Chair

Yoonseok Lee, Chair
110 Eggers Hall
315-443-3843

Overview of the Combined Program

The combined B.S. plus M.A. program in economics is designed to allow strong B.S. students the opportunity to earn a high-quality STEM designated M.A. in economics with two additional semesters of study beyond the B.S. degree. Students who arrive at Syracuse with AP credit may be able to complete both degrees on a more accelerated timetable. High-level industry positions, as with opportunities in the financial sector, are placing increasing emphasis on excellent analytic and data skills. Ph.D. programs in economics have also become increasingly competitive and favor applicants with prior M.A. degrees. The combined B.S. and M.A. program in economics will provide students with sought after skills and valuable credentials that will enhance their opportunities for future employment and possible graduate work.

Application Process

Applications to enter the M.A. portion of the combined degree program will normally be submitted after the BS student has completed ECN 505 Mathematical Economics and ECN 522 Econometric Methods Applications are invited once all of the following requirements are met:

1. Completed at least five semesters at Syracuse University or equivalent.
2. Declared the B.S. major in Economics at Syracuse University.
3. Completed:

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credits
   ECN 505	Mathematical Economics	3
   ECN 521	Economic Statistics (requiring advanced math skills)	3
   ECN 522	Econometric Methods	3

The application package would typically include at least one letter of recommendation from a Syracuse University Economics faculty member based on student performance in ECN 505 or 522, the student’s C.V., a Statement of Purpose, and the student’s transcript. GRE and the TOEFL scores will typically be waived for Syracuse economics majors.

Students accepted for graduate study will typically begin the M.A. portion of the program following completion of ECN 505 Mathematical Economics and ECN 522 Econometric Methods but are not fully matriculated as graduate students until all requirements for the B.S. degree have been met. The student would normally be certified for the bachelor’s degree at the end of the fourth year and for the master’s degree at the end of the fifth year.

Degree Requirements

All regular requirements for the B.S. in Economics must be satisfied to obtain the B.S. degree in economics. This includes earning a minimum of 33 credit hours in economics along with the minimum 120 credit hours necessary to meet College of Arts and Sciences requirements.

The M.A. degree requires 30 credits (ten courses). However, up to four courses (12 credit hours) can be counted towards both the bachelor’s and the master’s degrees. Courses eligible for dual credit include ECN 505 and ECN 522, which are required for the B.S. degree, and any additional 600-level or higher courses that meet the requirements for the M.A. as described below (students typically take ECN 601 Survey Microeconomic Theory and ECN 602 Survey Macroeconomic Theory). Allowing for dual credit courses, the typical student pursuing the combined degree will need to take 18 credit hours (six courses) in their fifth year to complete the master’s degree.

A further feature of the M.A. is that up to 15 credit hours (five courses) can be at the 500-level including ECN 505 Mathematical Economics and ECN 522 Econometric Methods. All other courses must be at the 600 level or higher.  Graduate school guidelines require that the cumulative grade point average for courses taken for credit towards the M.A. degree in Economics (including ECN 505 Mathematical Economics and ECN 522 Econometric Methods) must be 3.0 or higher.¹

Courses taken to complete the M.A. in economics must be approved by the director of the M.A. program. In addition to ECN 505 and ECN 522, these will typically include the courses below or equivalent substitutes:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Theory and econometrics courses		12
ECN 601	Survey Microeconomic Theory (M.A. level, with minimum grade B)	3
ECN 602	Survey Macroeconomic Theory (M.A. level, with minimum grade B)	3
ECN 603	Survey of Econometric Theory	3
Select one of the following:		3
ECN 623	Econometrics III (Ph.D. level)
ECN 622	Econometrics II (Ph.D. level, for a more theoretical course in econometrics.)
Elective Courses at the 500 level or higher level		12

Differences relative to the stand-alone M.A. degree in economics

Relative to the stand-alone M.A. the M.A. earned through the combined program has the following key features.

• Up to four courses would provide dual credit towards completion of the B.S. and M.A. degrees. This would include ECN 505 Mathematical Economics and ECN 522 Econometric Methods, and two additional 600-level courses (typically ECN 601 Survey Microeconomic Theory and ECN 602 Survey Macroeconomic Theory).
• All elective courses for the M.A. portion of the combined program must be approved by the M.A. director who serves as the student’s faculty advisor.
• All other features of the M.A. portion of the combined program are as for the stand-alone M.A. degree.

Sample Plan of Study

Below is a sample plan of study that would allow a student to complete the B.S. and M.A. degrees in five years. The plan assumes the following:

• By end of the fourth year, the student will have earned 12 credit hours (four courses) that would count towards completion of the M.A. degree, including courses that count for both the B.S. and M.A. in economics as described above.
• The student takes three courses in both the fall and spring of the fifth year to complete the 30-credit hour requirement for the M.A.
• The credit hours accumulated for the M.A. portion of the combined degree under the plan below are:
  • 3 credits for ECN 505 (which also counts towards the B.S.)
  • 3 credits for ECN 522 (which also counts towards the B.S.)
  • 6 credits for two 600-level courses taken in the senior year (which also count towards the B.S., typically ECN 601 Survey Microeconomic Theory and ECN 602 Survey Macroeconomic Theory).
  • 9 credits in the fall of the fifth year
  • 9 credits in the spring of the fifth year

It is necessary to complete ECN 522 Econometric Methods (undergraduate econometrics) or an equivalent before enrolling in ECN 603 Survey of Econometric Theory. Taking the sequencing of these courses into account, a sample plan of study that would allow a student to complete the M.A. portion of the combined degree in their fifth year is as follows:

Complete ECN 505 Mathematical Economics, ECN 522 Econometric Methods, and ECN 601 Survey Microeconomic Theory by Fall semester of the senior year. Complete ECN 602 Survey Macroeconomic Theory in the spring semester of the senior year. In the fifth year, take ECN 603 Survey of Econometric Theory in the Fall semester along with two elective courses, and three elective courses in the Spring semester, which may include ECN 623 Econometrics III in the spring. Other plans are possible including beginning the M.A. portion of the program early in the summer between the fourth and fifth years by taking ECN 605 Mathematics for Economists, ECN 620 Foundations of Econometrics or experience credits from a summer internship.

[1] Rules and Regs, 16.4 Degree Certification by the Graduate School: Graduate students must have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.800 overall, with 3.000 in their program requirements, to qualify for graduation.