Spring 2024
January 8
Summer 2024
May 6
Fall 2024
Late August
Online Master of
Arts in Economics,
Applied Economics
Specialization
Online Master of Arts in Economics, Applied Economics Specialization
Program Length:
20 months
Credit Hours:
30
Total Classes:
10
Cost per Credit:
$1,922
What are the program
start dates?
At a Glance
See How You Can Make a Difference in the World
At American University, our policy-centered curriculum is taught by esteemed economists and scholars who have studied key economic and societal issues such as how to best serve children in foster care and prevent sex trafficking, and the gains and losses from trade protection.
As you earn your online Master of Arts in Economics, Applied Economics degree, they’ll prepare you to analyze data and human and organizational behavior, interpret economic models, test hypotheses, and apply your analysis to economic policy.
At American University, our policy-centered curriculum is taught by esteemed economists and scholars who have studied key economic and societal issues such as how to best serve children in foster care and prevent sex trafficking, and the gains and losses from trade protection.
As you earn your online Master of Arts in Economics, Applied Economics degree, they’ll prepare you to analyze data and human and organizational behavior, interpret economic models, test hypotheses, and apply your analysis to economic policy.
Our graduates are able to communicate critical information and policy recommendations to a wider audience that includes legislatures, advocates, interest groups, lobbyists, and legislative aids that write the text of the law.
Graduates also qualify to sit for the Certified Business Economist (CBE) exam by the National Association for Business Economics (NABE).
Program Objective
Prepare for Excellence
The online MA in Applied Economics is a policy-oriented program that prepares you for excellence in the top three skills economists need to make a difference in the world: Using economic theory to make predictions or explain outcomes, to answer questions thoroughly using econometrics and data analysis, and to communicate economic information to all audiences in a way they easily understand. Graduates can:
Research Properly
Find and collect data and test hypotheses using the appropriate statistical tools.
Make Predictions
Use economic models to predict the changes in various economic indicators.
Plan performance and impact evaluations using a variety of approaches and designs.
Use Industry Tools
Employ Stata and other state-of-the-art industry tools to analyze data.
Make an Impact
Make impactful, ethical and profitable decisions in the local and global economy.
Plan performance and impact evaluations using a variety of approaches and designs.
Communicate Outcomes
Translate the implications of your work for economists and non-economists alike.
Solve Economic Models
Acquire the higher mathematical skills to provide solutions to current challenges.
Program Rankings
Become a Changemaker
Before graduating, you’ll complete a capstone project that has you choose a topic of economic interest, develop a testable hypothesis and then choose the dataset and econometric model to test your hypothesis. You’ll complete a formal paper and presentation on your research as you would in the real world.
Examples of current capstone projects include:
Impact of the 2015 State-Level Minimum Wage Increases on Income and Hours Worked
Examining the Existence of Asset Poverty Trap by Asset Dynamics: Revisiting the Indian Case
Impact of Syrian Refugee Influxes on the Labor Market Outcomes of Jordanian Women
Impact of the 2015 State-Level Minimum Wage Increases on Income and Hours Worked
Examining the Existence of Asset Poverty Trap by Asset Dynamics: Revisiting the Indian Case
Impact of Syrian Refugee Influxes on the Labor Market Outcomes of Jordanian Women
A Top-Ranked Online MA
AU was recognized by Princeton Review, Best Colleges 2021, with the title of College Gets High Marks. We’ve also been ranked by the following:
RANKED
#5
Best Online Master in Economics Degree Program — TheBestSchools.org, 2021
RANKED
#5
Best Online Master in Economics Degree Program — TheBestSchools.org, 2021
RANKED
#79
Best National School — U.S. News & World Report, American’s Best Colleges 2022
RANKED
#91
Best Value School — U.S. News & World Report, American's Best Colleges 2022
Your undergraduate degree does not need to be in economics to apply. Our online Master of Arts in Applied Economics is open to students with varied undergraduate backgrounds from an accredited college or university.
Applicants will need to submit:
- Completed Application
- Statement of purpose
- Official transcripts
- Completed Application
- Statement of purpose
- Official transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
- $55 Application Fee*
- Résumé
All applicants are considered for the Online Merit Scholarship of up to $14,000 during the application review – no separate application is required.
*The application fee is typically waived if the application file is complete within a three week period.
