Dual Degree: Master of Arts - Economics & Master of Science - Mathematical Sciences

Plan Description

The dual Master of Arts – Economics and Master of Science – Mathematical Sciences combine economic reasoning with mathematical methods. The program attracts students with focused career choices that require core competence in analytical skills and mathematical methods. It also prepares students with interests in pursuing a Ph.D. in economics with substantial quantitative skills, or a Ph.D. in Mathematics with economic applications. We believe that the analytical nature of the program will attract high quality undergraduates.

The MA – Economics portion of the dual degree program advances students’ knowledge in macro- and micro-economic theory. It also provides students with econometrics as well as developing their communication skills. The MS – Mathematical Sciences portion of the dual degree program is designed to equip graduate students with a solid foundation of mathematics, statistics, and real-world applications.

The MS – Mathematical Sciences portion of the dual degree is designed to equip graduate students with a solid foundation of mathematics, statistics, and real-world applications. The MA – Economics portion of the dual degree advances students’ knowledge in macro- and micro-economic theory. It also provides students with econometrics as well as developing their communication skills.

For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Directory.

Plan Admission Requirements

Application deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

The Departments of Economics and Mathematical Sciences welcome applications from college graduates in all fields. All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements. Applicants must satisfy the minimum admission requirements of the MA – Economics program and the MS – Mathematics program. If denied by one program, the applicant will have the option of proceeding with a single degree program with departmental approval.

Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.

Plan Requirements

Total Credits Required: 51

Course Requirements 

Total Credits Required for the Economics M.A.: 24

Required Courses – Credits: 18

ECO 701 - Macroeconomic Theory  

ECO 702 - Microeconomic Theory  

ECO 740 - Mathematical Economics  

ECO 770 - Econometrics I, Statistical Modeling  

ECO 772 - Econometrics II  

ECO 793 - Seminar in Economic Research  

Elective Courses – Credits: 3

Complete 3 credits of ECO electives at the 600- or 700-level.

Professional Paper – Credits: 3

ECO 794 - Professional Paper  

Total Credits Required for the Mathematical Sciences M.S.: 27

Required Courses – Credits: 18

Complete 18 credits from the following list of courses:

MAT 657 - Introduction to Real Analysis I  

MAT 663 - Advanced Matrix Theory and Applications  

MAT 707 - Real Analysis I  

MAT 709 - Complex Function Theory I  

MAT 723 - Advanced Ordinary Differential Equations I  

MAT 771 - Applied Analysis I  

STA 761 - Regression Analysis I  

STA 762 - Regression Analysis II  

STA 767 - Mathematical Statistics I  

STA 768 - Mathematical Statistics II  

Elective Courses – Credits: 3

Complete 3 credits of 600- or 700-level MAT or STA courses (excluding MAT 711 & 712), or other advisor-approved graduate-level courses.

Thesis – Credits: 6

Complete six credits in one of the following courses:

MAT 791 - Thesis  

STA 791 - Thesis  

Degree Requirements 

1. A minimum of 51 credits of graduate work is required for the Dual M.S. and M.A. Program in Mathematics and Economics.
2. Completion of a minimum of 24 credits for the Economics M.A. and a minimum of 27 credits for the Mathematical Sciences M.S. with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
3. 18 of the 21 credits of economics coursework (excluding professional paper) must be at the 700-level.
4. 15 of the 21 credits of mathematics coursework (excluding thesis) must be at the 700-level.
5. A student will be placed on academic probation if a minimum of 3.00 GPA is not maintained in all work taken in the degree program. A grade of C or less in one graduate-level course will cause a student to be placed on academic probation and will elicit a critical review of the student’s program by the Graduate Studies Committee. Failure to meet the requirements of probation will result in separation from the graduate program.
6. Classes in which a student receives a C or lower will not count towards his or her degree.
7. Students are required to defend a thesis on subjects in the interdisciplinary area of Mathematics and Economics. The committee chair and two other committee members must be from the Mathematics Department. The thesis committee must be composed at minimum of two graduate faculty members from the Economics Department. Please see Graduate College policy (available on the Degree Progression Policies & Procedures  page) or committee appointment guidelines.
8. Students are required to complete a professional paper. The committee for the professional paper must be composed of a chair and two committee members from the Economics Department and one graduate faculty member from the Mathematics Department.

Plan Graduation Requirements

1. Students cannot graduate from one portion of the dual degree until the requirements for both are met. Students must apply to graduate from both programs for the same semester.
2. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation from both degrees up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
3. The student must successfully complete a professional paper.
4. Submit and successfully defend his/her thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
5. Submit his/her approved, properly formatted hard-copy thesis to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.