMAT or a score of less than 930 on the GRE (verbal and quantitative), or a score of less than 274 on the revised GRE (verbal and quantitative), will not be eligible for admission into the program.

Temporary Admission

Students will not be allowed to register for any 6000 level courses until temporary admission is cleared. The student will be allowed to take only undergraduate prerequisite courses.

Transfer Credit

A maximum of two courses (six semester hours) taken at another regionally accredited institution, each with a ”B” grade or better, can be applied toward the degree. This is not automatic or guaranteed. The course description is evaluated and the course can be transferred into the program only if it is comparable to a Troy University course and approved by the appropriate graduate business faculty or administrator. These courses must be comparable in catalog description, level, and content to Troy University courses. If the course is not comparable to a Troy University course, then the transfer credit request will be denied.

*Note: For international students, the business degree is to be awarded by an institution granted license to offer business degrees in their country of origin by the appropriate government agency or ministry.

Degree Requirements

Successful completion of the courses listed below with an overall grade point average of 3.0 is necessary to fulfill requirements for the degree. If the student makes a “D” or “F” in a core course, the course must be retaken. If the student earns a “D” or “F” in an elective course, the course may be retaken, or another elective taken in its place. All grades, including those for courses that are retaken, are calculated in the GPA required to fulfill the requirements for the degree.

Comprehensive Exam

Students in both the non-thesis and thesis options of the degree program must successfully complete a comprehensive exam. The exam will test material covered in the required core courses ECO 6630 , ECO 6631 , and ECO 6632 , and is given in parts covering each of these three classes. Each of the three parts of the exam must be successfully passed to pass the comprehensive exam. The exam is administered at least twice per year and students can attempt the exam after completing all of the required courses for the degree. Questions are written by the economics faculty and will be graded by at least two faculty members, reviewed by the department chair, and certified by the Dean of the Graduate School. Troy University faculty and staff administer the Comprehensive Exam.

Curriculum (33 sh)

The curriculum for the Master of Economics program consists of 33 semester hours. The program has a thesis and non-thesis option. Students who choose the thesis option complete 24 hours of courses and 9 hours of thesis credit. Students who choose the non-thesis option must complete 30 semester hours of courses and a 3 semester hour Master’s Research course. Each option has a common 12 hours of regular core courses. Electives must be chosen in consultation with the student’s adviser. Below is a list of the required courses and the electives.