Scholarships
Online Merit Scholarship up to $14,000 — No Separate Application Required
Prospective students who have a cumulative 3.0 GPA or above (on a 4.0 scale) in their undergraduate program can qualify for the Online Merit Scholarship of up to $14,000. As part of your application process, your academic history will be reviewed to see if the scholarship can be applied; there is no separate application to fill out.
You’ll be notified of the scholarship status when you’re admitted to the program, or shortly thereafter.
To receive the scholarship, which is applied equally to the first and fifth courses of the program, you must remain in good academic standing.
Speak to an admissions advisor for full details.
Scholarships
Online Merit Scholarship $10,000 — No Separate Application Required
Prospective students who have a cumulative 3.2 GPA or above (on a 4.0 scale) in their undergraduate program can qualify for the Online Merit Scholarship of $10,000. As part of your application process, your academic history will be reviewed to see if the scholarship can be applied; there is no separate application to fill out.
You’ll be notified of the scholarship status when you’re admitted to the program, or shortly thereafter.
To receive the scholarship, which is applied equally to the fifth and sixth courses of the program, you must remain in good academic standing.
Curriculum Overview
The curriculum in the online Master of Arts in Applied Economics teaches you how to examine real-world issues and affect economic policy so you can make changes that have a positive effect on the economy. You will engage in on-screen problem demonstrations, interactive media, and documentary-style case studies influenced by real-world economic issues and current events.
This 30-credit-hour program consists of 10 courses and can be completed in as few as 20 months.
This online economics course is the foundation and preparation for all graduate studies in the MA in Economics. The material learned in this course will be used extensively in the courses that follow it. The course is taught by Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou, Assistant Professor at American University, who’s been featured in international journals, and is co-author of a 2010 book titled The Militarization of the Persian Gulf: An Economic Analysis.
It begins with a review of some basic concepts from college-level algebra and pre-calculus courses before moving on to more advanced material that will be necessary for other master’s in economics courses.
Concepts covered in this course will include
- Differentiation and integration
- Matrix algebra
- Optimization along with differential and difference equations
Each unit within this online course begins with an introductory story problem, providing context to the concepts covered. These problems are meant to demonstrate the application of the material as well as provide you with an interesting and memorable way to utilize the course content.
Mathematical Economics Course objectives:
- Improve the mathematical skills necessary to study economics
- Identify, solve, and interpret the characteristics of each family of functions: linear, polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, and quadratic
- Analyze nonlinear functions using differential calculus
- Demonstrate an understanding of the rules of differentiation as they apply to multivariable functions
- Find solutions to unconstrained optimization problems by identifying relative and global maximums and minimums of single and multivariable functions
- Find the solution for constrained optimization problems using methods of substitution and Lagrange multiplier for both equality and inequality constraints
- Use integration and matrix algebra techniques in economic analysis
- Analyze difference and differential equations of first and second order
In this course you will learn and review how to differentiate exponential, natural log, and log functions, homogenous functions, Euler’s Theorem as well as properties of matrices and the usage of the Cramer’s Rule.
Throughout this online course you are introduced to economic policy concepts and have the opportunity to analyze and apply what you’ve learned by looking at a similar policy. You will probe the foundations of microeconomic theory, focusing on the behavior of individuals, firms, and the interaction of these agents in the marketplace. You will examine forms of market structure and explore how these impact firm behaviors. You’ll also learn the concept of market efficiency and investigate how a variety of imperfections (including externalities and public goods) can reduce the efficiency of the marketplace.
Throughout this economics course you will:
- Carefully consider the role of government in the economy
- Analyze the economic efficiency of various public policies
- In ECON 600, you and fellow students will work as a learning community to improve the mathematical skills necessary in the understanding of the role of mathematics in economics
Course objectives:
- Derive both the individual’s and the market demand curve mathematically
- Explain intuitively how consumers make decisions
- Use the model of consumer behavior to demonstrate how policy changes will impact consumer choices
- Thoroughly review the most powerful model in economics, supply, and demand
- Derive the long-run and short-run cost functions of a firm mathematically
- Interpret how firms decide what production technologies to utilize
- Calculate the market equilibrium price and output in a competitive market
- Use the model of the competitive market to explain how policy changes will impact market price, output, and societal welfare
- Calculate and examine the market equilibrium in various forms of imperfect competition
- Explain intuitively the welfare loss that occurs because of various forms of market failures
- Examine imperfections such as externalities, and consider ways to correct for these imperfections
You will explore topics such as the impact of taxes and subsidies on consumer and firm behavior, the impact of mergers on market prices, and the economic determinants and potential solutions to environmental problems.
