Economics
Department of Agricultural Economics & Economics
The economics program, with its flexibility, offers the opportunity to acquire a general university education and the necessary background and preparation for many career objectives. Economics majors pursue a wide variety of careers after graduation. Students with a bachelor's degree in economics are often employed in the financial, retailing, and industrial sectors of the economy. Economics majors also work in such diverse fields as actuarial science, elementary and secondary education, journalism, investment banking, securities analysis, corporate finance, insurance, law, politics, and environmental regulation, as well as in government and academia. Graduate schools regard a degree in economics as excellent preparation for advanced work toward a degree in law as well as a Ph.D. in a number of social science fields such as economics, international relations, public policy, and political science. Economics is also an excellent undergraduate major for students seeking an MBA. What can be done with an education in economics is unlimited!
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 some similarities, each is geared towards 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 eventually earn a PhD, 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.