Five-Year BA + MA Program

Considering going to graduate school to get that great start on your career? Want to acquire skills that are in high demand in the labor market? Our MA in Applied Economics is the graduate program for you! Our program combines the analytical skills of economics with a strong set of statistical and quantitative skills to provide you the winning edge in the job market.

Undergraduate economics and business economics majors at the University of Cincinnati now have the opportunity to earn the MA in Applied Economics as a natural extension of their undergraduate work. The Five-Year BA + MA program allows students who have elective hours in their senior year to begin taking graduate classes during their senior year. After earning the BA degree, students will be formally admitted to the Graduate School and can earn a graduate degree with one additional academic year of graduate coursework.

Eligibility and Application

To be eligible for the Economics Five-Year BA+MA program the student must:

  • Be able to take 15 graduate credits during their senior year beyond what is required for their undergraduate degree. Typically this means that because of AP credits, summer, or overload courses students will begin your 4th year of undergraduate studies with at least 150 credit hours.
  • Have at least a B average.
  • Have done very well in intermediate micro and macroeconomics.
  • Have done well in at least one course in calculus and one course in statistics.

An application for the program is available here.

New students usually begin their coursework during the Fall quarter. Applications are typically due no later than May 1 -- but will be accepted this year until September 1, 2009.

Program Details

To be able to complete the MA degree in one additional year past your undergraduate degree you will have to take the following graduate courses during your senior year:

Fall Quarter
Economics 650-Microeconomic Theory I
Economics 671-Economic Data Analysis I

Winter Quarter
Economics 651-Microeconomic Theory II
Economics 672-Economic Data Analysis II

Spring Quarter
Economics 673-Economic Data Analysis III

When taking graduate courses in the senior year, students will be charged undergraduate tuition for a full-time course load. After earning the BA degree, students will be formally admitted to the Graduate School and be charged graduate tuition for their coursework. Students in the Five-Year BA + MA program receive a UGS tuition scholarship equal to 25% of graduate tuition for one year of full-time graduate study.

Requirements for Formal Admission to the MA Program

If you earn at least a B average in the graduate-level courses taken during your senior year, you will be eligible for admission to the MA in Applied Economics Program. To be formally admitted the student:

  • Must provide confirmation of the BA degree to the Economics department
  • Must complete the online Graduate Admissions form

Requirements of the MA Program

Students in the Five-Year BA + MA program must meet all the departmental requirements to earn the Master's degree.