Economics - MA

Hunter’ s master’ s program in economics equips students with analytic tools that can be directly applied to business and public policy. The program integrates economic theory, quantitative methods and practical applications, and emphasizes elective courses in international trade and finance, economic development, financial economics, industrial organization, corporate governance, labor economics and public finance. Hunter MAs regularly move into interesting, well-paid positions in business, government, and international organizations. They are equally prepared to enter PhD programs at top-ranking universities.

Under the direction of professors who combine distinguished academic credentials with wide experience in economic research and applications, students studying for an MA at Hunter may participate in such major ongoing projects as: taxation, government spending, and economic growth; earnings of immigrants and minority groups; saving and investment in rural economies; taxation and the regional economy; social security and public welfare; tax competition; health out-comes; corporate investment and financial decisions; regulatory policy; corporate control; location choices of immigrants.

The program is offered in the evening to accommodate students who hold full- and part-time jobs.

Requirements for Admission

Applicants to the MA program in economics must provide their scores on either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Hunter College undergraduates with a GPA of 3.5 or higher are exempt from the GRE/GMAT requirement. In addition to the other Requirements for Admission to Hunter, the following departmental requirements must be met: at least 18 credits of undergraduate courses in economics, at least 9 credits of undergraduate courses in mathematics, and two letters of recommendation from college teachers, including one from a member of an economics department. The credits in economics must include at least six in principles of economics, and at least three in each of the following courses: economic statistics, introductory econometrics, intermediate microeconomics, and intermediate macroeconomics. The credits in mathematics must include two semesters of calculus and one of matrix algebra. Intermediate microeconomics, intermediate macroeconomics, introductory econometrics, calculus I and II, and matrix algebra are prerequisites for required courses in the MA program.

Students who have not completed these courses at the time of admission will be required to complete the needed course(s) during their first semester at Hunter. (Completion of such courses cannot be counted towards the MA.)

Requirements for the Degree

Of the 30 credits required for the degree, at least 24 must be devoted to courses in economics. The remaining 6 may be taken in related fields with permission of the department. All candidates are required to complete the following.

The degree can be earned in two ways:

Completion of 27 credits of course work and 3 credits of Thesis Research. Students must submit a satisfactory master’s thesis written under the supervision of a member of the economics faculty.
Completion of 30 credits of course work. Students must prepare a supervised extended research paper in two of their courses and earn at least a B+ on each paper.