Kara Reynolds, Associate Professor and MA in Economics Program Director developed this course. Her research interests include the political economy of trade protection, particularly anti-dumping protection, and the impact of trade liberalization on workers and firms. Reynolds recently completed a paper with Chad P. Bown, titled “Trade Flows and Trade Disputes,” in the Review of International Organizations, June 2015.
In this macroeconomic theory and policy course you will analyze both the long-run and short-run performance of the economy as a whole, along with various theories proposed by economists to explain that performance. We will consider the strengths and weaknesses of each theory.
The main questions facing economists who study the long run are:
- How do you explain increases in per capita income that have been sustained for well over a century in nations like the United States?
- Why have some nations never been able to achieve rising per capita income except for brief episodes?
For economists who focus on the short run, the main questions center on the fluctuations of the economy around its long-run growth path. For example:
- What caused the Great Recession and accompanying high unemployment?
- What has made the ongoing economic recovery especially weak in Europe?
- How has the challenge of fiscal austerity and historically low interest rates affected the global economy?
To understand these phenomena, this course will examine the role of consumption, investment, the trade balance and fragility in the financial sector, along with monetary and fiscal policy.
Throughout this economics course you will:
- Blending rigorous macroeconomic theory with its practical (and often imperfect) application to problems in the world beyond the classroom
- Investigating something like the events precipitating the most recent U.S. recession, the slow recovery and the risk of deflation in the Eurozone
Course objectives:
- Examine the role of consumption, investment, and the trade balance and fragility in the financial sector, along with monetary and fiscal policy
- Analyze real-world events using mainstream macroeconomic models
- Contrast the appropriateness of monetary and fiscal policies, along with policies to promote growth
- Solve mathematical versions of macroeconomic models and explain results using intuition and skills learned from our course in mathematical economics
- Evaluate a variety of economic models and their limitations
- Compare the open economy implications for policy choices to those of the closed economy
You will explore related topics including equilibrium in financial markets, the aggregate supply and aggregate demand model, the neoclassical (Solow) growth model and fiscal austerity.
This course is taught by Colleen Callahan, associate professor and faculty member since 2001. Her research has focused on U.S. monetary history in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and she received the 2010 Jonathan Hughes Prize for Excellence in Teaching Economic History from the Economic History Association.
The objective of this course is to provide a thorough introduction to the theory and application of contemporary econometric tools. It caters to students from different backgrounds, necessary if you are interested in applying econometric tools to data and problems in a variety of disciplines.
This course is the first of the two-course sequence in econometrics offered in the department for graduate degree students. The major focus of this course is to introduce you to the fundamentals of estimation and statistical inferences of a single equation linear regression model.
Emphasis will be placed on the following:
- Understanding theory through applications and problem solving rather than mathematical theorems and complex proofs
- Working as a learning community to improve statistical and econometric skills necessary in the study of economics
Course Objectives:
- Derive statistical parameters to estimate causal relationships
- Estimate statistical parameters of a regression analysis using the Stata software package
- Interpret results of regression analysis with different specifications
- Conduct hypothesis testing at confidence intervals, then interpret the results of the test
- Read, understand and evaluate empirical papers in professional journals written using single equation regression models
- Throughout this course you will hone your understanding of linear and non-linear regression as well as other forms of economic regression with different variables.
This course is taught by Professor Mahmud Yesuf who has worked on projects with the World Bank and International Food Policy Research Institute in Africa. His research interests include poverty, the environment and development issues in low-income countries with a special focus on behavioral issues within households.
This is the second in the sequence of econometric courses offered in the department for graduate students, with the objective of providing a thorough introduction on theory and application of contemporary econometric tools. It is the follow-up to Applied Econometrics I (Econ 623) and aims to extend your contemporary econometric knowledge on time series, impact evaluation and more topics on limited dependent variable econometric models.
You will participate in computer-based exercises and learn to replicate the econometric results of published economic articles using new data and econometric tools and techniques learned in Econ 623 and 624. The data analysis process will include preparing a brief report on the replication process and any challenges faced.
