Students considering graduate school in Economics should prepare by taking Economics courses in areas you are most interested in, along with advanced Math courses that emphasize the technical skills necessary for a graduate education in economics. Please note that the advanced math courses listed below are not necessary for preparing for most MBA or Master's of Finance programs.
These Economics courses provide the tools used by most economists and will help to prepare you for Econ Ph.D. and some Master's of Econ programs:
ECON 203 – Intermediate Microeconomics (or RES-ECON 202 – Price Theory)
ECON 204 – Intermediate Macroeconomics
ECON 309 – Game Theory
ECON 201 - Introduction to Econometrics
ECON 452 – Econometrics
ECON 503 - Advanced Microeconomic Theory
ECON 504 - Advanced Macroeconomic Theory
The following math courses should be taken as well to prepare for Econ Ph.D. and some Master's of Econ programs:
MATH 131 – Calculus I (rather than Math 127)
MATH 132 – Calculus II (rather than Math 128)
STATISTICS 315 – Statistics I
MATH 233 – Multivariate Calculus
MATH 235 – Introduction to Linear Algebra
MATH 331 – Ordinary Differential Equations
Students may also want to consider a second major or minor in mathematics or statistics. Questions regarding the Math major or minor requirements should be directed to an Academic Advisor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics: math.umass.edu/undergraduate/advising.
If you would like to talk about graduate school further with an Economics advisor, you may want to talk with Valerie Voorheis. Appointments with Professor Voorheis may be made in Navigate. Please choose the Graduate School service when booking your appointment - not Economics General Advising. Thank you.