Master's in Economics and Quantitative Analysis

Woolsey Hall, current home of the Department of Economics in the W. Frank Barton School of Business.

Discover a degree that can ignite your spark!

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Students in Woolsey Hall

Effective Curriculum       STEM Designation        Impactful Research

The master’s program in Economics and Quantitative Analysis at Wichita State University offers a diverse set of approaches to the study of economics, emphasizing critical interaction among quantitative economics and their industrial and analytical application. The students join a close-knit community of faculty and peer collaborators. Our graduate program has been classified as STEM (CIP Code 45.0603). Students in our program can apply for a 24 month STEM extension of F1 Optional Practical Training (OPT).

 

 

 
Testimonials:"The professors in the economics program are top-notch and helped me understand and internalize complex ideas and theories. They really care about the growth and knowledge of each student." Robert Freeman Senior Technical Consultant at Salesforce Wichita State Alum, Class of 2014 Master of Arts in Applied Economics"I chose economics as a major to gain technical skill, learn more about the role of central banks, understand capital markets, and increase my job prospects. Econ at Wichita State gives you tools to be flexible in the workplace, opens doors for lucrative salaries or academic research, and helps you understand how the world works." Noah Kirkland Derivatives Analyst at U.S. Bank Wichita State Alum, Class of 2022 Master of Arts in Applied Economics

Explore your opportunities.

Economists are problem solvers. Economists collect and analyze data, research trends, and evaluate economic issues for resources, goods, and services. Economists have all kinds of jobs, such as researchers, consultants, analysts, data scientists, and government advisors. You can check out the field’s classification system (called JEL codes) for more topics that economists study.

When you study economics, you will develop a wide range of analytical and critical thinking skills. As a result, economic majors are well positioned for a wide variety of careers. Our alumni have success after graduation include areas as diverse as:

  • Technology
  • Business
  • Government
  • Public Policy/Public Administration
  • Law
  • Journalism and Media
  • Education
 

 

 
Economics department faculty and staff

A history of excellence.

Wichita State's master of arts in economics and quantitative analysis program has a rich history of attracting outstanding domestic and international students. This program plays a critical role in AACSB-accredited Barton School of Business and offers you a general economics track and three specialized tracks to choose from— data analytics, financial economics, or international economics. All tracks will equip you with a broad understanding of the overall economic environment, which will help you as you advance your career or pursue your Ph.D. in economics.

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Concentrations

There are available concentrations for your master's degree in Economics. You can choose from data analytics, financial economics, international economics, or leave it general. 

Students in class at Woolsey Hall

Data Analytics

The data analysis option is ideal for students who wish to become a data scientist or an analyst in the industry or public sectors.
Business students in a classroom setting

Financial Economics

The financial economics option is ideal for careers in the financial institutions, including banks, investment companies, insurance companies, and real estate firms.
International Economics students visit Checkpoint Charlie on a trip to Berlin.

International Economics

The international economics option is ideal for students with an interest in the international economy.
Students working in class in Woolsey Hall

General  

A general, no-concentration option is available for students who want to to customize their program of study and take courses. The from Economics, and any other concentrations. 

Curriculum and Courses

The program consists of 30 credit hours. The graduate coordinator or the department chairperson must approve the candidate’s plan of study.

Core Courses (18 credit Hours in Total)

Elective Courses (12 credit Hours in Total)

The Department of Economics offers a variety of traditional and contemporary courses for electives. Students can also take courses from Data Analytics, MIS, Finance, Marketing and Management as electives with the Graduate Coordinator's approval. More details can be found here. 

Graduate Assistantship

Graduate Assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis. Criteria for receiving one are primarily a student’s performance in economics and math/statistics classes. A full (100%) assistantship currently provide a stipend of $6000 per academic year and a reduction in the tuition paid by international students of about 50 percent. All students who have been accepted into the program can be considered for an assistantship at their request. The deadline to apply for graduate assistantship is March 30th for Fall semester and Oct 30th for Spring semester. The decisions will be made after the deadline. We courage early applications. To apply, fill out the application form for GA assistantship online. Note that this form doesn't need to be filled until you are admitted to the program (see how to apply for admission in the section above). There is no need to contact individual professors for graduate assistantship as the decisions are made jointly by the department. 

Scholarships

Global Select Scholarship: If your GPA is above 3.3 (out of 4.0) or its international equivalent, you are eligible for Global Select Scholarship. In order to apply, you only need to answer one scholarship question on the application for admission. The Graduate School will determine the student's eligibility for a scholarship.

Other Scholarships: There are also various other opportunities of scholarships for Economics students at Wichita State University. Please check the information here. 

Cost Estimate

Visit the link below for an estimate of specific tuition and fee costs.

Basic Costs for Graduate Studies

Career Outlook

The following national information is from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The numbers may vary with the region you live. 

Economists Career Outlook

What Economists Do?

Economists collect and analyze data, research trends, and evaluate economic issues for resources, goods, and services.

How to Become an Economist?

Most economists need a master’s degree or Ph.D. However, some entry-level jobs—primarily in the federal government—are available for workers with a bachelor’s degree.

Job Outlook

Employment of economists is projected to grow 13 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.

 

 

Admissions

If you have questions regarding the application process, the graduate school provides clear instructions regarding how to apply. Requirements:

  • Have an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Admission is based primarily on GPA and background in economics.
  • Admission to full standing requires at 2.75 GPA for the last 60 credit hours and for courses in economics and required mathematics.

  • International applicants need to submit an official and acceptable English proficiency scores less than two years old (TOEFL (iBT) – 79, TOEFL (PBT) –550, IELTS – 6.5 overall band score, PTE Academic– 58, Duolingo English Test – 115). Exceptions are applicants from certain English speaking countries.  

  • The Graduate Record Examination is not required.
Apply now
Woolsey Hall Atrium

Questions? Contact us

Siyu Wang

Economics Graduate Director

Siyu.Wang@wichita.edu