This Course Covers:
- Emphasis on understanding theory through applications and problem solving, rather than mathematical theorems and complex proofs
- Working as a learning community to improve statistical and econometric skills necessary in the study of economics
Course objectives:
- Derive statistical parameters of econometric analysis conducted using cross-sectional, panel, or time-series data
- Estimate statistical parameters of econometric analysis conducted using cross-sectional panel or time-series data using Stata
- Interpret results of regression analysis conducted using cross-sectional, panel, time or series data
- Replicate econometric results of published articles using new data sets
- Read, understand, and evaluate empirical papers in professional journals
As a continuation of ECON 623, this course expounds on regression and explores time series econometric models for forecasting, dynamic causal effects, and replicating econometric results of published articles.
This course, in addition to ECON 623, is led by Professor Mahmud Yesuf who has worked on projects with the World Bank and International Food Policy Research Institute in Africa. His research interests include poverty, environment and development issues in low-income countries with a special focus on household behavioral issues.
This is a cumulative course requiring you to apply the knowledge you’ve developed over the duration of the MA in Economics, Applied Economics specialization program. You will complete a project addressing a major issue in economics under close consultation with a faculty member. The structure of this course is designed to hone your skills of conducting economic analysis, and you are expected to develop a testable hypothesis about a topic of interest in economics.
You will choose the dataset and econometric model to test your hypothesis. The final product will be a formal paper and presentation on your research. Throughout the course, you will have support for your project from both your fellow classmates and one of the esteemed members of our master’s in economics faculty.
In this collective course, you will:
- Work as a learning community to improve the skills necessary to conduct original research in economics
- Link all elements together through the completion of a semester-long research project
Course objectives:
- Develop a clear and specific research question to which the tools of empirical economic analysis can be applied
- Conduct a thorough review of the economic literature associated with your question
- Adapt an economic model for your research question
- Develop a testable hypothesis from the model
- Find and collect data to test your hypothesis
- Use statistical analysis to test the hypotheses
- Interpret the statistical analysis meaningfully
- Offer constructive criticisms to peers
- Orally communicate findings
Each week the capstone course focuses on different areas crucial to your overall takeaway from the program: literature reviews, economic models, testable hypotheses and empirical strategies.
Assistant Professor Ralph Sonenshine, teaches this course. Professor Sonenshine’s research and teaching interests include antitrust, mergers and acquisitions, international trade and finance, as well as economic history.
Elective Courses
Additional elective courses are offered on-campus and may be completed and transferred in with approval from a program director. Speak to an admissions advisor to learn more.
In this course, you will apply the tools learned in core classes to problems we all participate in—ones concerning the labor market. You’ll also begin to explain how others have used the tools. This will help you understand how you can contribute to the larger economics conversation with your original research.
The primary assignment for this course is a literature review, which will allow you to demonstrate your expertise in labor economics by summarizing work in the field. It will also help you understand how original research questions are developed.
This labor economics course will ensure that you:
- Understand why wages differ across and within occupations
- Know why wage inequality has changed over time
Course objectives:
- Examine the process by which workers supply labor and firms demand labor intuitively
- Use the labor supply and demand model to predict and explain changes in wages and employment
- Use appropriate econometric techniques to answer key questions about labor markets
- Synthesize existing knowledge on a topic in labor economics in order to identify gaps in the literature
This course will prepare you with a confident understanding of labor supply and demand, wage structure, migration and labor unions.
This course is taught by Mary Eschelbach Hansen, an associate professor who is widely published in the fields of child welfare policy and economic history. The National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the Institute have funded her research for New Economic Thinking.
Her research has contributed to passage of laws such as the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act. Hansen, along with Brian Yates (Psychology Dept.) won a $39,444 Annie E. Casey Foundation award for the project Costs and Benefits of Interventions that Reduce Group and Institutional Care.
Her most recent published works include: The Standard of Proof at Adjudication of Abuse or Neglect: Its Influence on Case Outcomes at Key Junctures, Social Work and Social Sciences Review, October 2014, The Evolution of Garnishment and Wage Assignment Law in Illinois, 1880-1930, and Essays in Economic & Business History, May 2014.
This course explores the conditions and experiences of developing economies as well as the policies and factors that affect their economic growth and performance. It presents a conceptual framework to help you discern the sources of successful and not-so-successful economies, as well as scrutinizes important distinctions between the global ‘North’ and the global ‘South.’ You will examine how the markets and institutions of low-income and middle-income countries operate, the sources of under-development, the barriers to economic growth, and the policies that local governments and stakeholders can pursue to help alleviate poverty and stimulate economic development.
