University Catalog

The Master of Arts is an applied economics program. As a "terminal" degree program, it teaches marketable skills for employment in business or government. The program consists of a solid analytical core in economics and quantitative methods, supplemented with courses in special fields. Potential specialization areas currently emphasized are forecasting/quantitative techniques, international business economics, and applied financial economics. The program is also recognized nationally for preparing students who want to pursue the Ph.D. degree in economics.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the M.A. program in economics is based upon the completion of the general admission requirements of the Graduate Admissions Office. For admission to the M.A. program in economics, a score on either the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and record of one’s academic undergraduate performance are required. Students for whom English is not their native language must achieve a TOEFL score of at least 550 (213 on computer-based test). International applicants who score below minimum acceptable levels on the verbal portion of entrance examinations may be admitted under the condition that they pass an English proficiency exam or complete UT Arlington’s Graduate English Skills Program prior to beginning graduate coursework. Applicants are encouraged to submit with their application a resume that highlights professional and personal accomplishments, linguistic abilities, computer expertise, and leadership experience. A standardized test score (GMAT or GRE) will not be used as the sole criterion for admitting applicants or the primary criterion for denying admission to the M.A. program in economics.

Multiple criteria are used to make admission decisions. Unconditional acceptance is based on consideration of all the information listed below and the decision to deny admission is not based on any single criterion alone.

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited general or specific program.

2. An acceptable undergraduate GPA as calculated by Graduate Admissions (approximately the last 60 hours), generally greater than a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

3. An acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examination or GMAT. Successful students generally have a minimum score of 148 (600 old GRE scale) on the quantitative section and 150 (450 old GRE scale) on the verbal section of the GRE or a minimum score of 480 on the GMAT.

4. Favorable letters of recommendation from at least three individuals able to assess the applicant’s potential success in graduate school.

5. Grades in specified undergraduate business and non-business courses (e.g., math, accounting, economics, statistics).

6. For applicants whose native language is not English, a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (or an equivalent score on a computer-based test) or a score of 40 on the Test of Spoken English.  International applicants must submit a TOEFL score or IELTS score that meets the standards as listed in the admission requirements.

Unconditional Admission

For unconditional admission, the applicant’s composite total from the index (this index is derived by using a formula that multiplies the GPA by 200 and adds the resulting value to the GMAT score) must be 1080 or greater and items 1 through 5 above should strongly indicate potential for successful academic performance as a M.A. Economics student.

For unconditional admission, the applicant can score 148 (600 old GRE scale) or higher on the Quantitative section and 150 (450 old GRE scale) or higher on the Verbal section of the GRE and items 1 through 5 above should strongly indicate potential for successful academic performance as a MA economics student.

The GRE/GMAT test requirement for admissions to the economics MA program can, under extraordinary circumstances, be waived at the discretion of the department if the applicant already has been awarded a terminal graduate degree from a regionally or professionally accredited program.

Probationary Admission

If applicants do not meet items 1 through 6 for unconditional admission, they may be considered for probationary admission after careful examination of their application materials. Probationary admission requires that an applicant earn a GPA of 3.0 or better in the first twelve hours of graduate coursework at UT Arlington.

Deferred and Provisional Admission

A deferred application decision may be granted when a file is incomplete or when a denied decision is not appropriate. An applicant unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline but whom otherwise appear to meet admission requirements may be granted provisional admission.

Denial of Admission

After a thorough review of the application file, a candidate may be denied admission if he or she has less than satisfactory performance on any two of the admission criteria. All applicant data will be carefully reviewed before an admission denial is made.

Fellowships and Scholarships

Students admitted with no provisional conditions to satisfy are eligible for available scholarship and/or fellowship support. A limited number of merit-based scholarships and fellowships may be awarded to graduate students enrolled in a minimum of six hours of coursework in both long semesters.

Degree Requirements

M.A. Degree in Economics: Three Options

The Department of Economics provides three Master’s tracks: a Thesis Option for those intending to later pursue a Ph.D. in economics, and two Non-Thesis tracks, a traditional flexible option and an applied economics option. The Ph.D. Preparation Option is designed primarily for students who intend to pursue a Ph.D. in economics. This program provides excellent preparation for entry into a Ph.D. program. The second option is the flexible non-thesis program enabling a degree candidate greater flexibility in designing a program to fit one’s interest. A third track, also non-thesis, is the Applied Economic Analysis or "number crunching" option designed to prepare graduates to manage and analyze data sets. In this track there is less emphasis on theory and a greater focus on empirical tools.

