Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics
The Department of Agricultural Economics & Economics offers two graduate programs: the Graduate Certificate in Applied Economic Analysis and the Master of Science in Applied Economics. Although the two programs share similarities, each is geared toward students with different situations and goals.
The Graduate Certificate in Applied Economic Analysis is suitable for:
- current advanced MSU undergraduates who want to add graduate-level skills while simultaneously completing their undergraduate degree
- Professionals and MSU employees interested in graduate-level economics courses without the full commitment of a thesis-based master's program. A certificate provides a clearer market signal than simply enrolling as a non-degree-seeking student.
- Graduate students in other quantitative fields at MSU who would like to add economics or econometric analysis to their analytic toolkit.
The M.S. in Applied Economics is suitable for:
- Recent college graduates who want to increase their market value. Strong quantitative skills are highly valued in almost every industry. Undergo rigorous coursework to land a high-paying job as an analyst or data scientist.
- Those looking for a funded graduate program. Unlike many master’s programs, the M.S. in Applied Economics at Montana State offers funding to most accepted applicants. Although the stipend amount varies from year to year, it is commensurate with the cost of living. 70% of tuition costs are waived.
- Those who aspire to an economics PhD. If you aim to earn a PhD eventually, this program will increase your chances of getting into a highly-ranked school. First-year coursework helps bridge the gap between the undergraduate level and highly technical PhD coursework. In the second year, students gain research experience by writing a thesis of publishable quality. During both years, students build relationships with faculty members who can effectively communicate academic strengths in letters of recommendation.