The course will help you thoroughly understand:
- Why certain types of nations succeed economically and why others fail
- How economic theories learned in our Microeconomics Theory and Macroeconomics Theory courses can be applicable to explaining how economies develop and how global poverty can be combated
- The sources of productivity growth and the causes of inequality, and what to do about them
- National laws, regulations, policies, and international treaties that affect economic development at the macro and micro levels
- Real-world data and tools for data management
Course objectives:
- Use the production function model to derive a country’s long-term growth rate and calculate it using actual data
- Compute measures of income inequality and the poverty rate within countries and compare patterns of income distribution across countries and over time
- Describe, distinguish, and critique the different models of economic development, and appraise the available evidence for them
- Summarize and assess the arguments for and against foreign aid
- Explain the impact of trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) on productivity growth and income distribution based on existing evidence
- Evaluate whether openness to trade and FDI has been beneficial or harmful to less developed countries
This course is taught by Walter G. Park, an accomplished professor who has a Ph.D. in Economics from Yale. He has published several articles in acclaimed journals and is an Advisory Editor for Research Policy at Elsevier Science.
This course examines the key issues related to what is typically referred to as public economics and public finance. You will explore the idea that the role of government is largely due to market failures and equity considerations. While market failures and equity considerations provide the rational for government interventions, you will learn how actual interventions are determined and influenced by voting and rent seeking. After taking this course, you should be able to explain and analyze the main government interventions in the economy.
This course provides you with a strong grasp of:
- Why economists generally favor the market to solve economic problems
- The main justifications for government intervention, which are related to equity issues; but also due to the presence of public goods; externalities; and asymmetric information
- How and why governments raise money, mostly via taxation, to finance their interventions
Course objectives:
- Introduce the concepts of market equilibrium and efficiency
- Break down departures from the efficiency of the market
- Examine the political economy of voting and rent-seeking
- Study the main public sector programs
- Understand the financing of government intervention, especially through taxation and deficit financing
- Explore the fiscal federalism and fiscal competition
This course leaves you with a strong handle on market equilibrium, efficiency, actual expenditures, and revenues; as well as public goods; poverty; social security; and taxation and how each relates to the economy.
This course is taught by Assistant Professor Bernhard Gunter. Professor Gunter is an international scholar in development economics. His areas of expertise include development macroeconomics, debt sustainability analysis, and the social impact of globalization. He is also interested in analyzing poverty reduction policies, macroeconomic development strategies, and the economic challenges of climate change.
His current research focuses on development issues of Bangladesh, and his work has been published in several preeminent international journals, including World Development, Development Policy Review and Third World Quarterly. He serves as the president of the Bangladesh Development Research Center (BDRC) and has continuing engagements with various international developmental organizations.
In this course, you will be studying the interrelationship between our banking, financial systems and markets, and how those systems positively or negatively affect the economy. It begins with a consideration of the hypothesis that the development of a country’s financial system contributes to faster economic growth, and is not only a product of economic growth. The online course then looks at microeconomic and macroeconomic aspects of financial development, including the causes and consequences of crises, determinants of bank efficiency and competition, and the connection between stability, concentration and competition. The final section of the course looks at regulatory issues such as the “Too Big to Fail” debate, Deposit Insurance, Lender of Last Resort and Macroprudential policy issues.
Competencies you are expected to demonstrate in this economics course are:
- Comprehension of professional literature
- Basic mastery of panel-data regression techniques
- Written presentation skills for analytical and policy issues
Course objectives:
- Gain familiarity with the major theoretical explanations and empirical evidence about the causes and consequences of financial crisis
- Understand and implement techniques of panel regression analysis on cross-country data sets and on bank data panels
- Gain basic knowledge of models of competition and cost-function models, and apply these models to data
- Understand issues of moral hazard, incentives, and implicit subsidies as they apply to financial system regulation through analysis of empirical literature
- Gain active knowledge of the implications of macroprudential and regulatory tools to mitigate systemic risk from their direct and indirect effects
In this course you will fully explore the factors of financial hazards and how those hazards are prevented.
This course is taught by Professor Evan Kraft who specializes in the economics of transition, monetary policy and banking issues. His professional experience includes serving as director of the Research Department and Adviser to the Governor of the Croatian National Bank.
His research includes studies of soft-budget constraints and their impacts in former Yugoslavia, macroeconomic stabilization in transition countries, banking efficiency, lending booms, deposit growth and financial stability, and monetary policy under dollarization.
You can review all official course descriptions from the American University Catalog.