M.A. Degree, Thesis: Ph.D. Preparation Option

The Ph.D. Preparation Option in the M.A. degree program is an excellent choice for students intending to obtain a Ph.D. in economics later at another institution. A minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework, plus a minimum of six semester hours of thesis study, is required to obtain the M.A. in economics, Thesis Option. The core course requirements are:

ECON 5301	MATHEMATICS FOR ECONOMISTS (or equivalent)	3
ECON 5310	MICROECONOMIC THEORY	3
ECON 5312	MACROECONOMIC THEORY	3
ECON 5336	APPLIED BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS DATA ANALYSIS	3
ECON 5339	APPLIED BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS DATA ANALYSIS II	3
ECON 5337	BUSINESS & ECONOMIC FORECASTING	3
ECON 5338	APPLIED TIME SERIES	3
ECON 5329	RESEARCH METHODS IN APPLIED ECONOMICS	3
ECON 5698	THESIS (Students develop a thesis topic in consultation with a faculty member who supervises the thesis with other committee members.)	6
Total Hours		30

M.A. Degree, Non-Thesis: Traditional Option

The non-thesis M.A. degree in economics gives a solid foundation in economic theory and the key elements of econometric analysis but is more flexible than the thesis option. It requires a minimum of 36 semester hours of coursework, including 18 hours required core courses. The remaining 18 hours include 6 semester hours in economics and twelve semester hours in supporting subjects with the approval of the graduate advisor. Successful completion of ECON 5329 RESEARCH METHODS IN APPLIED ECONOMICS satisfies the Graduate School requirement of a final master’s examination. This program may be appealing to dual-degree candidates as discussed below.

ECON 5301	MATHEMATICS FOR ECONOMISTS (or equivalent)	3
ECON 5310	MICROECONOMIC THEORY	3
ECON 5312	MACROECONOMIC THEORY	3
ECON 5336	APPLIED BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS DATA ANALYSIS	3
ECON 5339	APPLIED BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS DATA ANALYSIS II	3
ECON 5329	RESEARCH METHODS IN APPLIED ECONOMICS	3
6 HOURS ECON ELECTIVES		6
12 HOURS SUPPORTING SUBJECTS		12
Total Hours		36

  M.A. Degree, Non-Thesis: Applied Economic Analysis Option

The Applied Economic Analysis option in the M.A. program focuses on a major growth area-data analysis. Hal Varian, chief economist at Google, has explained why the demand for data analysis is growing rapidly. Organizations have low-cost computer time, huge quantities of data, and access to software tools that allow data analysis. The problem in using these assets is a shortage of qualified empirical analysts. One must know how to find data, be critical of it, develop it by use of software packages, and explain what has been learned by analysis. Advances in econometrics analysis allow us to better understand key issues, such as pricing and cost, inventory management, population trends, and other issues that impact business and government.

This non-thesis option M.A. in economics requires 36 semester hours of coursework. The focus is on quantitative analysis with a requirement of 18 hours and will normally be taken in the following sequence so analytical tools can be fully developed:

ECON 5336	APPLIED BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS DATA ANALYSIS	3
ECON 5337	BUSINESS & ECONOMIC FORECASTING	3
ECON 5338	APPLIED TIME SERIES	3
ECON 5339	APPLIED BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS DATA ANALYSIS II	3
ECON 5341	ADVANCED BUSINESS AND DATA ANALYTICS	3
ECON 5329	RESEARCH METHODS IN APPLIED ECONOMICS	3
Total Hours		18

ECON 5341 ADVANCED BUSINESS AND DATA ANALYTICS satisfies the Graduate School requirement of a final master’s examination. It is a professional research project that allows the candidate to demonstrate the "number crunching" abilities developed in the program. The resulting work will provide evidence to employers of practical ability to manage and analyze data for a range of private and public organizations. Six semester hours of electives in economics are also required plus twelve semester hours in supporting relevant courses as approved by the graduate advisor. This program may be appealing to dual degree candidates as discussed below and candidates with a strong quantitative and computer-based skill orientation.

Fast Track and Facilitated Programs

The MA ECON program participates in both the Fast Track and Facilitated Admission programs for UT Arlington undergraduates.