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Department of Economics


Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Economics at The University of Texas at San Antonio is to offer courses and degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels that provide students with the opportunity to gain the necessary theoretical and quantitative tools in economics such that they can understand and apply economics in their daily lives, seek advanced degrees in economics, pursue careers in the global marketplace, and engage in public policy-making. It is also the mission of the department to provide an environment for its faculty and students to engage in research that will further the understanding of economics and enhance the reputation of the Department, the College of Business, and the University.

Master of Business Administration Degree – Business Economics Concentration

The Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree with a concentration in Business Economics is accredited by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business—and conforms to recommended guidelines.

This concentration is designed to offer the opportunity for qualified graduate students to study business administration at the graduate level with particular emphasis in business economics. It assists students in preparing for economics-related careers in the business environment and government or for graduate study in economics at the doctoral level.

Students choosing to concentrate in business economics must complete the 24 semester credit hours of courses containing the M.B.A. Core and 12 semester credit hours as follows:

ECO   6033   Macroeconomic Issues
ECO   6103   Econometrics and Business Forecasting
6 semester credit hours of graduate economics elective courses

Master of Arts Degree in Economics

The Master of Arts degree in Economics (M.A.E.) blends the traditional social sciences-oriented master’s program in economics with modern applied and analytical tools. It is designed to prepare students for careers in a wide range of professional fields or further graduate study in economics. Students may choose a thesis or nonthesis option. The program and admissions are supervised by the Economics Graduate Program Committee, which includes the Economics Graduate Advisor. General requirements for completion of the program consist of required courses, electives, and a comprehensive examination.

Program Admission Requirements. For admission to the M.A.E. program, applicants must meet University-wide graduate admission requirements. Applicants are further considered on the basis of potential for success in graduate study in economics as indicated by a combination of records in the applicant’s application package, including:

  • a completed application form
  • transcripts from all universities attended
  • official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores
  • letters of reference (optional)
  • a statement of purpose (optional).

The Economics Graduate Admissions Committee evaluates each applicant individually based on the stated records. Accepted students are required to have completed an undergraduate degree before the start of the Master’s program. Also, students with noneconomics undergraduate degrees may be required to take some undergraduate or graduate courses in addition to degree requirements.

Degree Requirements. Students must complete 33 semester credit hours and a comprehensive examination.

  1. 12 semester credit hours of required economics graduate courses:

    ECO   6013   Microeconomic Theory
    ECO   6033   Macroeconomic Issues
    ECO   6103   Econometrics and Business Forecasting
    ECO   6113   Mathematical Economics

  2. 21 semester credit hours of elective graduate work, 9 of which may be noneconomics courses, contingent upon approval by the Economics Graduate Advisor. With approval of the advisor, students with graduate credits in a noneconomics field may apply up to 9 hours of graduate work to fulfill the noneconomics elective requirements. In the case of students who have not had similar courses in their undergraduate program, College of Business 5003-numbered courses other than ECO 5003 Economic Theory and Policy may, upon the Graduate Advisor’s approval, qualify as electives, but only if the 5023 course in the same field is also completed.

    Such electives may be desirable for those with a prospect of entering the Ph.D. program in Business Administration at UTSA. Students pursuing the thesis option may fulfill up to 6 semester credit hours of the elective work with a thesis. Economics elective courses are economics graduate courses not in the student’s required course sequence, including:

    ECO   6203   Government and Business
    ECO   6213   Public Sector Economics
    ECO   6323   International Trade and Finance
    ECO   6403   Financial Economics
    ECO   6523   Labor Economics
    ECO   6543   Healthcare Economics and Policy
    ECO   6553   Urban and Regional Economics
    ECO   6971-3   Special Topics

  3. Comprehensive Examination. Students must pass a comprehensive examination administered by their graduate committee. This examination is normally taken in the semester before or during the semester in which degree requirements are completed. During the first month of the appropriate semester, the student informs the Economics Graduate Advisor of the intent to take the examination and requests the formation of the committee. The committee consists of the Economics Graduate Advisor and two other faculty members, who may be recommended by the student. One committee member may be a noneconomics faculty member. If the thesis option is adopted, the thesis supervisor is a member of the committee.

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