The College of Arts and Science (CAS) and the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) offer students in many departments — including the Economics Department — the opportunity to earn both the bachelor's degree and the master's degree in a shorter period of time and at less cost than is normally the case. It even allows for the possibility that the department of the master's degree is different from that of the bachelor's degree.
Qualifying students are typically accepted into a program toward the end of the sophomore year or the beginning of the junior year. In their remaining undergraduate semesters, they can then accelerate by taking some graduate courses during regular terms. (There is no summer program in economics). In the graduate portion of the program, they can qualify for a scholarship covering up to 50 percent of the tuition for the master's degree.
The program is intended for students whose career goals will be furthered by graduate — level training but do not plan — at least not immediately — to go on for doctoral work in the field of their M.A.
Curriculum
Students in the program must satisfy all of the requirements of both the bachelor's degree and the master's degree; there is no double-counting of courses. The main difference between the B.A./M.A. program and the typical process of taking two degrees without overlap over six years is that students are allowed to take M.A. courses before they complete the B.A. degree.
In order to complete the B.A./M.A. program in economics within five years, students are advised to complete at least a fourth of the M.A. requirements before the beginning of the fifth year. In the case of the M.A. in economics which requires 32 credits, this means taking at least three 3-credit graduate courses as overloads before they complete their B.A. The student must then take five 3-credit graduate courses in the first semester of their fifth year (a one course overload) and take two 3-credit graduate courses in their second semester. In their second semester, the student must also write their special project report which, although only worth 2 credits, constitutes a significant workload. Students can accelerate more rapidly by taking additional graduate courses before they complete the B.A.
Students are advised to complete some of the core, required M.A. courses, namely Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Math for Economists, before they take elective M.A. courses. Please review the M.A. program's page for information on core courses which are required to complete the degree.
Admission and Eligibility Criteria
The B.A./M.A. program is open only to NYU undergraduates who are matriculated in the College of Arts and Science (CAS). Applicants must have completed a minimum of 48 credits toward the bachelor's degree but not more than 96 credits or six semesters, whichever comes first (Advanced Placement (AP) credits may be counted for this purpose).
Click here for the criteria for admissions.
GSAS requires the submission of a formal graduate school application for admission to the B.A./M.A. program, but the usual GRE requirement will be waived. Students will be officially admitted to the Graduate School when they have completed their undergraduate requirements, which must be no later than their eighth semester.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
The dual-degree program features a tuition scholarship ensuring that students pay for no more than 50 percent of the credits required for the master's portion of the program. The scholarship is provided on completion of the bachelor's degree. It is calculated on the basis of the remaining credits needed for the master's degree and the additional payments the student made in order to accelerate study while matriculated for the bachelor's degree (tuition for more than 18 points during a regular semester or for any summer courses). The tuition scholarship will remain available for twelve months after the completion of the undergraduate degree.
Once students matriculate in GSAS, they also become eligible for loan programs available only to graduate students.
Application Procedures
Students apply for admission to the BA/MA Program through the CAS Advising Center (Silver Center, 9th floor). They do not submit an application for admission to the Graduate School. All admissions advising and processing are handled by the CAS Advising Center.
To apply, CAS Advising asks the student to complete a special version of the GSAS admissions application (it is labeled “Application for Combined Bachelor's/Master's Program” and is available from the CAS Advising Center), two letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. CAS forwards the completed application to the department or program for consideration and the department then notifies CAS of the admissions decision. The Graduate School is not involved in admissions at this time.
After the student has successfully completed the undergraduate requirements, the CAS Advising Center notifies GSAS Graduate Enrollment Services (GES) that the student may be admitted to the master's program. CAS Advising forwards the original application materials to GES. The student is mailed an official letter of admission to the master's program from the Graduate School and information about the scholarship program is included.
The GSAS requirement to take the GRE is waived for students in the BA/MA program. However, they must still provide GES with two official and final copies of their academic transcripts showing proof of receipt of the bachelor's degree.
Advisement and Questions
General information and advisement about the program is available in the College Advising Center, 726 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10003. As early as possible, students should discuss with an adviser how the program might fit into both their curricular program and their longer-range plans.
Questions about eligibility for, or application to, the BA/MA Program should be directed to the CAS Advising Center through emailing cas-gsas-group@nyu.edu or calling (212) 998-8130.
Students are also encouraged to discuss their plans with their undergraduate major adviser. Only after they have seen their undergraduate major adviser should they see advisers in the intended master's program.