Bachelor of Arts in Economics

As an economics major at Mason, you will be studying in one of the top economics programs in the world. You will be taking classes from professors well-known for their scholarship, their regular contributions in major national media such as the New York Times and the Washington Post, and their engaging blogs such as Café Hayek and Marginal Revolution. Two Nobel Prize winners, who were members of our department, set in place our strong foundation in free market economics, public choice, and experimental economics. You will join bright and energetic students from all over the world who are active in organizations like our own Economics Society. You will have opportunities to pursue your own original research or an accelerated master’s degree, to study abroad, or to reach your career goals through internships. Students have interned at small entrepreneurial companies to large financial institutions such as the Bank of America. They also find internships in government, including the US Department of the Treasury, the Department of Commerce, and in congressional offices and Washington DC think tanks. Our majors achieve success in a range of careers. They are financial analysts and economic forecasters, lawyers, managers, researchers in government, think tanks, and non-profits, entrepreneurs—even medical professionals and musicians. The great benefit of an economics degree is its versatility. Our department offers two degrees in economics. The BA in Economics is designed for students with a strong interest in a broad education in the liberal arts tradition. You will develop the critical thinking skills particularly valuable for law school or graduate programs in business or public administration. The BS in Economics provides a stronger emphasis on quantitative analysis. You will be well prepared for a career as an analyst in government, consulting, trade associations, or other private sector positions, and for graduate school in economics or more quantitative business administration programs.

High school diploma; SAT or ACT score may be required; 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.