Earn a B.S. and M.A. in economics in as little as five years.
VCU offers an accelerated B.S. to M.A. degree for qualified economics majors whereby students may earn both the B.S. and M.A. in economics in as little as five years. Students accepted into the program may complete up to 12 hours (four courses) of 600-level graduate economics courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. However, entry into an accelerated program does not constitute application or admission into the M.A. program. Admission to the M.A. program requires a separate step that occurs through a formal application.
Graduate courses taken while an undergraduate student will count toward both the B.S. and M.A. degrees. Thus, the two degrees may be earned with as few as 138 credits rather than the 150 credits necessary if the two degrees are pursued separately. Graduate courses taken while an undergraduate will be billed at undergraduate rates.
While our data analysis course, ECON 501: Econometrics, is an elective in our undergraduate program, it is required for our Master’s program. The M.A. program is focused on data analytics and requires a total of four econometrics courses as well as a course in mathematical economics. Solid math skills are necessary for success.
This program is available to economics majors in both the School of Business and the College of Humanities and Sciences. You may apply to the accelerated program at the end of your junior year.