MS in Applied Economics

GW’s Master of Science in Applied Economics provides students with the tools to succeed as economists in today’s data-driven world. Our graduates learn how to draw meaningful implications from data and integrate economic analysis into their professional lives. They apply economic theory and quantitative methods to real-world problems such as measuring the impacts of government programs and forecasting economic trends.
 

Classes are taught by a diverse faculty, utilizing both GW’s internationally recognized economics professors and professionals from local economic organizations. Our faculty brings to the classroom a combination of practical experience and deep knowledge. GW’s proximity to the institutions and resources of the nation’s capital adds an educational dimension not available elsewhere. Coursework includes not only training in economics but also data science, budgeting and public policy, and geographic information systems. Students also have the option to take up to two electives at the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration, the School of Business, the Milken Institute School of Public Health or the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

The MS in Applied Economics is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security STEM-designated degree program, which provides student visa holders with the opportunity for two additional years of post-graduation employment in the United States.


Program Highlights

  • Full- or part-time enrollment options accommodate busy schedules; many students come to the program while continuing current employment in the Washington area.
  • Curriculum includes research and practical data-based projects, enabling students to demonstrate proven skills to existing or prospective employers.
  • Through GW’s partnership with the World Bank’s Data Lab University Data Fellows Program, students have the opportunity to work with World Bank economists on their projects of global significance.
  • Funding is available for students to complete internships and work with professors, either on research or in their classrooms.
  • Students have the option to enroll simultaneously in a graduate certificate program in a variety of different fields.

  • One-on-one faculty advising on course selection and career opportunities provides students with needed guidance.

  • A communication workshop helps students hone oral and written skills for presentation of economic analyses.

  • Our partnership with the National Association of Business Economists gives our students the opportunity to prepare for the Certified Business Economist® (CBE) professional certification in business economics and data analytics while completing their degree.

  • Program specialties in budgetary and fiscal policy, regulatory and anti-trust economics, financial regulation, economic forecasting, development economics, labor and human resource economics, international trade, financial policy and urban and regional economics support a broad array of career possibilities.


Information Session Recording


Student Outcomes

  • Identify economic questions and successfully answer them using the theoretical tools of micro- or macroeconomics and the quantitative tools of data analysis and econometrics.
  • Learn to review existing literature to understand what experts in the field already know about a given economic issue.
  • Use modern data visualization techniques and public speaking skills to effectively teach an audience something new.
  • Build a strong foundational knowledge in ethical writing practice to avoid common plagiarism and copyright pitfalls in research and written work.
  • Develop teamwork skills, problem-solving skills and the economic thinking needed to address any real-world economic issues. 

Employers of GW MS in Applied Economics Graduates

Graduates of our program work for a wide range of employers across the globe, spanning consulting, banking/finance, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and international organizations. We collected data on where they currently work from the LinkedIn profiles of members of our LinkedIn alumni group. Not all of our graduates are members of this group but a majority of them are. If more than one graduate with the same employer works at the same location, then the number of graduates is shown in parentheses; graduates currently pursuing further studies are omitted. It's worth looking over!

Consulting
84.51° Chicago, IL
Acumen Washington, D.C.
Ardent Eagle Solutions Washington, D.C.
Augur Consulting Washington, D.C.
Baryonyx Management Consulting Washington, D.C.
Bates White (4) Washington, D.C.
BDO USA Chicago, IL
Berkeley Research Group Emeryville, CA
Booz Allen San Diego, CA
Coherent Economics Chicago, IL
Compass Lexecon (2) Washington, D.C.
Committee for Economic Development (Conference Board) New York, NY
Deloitte Washington, D.C.
Deloitte Shanghai, China
EconOne Los Angeles, CA
Econ One Washington, D.C.
Edgeworth Economics Washington, D.C.
FI Consulting Arlington, VA
FTI Consulting Washington, D.C.
Gormley Group Washington, D.C.
Guidehouse Washington, D.C.
ICF Consulting (2) Reston, VA
Independent Project Analysis Arlington, VA
Morning Consult Washington, D.C.
PBMares Harrisonburg, VA
Technomics (2) Arlington, VA
TransVoyant Annapolis, MD
Viridios AI Nashville, TN

