Master's Students

Buchanan Hall and Johnson Center, Main CampusThe master's degree in economics strengthens students' knowledge of economic theory and improves their skills in applying the theory to economic problems. The master's program prepares graduates for the multitude of research and policy positions in the Washington, D.C., area. Graduates are qualified to read and judge others' research and to conduct their own, either individually or as members of research teams in government or business. They are also prepared to write policy analysis articles.

The MA degree program is a self-contained course of study for students who are not planning to pursue the PhD program at George Mason University. Students who plan to pursue the PhD degree should apply directly to the doctoral program. They can earn a master’s while pursuing the PhD.

These pages summarize the primary rules regarding the Master's in Economics program. Some of these rules are departmental in origin, while others are established by the university or the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.