Economics, BA / Economics, MA Accelerated Graduate
Students who know early on that they will go on to a master’s degree program in economics should consider the accelerated program. In this program, students can earn both the bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years instead of six.
Accelerated master’s degrees (AMDs) allow high-achieving students to begin graduate-level work before completion of the undergraduate degree. By double-counting some credits for both the bachelor’s and the master’s degree, students can earn both in five years total instead of the usual six.
The curriculum is quite structured in an AMD – specific classes need to be taken at specific times – so early planning is critical to be able to benefit from the time savings built into the program. Students should begin planning in their first year and be prepared to start at an advanced level of Economics that same year.
Students begin the program working on the undergraduate coursework needed for the bachelor’s degree. By the third year, students are taking advanced undergraduate coursework and some graduate coursework at the same time.
Admissions to the AMD will be determined at the start of junior year and is dependent upon meeting the normal criteria for graduate school admissions such as GPA. Students who aren’t admitted to the AMD can continue on in the undergraduate program to earn just the bachelor’s degree as long as they are in good academic standing.
You can read more about AMDs and our FAQ via the UWM Graduate School website.
Program Type
Accelerated Graduate
Program Format
On Campus
Advantages of an Accelerated Master’s Degree:
- Cost Savings — finishing two degrees in five years instead of six saves one full year of tuition cost
- Time Savings — completing both degrees a year early gets you started in your career faster
- Boosted Salary — starting your career with a master’s degree can garner you a higher starting salary
- Rigorous Curriculum — the pace and courses are well-suited to gifted and advanced students
Advancement to Major/Admission
Undergraduate Requirements
Students may declare their interest in the accelerated Economics BA/MA program as soon as they begin at UWM, and should seek advice from the Economics Undergraduate Advisor regarding their choice of courses in the first three years.
Interested students must meet with an academic advisor to determine eligibility for the accelerated graduate degree. If eligible, students must meet minimum Graduate School GPA requirements before taking any graduate (G) level courses as an undergraduate student. To continue in the undergraduate portion of an accelerated program, a student must have a 2.75 GPA in their undergraduate coursework before they take any U/G courses for credit.
Eligible and interested students must apply for admission to the Graduate School no later than March 1st in their junior year.
Note that the required courses for the economics undergraduate major (ECON 103, ECON 104, ECON 210, ECON 301 and ECON 302) need to be completed before admission to the Graduate School.
The following classes are eligible for the completion of the undergraduate research requirement: ECON 404, ECON 411, ECON 413, ECON 426, ECON 432, ECON 447, ECON 448, ECON 454, ECON 455, ECON 506, ECON 513, or ECON 699.
Graduate Admissions Requirements
To be considered for admission into Graduate School prior to completing the undergraduate degree, the student must meet the requirements established by the Economics graduate program and the UWM Graduate School, and be in progress to complete 105 bachelor's credits prior to their first term as a graduate student.
Approved enrollment into graduate level coursework during an undergraduate career does not guarantee admission to graduate school as part of the Accelerated Graduate Degree. Per UWM Graduate School criteria, students must obtain a “B” or better in all courses taken at the graduate level that are to be counted toward a master’s degree.
Double Counted Courses
This accelerated graduate degree involves the following bachelor's and master's degrees: Economics, BA, and Economics, MA. There are 6 forward shared credits and a maximum of 15 backward shared credits for a total of 21 shared credits.
Eligible Forward Shared Courses
Forward shared courses must be taken at the graduate level.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 411G | Economic Forecasting Methods | 3 |
| ECON 413G | Statistics for Economists | 3 |
| ECON 415G | Economics of Employment and Labor Relations | 3 |
| ECON 426G | Public Economics | 3 |
| ECON 432G | Industrial Organization | 3 |
| ECON 447G | Labor Economics | 3 |
| ECON 448G | Economics of Human Resources | 3 |
| ECON 450G | Health Economics | 3 |
| ECON 454G | International Trade | 3 |
| ECON 455G | International Finance | 3 |
| ECON 458G | Selected Topics in Economics: | 3 |
| ECON 506G | Mathematical Economics I | 3 |
| ECON 513G | Introduction to Econometrics | 3 |
Eligible Backward Shared Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 606G | Mathematical Economics II | 3 |
| ECON 701 | Economic Theory: Microeconomics | 4 |
| ECON 702 | Economic Theory: Macroeconomics | 4 |
| ECON 703 | Econometrics | 4 |
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
Students are encouraged to supplement their classroom learning with experiential learning through relevant part-time jobs or internships. Experiential learning is built into the curriculum of the AMD but additional experiences will enhance a resume and better prepare students for their first professional job.
We encourage you to begin exploring career options when you declare your major or at the start of your sophomore year, whichever comes first.