 

U.S. Federal and State Government Agencies
Auditor of Public Accounts Frankfort, KY
Bureau of Labor Statistics (2) Washington, D.C.
Bureau of Labor Statistics Chicago, IL
Coast Guard Washington, D.C.
Congressional Budget Office Washington, D.C.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission Washington, D.C.
Council of Economic Advisors Cambridge, MA
Department of Commerce (2) Washington, D.C.
Department of Labor Washington, D.C.
Energy Information Administration (2) Washington, D.C.
Famine Early Warning Systems Network (USAID) Washington, D.C.
Federal Reserve Bank San Francisco, CA
Federal Reserve Board (2) Washington, D.C.
Dept. of Health and Human Services Rockville, MD
International Trade Administration Arlington, VA
International Trade Commission Washington, D.C.
New York State Homes and Community Renewal New York, NY
Nuclear Regulatory Comission Washington, D.C.
Office of Personnel Management Washington, D.C.
Siskiyou County Economic Development Council Yreka, CA
Department of Treasury (2) Washington, D.C.
U.S. Army Washington, D.C.
U.S. Postal Service Washington, D.C.

 

Banking/Finance
American Bankers Association Washington, D.C.
B.Riley Financial Arlington, VA
Fannie Mae (2) Washington, D.C.
Fidelity Investments Boston, MA
Freddie Mac (2) Washington, D.C.
JP Morgan New York, NY
Morgan Stanley Baltimore, MD
State Street Washington, D.C.
Visa San Fransisco, CA

 

Other Private Sector
AvalonBay Communities Washington, D.C.
American Staffing Association Alexandria, VA
Association for Talent Development Arlington, VA
Boeing Seattle, WA
CandleScience Raleigh, NC
Computer and Communications Industry Association Washington, D.C.
Education Week Bethesda, MD
Gannett Washington, D.C.
Marriott International Bethesda, MD
MEG International Counsel Washington, D.C.
Washington Gas Washington, D.C.

 

International Organizations
African Development Bank Abuja, Nigeria
International Fund for Agricultural Development Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
International Monetary Fund (9) Washington, D.C.
United Nations New York, NY
World Bank Washington, D.C.

 

Nonprofit Organizations
Carlson Global Institute Minneapolis, MN
Economic Policy Institute Washington, D.C.
Foundation for Government Accountability Tampa, FL
Harvard Business School Cambridge, MA
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation Washington, D.C.
National Association of Counties (2) Washington, D.C.
Rocky Mountain Institute Washington, D.C.
Wellspring Philanthropic Fund Silver Spring, MD

 

Other International Employers
Bank of Kuwait Kuwait City, Kuwait
Bank of Namibia Windhoek, Namibia
Central Bank of Jordan Amman, Jordan
Gökmen Gastronomi Ankara, Turkey
IDInsight Lusaka, Zambia
KFH Capital Kuwait City, Kuwait
Landsvirkjun Reykjavik, Iceland
National Grid London, UK
NetEase Hangzhou, China
Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems Lagos, Nigeria
Pactera Beijing, China
ParkRisson Beijing, China
Payments Canada Toronto, Canada
Saudi Central Bank (4) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Sunyaar Tehran, Iran
Tadiran Group Petah Tikva, Israel
Warba Bank Kuwait City, Kuwait

 


Course Requirements

 The following requirements must be fulfilled: 30 credits, including 18 credits in required courses and 12 credits in elective courses.
Required
ECON 6300Mathematical Methods for Economics
ECON 6301Applied Microeconomic Theory
ECON 6305Applied Macroeconomic Theory
ECON 6374Probability and Statistics for Economics
ECON 6375Applied Econometrics
ECON 6376Time Series Analysis
Electives
12 credits in elective Economics (ECON) courses at the 6000 level or above selected in consultation with the program director.
Note: ECON 6217, ECON 6218, and ECON 6219 may not be used to fulfill the elective requirement. With program approval, students may select up to two graduate-level courses offered by the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration, School of Business, Milken Institute School of Public Health, and/or School of Engineering and Applied Science to fulfill the elective requirement. Courses in other graduate programs may meet this requirement subject to approval by the program director.