Masters in Applied Economics

Overview

The M.S. in Applied Economics is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in economics, with a strong focus on applied quantitative methods and data analysis.

Students will be introduced to a strong framework for analysis that can be applied to a large variety of areas like business and financial management, market research, international trade, public policy, health economics and public health, and even criminal justice and law.

In a world that is increasingly reliant on big data and analytics, the demand for professionals equipped with these skills will continue to increase.

The MSAE will allow graduates to acquire these much-needed skills and be competitive in the labor market of the future.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the increased complexity of the global economy and a more competitive business environment will foster a rise in demand for economists, particularly for candidates holding a graduate degree.

Specific occupations targeted by this program have a significant job growth projection over the next ten years in Texas: Statisticians (43%), Actuaries (32%), Economists (26%) and Financial Managers (24%).

The 2020 to 2030 job growth projection in Texas for the main occupations targeted by the MSAE is 19.5% which is higher than for the Nation’s projection of 13.1%.

The job posting intensity for the MSAE target occupations in Texas and the nation is above average, which indicates that employers are trying harder to hire for these positions.

At the national level, the MSAE target occupations are projected to grow 14.7% in the next ten years.

Economics consistently ranks at the top of many earnings rankings. As a recent example, the online salary database Payscale.com analyzed 134,309 salary profiles for employees holding a master’s degree between 2015 and 2017. Finance and Economics ranked 3rd, with a median mid-career pay of $134,000 per year. It was the highest ranked business-related field, with only nurse anesthesia and telecommunications engineering ranking higher (the study was picked up by monster.com and can be found here ).

Furthermore, in terms of employment for Economists, Texas ranks 4th in the US and the Houston - The Woodlands - Sugarland metropolitan area ranks as 2nd in Texas.

Economics has the largest skill gap between job posting and workforce profiles of all the top hard skills.

FINANCING:

1. Scholarship info
2. Application fee: $50 or $90 for international

ADD:

1. Link to admissions
2. Courses descriptions
3. Link to SHSU “graduate journey”: https://www.shsu.edu/beabearkat/graduate-journey/
4. "Rolling admissions?"

PROGRAM CURRICULUM

The MSAE is set up to accommodate full time students as well as working professionals. You do not have to quit your current job.

The program can be finished in as little as one year for those taking a full class load or two years for those that want a slower pace.

All the classes are online whichwith provides even additional flexibility.

Below is an example of the recommended sequence of classes for full-time students that want to finish in one year and two years for part-time students.

Full-time students in the one-year program take rows 1 and 2 at the same time.
Part-time students in the two-year program take row 1 in the first year and row 2 in the second year.