100% Online Master of Arts in Economics

Analyze Global Trends to Find the Best Growth Opportunities

Located in Virginia. Serving the World.

Prepare to enhance your career with a unique skill set to address pressing domestic and global issues. The online Master of Arts in Economics from George Mason University offers you an environment to gain advanced economic expertise in courses designed by internationally renowned faculty. Prepare to meet your professional goals by learning how to apply your knowledge of economic theory and critical analytical skills toward real-world challenges.

Mason’s unique approach to economic theory fuses scholarship in the fields of public choice (founded by Nobel Laureate and former Mason professor, the late James Buchanan), Austrian economics, and experimental economics (the latter founded by Nobel Laureate and Mason professor emeritus Vernon Smith).

Seek your MA in Economics in a flexible online format that accommodates your busy schedule, and you’ll have the option to join us full-time or part-time. Plus, access a range of professional opportunities after graduation through lifetime access to Mason Career Services.

Discover the rich online learning experiences available exclusively from Virginia’s largest research university. Plus, capitalize on the proven career and advancement achieved by graduates of Mason’s online programs.

You Can Finish in 18 Months

Top 10: Online Master’s Degrees for ROI1

Top 20: Most Innovative Schools2

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Economics Courses Designed to Maximize Your ROI

Mason’s renowned faculty take a practical approach to economics education, emphasizing the importance of sound theory and application. Learn from their expertise as you gain foundational knowledge for conducting economic analyses that account for the connectivity of the business, political, and legal sectors. You’ll complete 10 online courses to accrue 30 credit hours, getting to select electives in areas that match your career goals.

The core and elective courses include:

Market Process Theory

This course introduces the main theories and insights of the Austrian school of economics with an emphasis on their relevance for analyzing a variety of “real-world” issues.

Experimental Economics

Delve into design and analysis strategies for experimental economics, including the science of economic exchange.

Public Economics

The course first examines the foundations of welfare economics. Then, market failures are used to examine the major types of public expenditures in many countries. The second part of this course investigates the foundations and applications of public choice economics.

Economics Capstone

Conduct a research project that draws from the core theory and quantitative methods expertise gained through this program.

Rigorous Academic Standards. Flexible Online Format.

At Mason, we design online programs to offer innovative experiences that propel your ambitions. Like our students on campus, you’ll benefit from our commitment to academic rigor and integrity while learning from the same renowned faculty. And the online format means you can seek an impressive graduate degree or certificate without leaving home, while stationed abroad, and even while traveling. Plus, access advising services online to get the guidance you need to graduate.

Start a Positive Trend for Your Economics Career

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the need for economists will increase by 6% from 2021 to 2031, faster than most other occupations. Gain skills through Mason’s online MA in Economics program, to prepare you to be competitive for positions with a median salary that may exceed $105,000 per year.3

8 Rewarding Roles for Mason’s Economics Graduates

  • Actuary
  • Economic Analyst
  • Investment Analyst
  • Legislative Correspondent
  • Quantitative Analyst
  • Policy Analyst
  • Research Scientist
  • Statistician

Bringing Mason to Learners Worldwide

George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 39,000 students from 130 countries and 50 states. With online programs that draw from our spirit as a leader in scholarship and research, Mason prepares graduates to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

“The program was well-organized, with easy-to-follow assignments and projects throughout the program. As someone more quantitatively oriented, I really enjoyed the Econometrics and Causal Inference classes, with both coming in handy in our capstone project. These skills have carried over to my career as an institutional investor, as I have a better understanding of the applied statistics utilized by quantitative hedge funds and the arguments presented by macro hedge funds. The program also had an unintended benefit in that I’ve become a better writer and better presenter when I’m looking to make an argument. This shows the most when trying to convince my colleagues to move forward or terminate a money manager. Lastly, although not specifically covered, the program reopened my eyes to other areas of economics that I’m extremely interested in, including risk-taking, behavioral economics, neuroeconomics, and game theory.”

—Michael Ijeh

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Sources:

  1. OnlineU. Best Online Master’s Programs: Online Master’s Degrees with the Highest Return on Investment. Retrieved June 13, 2022, from https://www.onlineu.com/.
  2. U.S. News and World Report. George Mason University Rankings. Retrieved June 13, 2022, from https//www.usnews.com/.
  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Economists. Retrieved September 13, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/.