M.A. in Economics

Hunter College offers an exciting master’s program in economics, taught by a distinguished faculty.

• Classes are held on weekday evenings, and the program can be completed in a little over a year.
• Graduates are equipped with the statistical and analytical tools necessary for careers in data science, finance and public policy.
• Many graduates also transition to PhD programs in top-ranked economics and social science departments.

This program offers a fantastic opportunity to spend a year:

• Living in New York City
• Studying at a renowned public university
• Discovering the intellectual pleasures of economics
• Gaining significant professional advancement

• Economics is a unique social science that helps you think about society and everyday interactions in a whole new light.
• Economics emphasizes the most pressing global welfare and policy problems.
• Economists are highly employable. They have technical skills that are valued in a wide range of industries.

Why study economics at Hunter?

• Hunter College is a senior college in the City University of New York, the largest urban university in the U.S. It is located on the beautiful upper east side of Manhattan.
• The professors in the Department of Economics are accomplished academics with a broad range of specializations (behavioral economics, media, healthcare, development, crime, firms, labor).
• Economics masters students have extensive interaction with professors and opportunities to meet outside speakers and learn about the latest research in economics at regular seminars.
• Ours is a tried-and-tested rigorous program. Recent graduates have joined:
  • Major financial firms including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.
  • International organizations including the United Nations and the World Bank.
  • Top PhD programs including Princeton, Berkeley and Chicago.
• Classes are held in the evenings so that students can pursue employment or other activities during the day.
• Hunter offers an incredible value for money—a top-notch education from a highly-regarded program, without the price tag.

• Applications must be submitted through the Graduate Admissions website.
• Formal requirements are listed in the Hunter College Course Catalog. If you have questions or would like to discuss your particular circumstances, contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Professor Karna Basu.
  • Applications must include a statement of purpose, all past academic transcripts and two letters of recommendation.
  • The GRE is not required for fall 2021 applicants.
  • Applicants should have successfully completed undergraduate courses in intermediate microeconomics, intermediate macroeconomics, statistics, econometrics and calculus. (Ideally, students should also have completed multivariable calculus and matrix algebra. However, these are no longer formal requirements as the redesigned M.A. program includes mathematical methods.)

Here is an outline of the M.A. program:

• Summer: Math Camp (free course)
• Fall: ECO 700 (Math for Economics), ECO 701 (Microeconomic Theory), ECO 721 (Econometrics I)
• Winter: ECO 727 (Research Methods I)
• Spring: ECO 703 (Macroeconomic Theory), ECO 722 (Econometrics II)
• Research requirement: ECO 798 (MA Thesis — any semester) or ECO 797 (Research Methods II — summer/fall)
• In addition to the above, students must take three graduate electives.

Depending on when you start taking M.A. courses, how quickly you wish to proceed and remaining undergraduate coursework, you may take the above courses in a “Full Time” or “Part Time” manner.

For more information, contact the Director of Graduate Admissions, Professor Karna Basu.