Economics, B.A. or B.S. (Accelerated Pathway to Applied Economics, M.A.)

This accelerated M.A. in applied economics is a pathway for selected SMU undergraduates to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in significantly less time than earning the two degrees separately. While working on their undergraduate degrees, current students have the opportunity to take an accelerated path toward obtaining the M.A. in applied economics. Once accepted, the accelerated pathway will allow for such students to receive both a B.A./B.S. in economics and an M.A. in applied economics in potentially five years of entering the university. Up to nine credit hours of suitably chosen graduate courses taken during the undergraduate years can be counted toward the M.A. degree in applied economics. All students will be required to complete a minimum total of 120 credits of coursework to earn the bachelor’s degree and a minimum total of 30 credits of coursework to earn the master’s degree.

Admission Requirements

SMU undergraduates majoring in economics who want to pursue the accelerated M.A. in applied economics program should consult with the director of undergraduate studies for approval before the end of the spring semester of their sophomore year or after completing 60 credit hours including transfer coursework and test credits. Approved candidates should work closely with the director of undergraduate studies throughout their remaining undergraduate studies to plan the appropriate undergraduate curriculum. To become a candidate for the accelerated master’s program, the student must:

• Be enrolled in the economics B.A. or B.S undergraduate program at SMU
• Officially apply to the accelerated M.A. in applied economics program no later than one year prior to the time when the student would graduate with a bachelor’s degree
• Have at least two recommendation letters from faculty members at SMU

In addition, by the time of admittance into the M.A. in applied economics program, the student must have the following:

1. An undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.000 (on a 4.000 scale) throughout the student’s undergraduate career.
2. Twelve hours of undergraduate economics courses, including two intermediate theory courses, one in price theory (microeconomics), and one in macroeconomics, with a grade of B or above in each of these courses.
3. An introductory course in statistics, with a grade of B or above.
4. One term of calculus, with a grade of B or above.

Candidates for the accelerated master’s program must maintain good academic standing and satisfy the above criteria to be officially admitted to the M.A. program in applied economics.

Degree Requirements

To receive an M.A. degree in applied economics under the accelerated pathway, the student must:

• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.000 (on a 4.000 scale) in the M.A. degree coursework (including the graduate coursework applied toward the bachelor’s degree requirements)
• Complete a minimum total of 30 credit hours of graduate coursework at SMU (including the credit hours transferred from the bachelor’s degree)
• Have been awarded an undergraduate degree at SMU and fulfilled other requirements for the M.A. degree in applied economics

Courses

Students should refer to the Economics section of the Undergraduate Catalog  for the B.A./B.S. degree requirements:

• Economics, B.A.  
• Economics, B.S.  
• Economics with Finance Applications, B.S.  

Students should refer to the Economics section of the Graduate Catalog for the M.A. degree requirements:

• Applied Economics, M.A., Applied Economics Track
• Applied Economics, M.A., International Economics and Policy Track
• Applied Economics, M.A., Law and Economics Track