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MA Curriculum

MA Program Course Guide

Plan your path through the program, at your pace.

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS 

The MA program requires 10 graduate-level courses to earn your degree. Three of those are core courses that every student in the program takes. The remaining seven are electives that you choose based on your interests and career goals. Students move through the program at different speeds depending on their situation. Your advisor can help you map out a plan that works for you.

The semesters listed below reflect recent patterns and is meant to help you plan, but it is not a guarantee. Always confirm current offerings through your advisor before registering. Offerings may shift based on faculty availability and enrollment. For the most current course descriptions and prerequisites, refer to the University Course Catalog.

Core Courses (3 required)

Every MA student completes these three courses. They build the micro, macro, and empirical foundations for the rest of your coursework.

  • ECON 5005: Prices, Markets, and Resource Allocation (Fall)
  • ECON 5125: Empirical Research Methods in Economics (Fall)
  • ECON 5015: Theory of Money, Income, Employment, and the Price Level (Spring)

5000-Level Electives

Choose your electives from the courses below. At least five of your seven electives must come from the 5000 level.

  • ECON 5124: Mathematical Methods in Economics (Fall)
  • ECON 5314G: Advanced Big Data Economics (Fall & Spring)
  • ECON 5134: Managerial Economics (Spring)
  • ECON 5154: Empirical Industrial Organization (Spring) 
  • ECON 5964: Experimental Economics (Spring)

Approved 4000-Level Electives

Up to two of your seven electives may come from the following 4000-level courses. These are upper-level undergraduate courses that carry enough depth to count toward the MA.

  • ECON 4304: Introduction to Econometric Methods (Fall & Spring)
  • ECON 4424: The Theory of Games and Economic Behavior (Fall & Spring)
  • ECON 4614: R Programming in Economics (Fall & Spring)
  • ECON 4074: Labor Economics (Fall) 
  • ECON 4514: Applied Analysis of Banking and Financial Markets (Fall) 
  • ECON 4434: Experimental Economics (Spring) 
  • ECON 4454: Neuroeconomics (Spring) 

Courses Outside the Department

Up to two of your seven electives may come from other programs at Virginia Tech, provided they are at the 5000 level and approved by your advisor. This can be a great option if your research interests are interdisciplinary. Students have taken approved courses in areas like public policy, statistics, and agricultural economics. Talk to your advisor before enrolling to confirm that a course will count.