Master of Arts in Economics Degree Program

Economic Analysis:
Key to Success in the Global Economy

The demand for economics expertise in business and government organizations exceeds the supply – and the gap is growing. As globalization of production and the competitiveness of international trade expand, the premium for high-quality economic analysis becomes ever greater. The Master of Arts in Economics at Claremont Graduate University offers a two-year course of study that will provide the analytical skills and real-world understanding necessary for success in our globally competitive markets.

MAE graduates find positions in business, government, and the nonprofit sectors of the economy, all requiring skills in economic analysis far beyond those developed at the undergraduate level. The M.A. in Economics also compares favorably in analytic rigor to the typical masters degrees in business administration, public administration and public policy – a fact not lost on employers. For students without previous work experience, internships are available to provide valuable experience, and in certain cases, academic credit.

Applications for Success

The Department of Economics at CGU has an applied focus, stressing precisely the kinds of analytical techniques and problem-solving capabilities of greatest interest to employers. Unlike graduate programs that mandate a year of pure theory, half of the courses in the first year master’s curriculum at CGU cover a wide variety of applications, ranging from international money, finance, and trade to public economics and economic growth. Students interested in business applications can branch out into corporate finance and the economics of management. Interdisciplinary courses offered in the School of Politics and Economics include public choice, domestic policy analysis, and international politics.

Students in the M.A. in Economics program come from diverse undergraduate backgrounds and have an equally wide range of career objectives. The M.A. degree is designed for both recent college graduates and mid-career professionals and may be taken on a full or part-time basis. Pre-requisites to the program are limited to a second calculus course, a course in intermediate microeconomic theory, and a basic course in statistics. Further mathematical skills are developed in the courses required for the M.A., allowing the student to learn mathematics as it applies to real economic issues. The M.A. in Economics has been used by many of our alumni as a passport to valuable and challenging careers as economic analysts. Others use the M.A. as a credential for admission to a Ph.D. program, either at CGU or elsewhere.

Core requirements and course descriptions are available elsewhere on this website.

If you are interested in applying to this program, please contact Laura Carrillo, our Recruiter/Admissions Coordinator at (909) 621-8699, or by email at Laura.Carrillo@cgu.edu.   You may also click on this link to request program information.