You can review all official course descriptions from the American University Catalog.
To learn more about the curriculum for American University’s online Master of Arts in Applied Economics, call 855-725-7614 to speak with an admissions adviser or request more information.
You can review all official course descriptions from the American University Catalog.
To learn more about the curriculum for American University’s online Master of Arts in Applied Economics, call 855-725-7614 to speak with an admissions adviser or request more information.
Lead a Rapidly Growing Field
As a graduate of AU’s master’s in economics program, you’re ready to step into the profitable and in-demand role of an economist. Economists expect to see 13% job growth from 2020 to 20302 — nearly double the national average job-growth rate 3 — and collectively, from entry-level economists to those in senior positions, they earn a median pay of $105,630 a year.
To provide a more narrow scope of salary information, consider the most recent salary survey results from the National Association for Business Economics (NABE), in which 72% of respondents held a graduate degree.1
NABE members reported these median base salaries:
- All roles & experience levels, $153,500
- Chief economist role, $250,000
- Director role, $200,000
- Senior economist, $150,500
- Associate manager/director, $137,400
- All roles & experience levels, $153,500
- Chief economist role, $250,000
- Director role, $200,000
- Senior economist, $150,500
- Associate manager/director, $137,400
Top Three Paying Industries for Economists1
Real Estate
$200,000 Base Salary
Financial & Transportation Sectors $195,000 Base Salary
Trade or Professional Associations $193,000 Base Salary
Where Do AU Alumni Work?
Community development officers work on projects that involve urban planning assessment to improve the community or city they work for. In this role, you’ll often work with zoning officers, building inspectors, and land development managers.
52%
For-Profit
19%
Non-Profit
29%
Government
Get real-time career updates of our graduates.
Alumni Employers
As passionate change-makers, our alumni are responsible for using their policy skills to make an impact in their careers. You can find some of them working at these outstanding businesses:
- American College Health Association
- Beacon Technology Partners LLC
- Freddie Mac
- The World Bank Group
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- IHS Markit
- International Monetary Fund
- Key Investment Services LLC
- U.S. Department of Labor
- U.S. Navy
- NetImpact Strategies Inc.
- NewRez LLC
- Sherman Credit, Inc.
- University of Florida
- Wayfair LLC
- Solovis
- Study.com
- The MITRE Corporation
- 20/20 Vision
- American College Health Association
- Beacon Technology Partners LLC
- Freddie Mac
- The World Bank Group
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- IHS Markit
- International Monetary Fund
- Key Investment Services LLC
- U.S. Navy
- NetImpact Strategies Inc.
- NewRez LLC
- Sherman Credit, Inc.
- University of Florida
- Wayfair LLC
- Solovis
- Study.com
- The MITRE Corporation
- 20/20 Vision
Ralph Sonenshine
Senior Professorial Lecturer and MA Program Director
Professor Sonenshine is a Senior Professorial Lecturer of Economics at American University. Ralph combines an academic background in industrial organization, international economics, and economic history with business consulting and industry research expertise. His research and teaching interests include antitrust, mergers and acquisitions, international trade and finance, and industry studies (e.g. electric utilities and financial services). Ralph has published in the Review of Industrial Organization, International Journal of Economics of Business, Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Eastern Economic Journal, Review of World Economics, Emerging Markets Review, Eurasia Business Review, and International Journal of Applied Research in Business Administration and Economics.
Colleen Callahan
Associate Professor
Colleen Callahan has been a professor at American University since the fall of 2001. Professor Callahan also teaches undergraduate courses in macroeconomics as well as a master’s course in financial economics. Her research centers on U.S. monetary history in the 19th and early 20th centuries. She received a BA degree from Miami University in Oxford, OH and a PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before coming to American University, Professor Callahan taught at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA and Occidental College in Los Angeles, Calif. She was honored with the 2010 Jonathan Hughes Prize for Excellence in Teaching Economic History from the Economic History Association. Listen to Colleen and learn more about her experience in this short video.
Bernhard Gunter
Assistant Professor
Dr. Gunter is an international scholar in development economics. His areas of expertise include development macroeconomics, debt sustainability analysis, and the social impact of globalization. He is also interested in analyzing poverty reduction policies, macroeconomic development strategies, and the economic challenges of climate change. His current research focuses on development issues of Bangladesh. His work has been published in several pre-eminent international journals, including World Development, Development Policy Review, and Third World Quarterly. He serves as the President of the Bangladesh Development Research Center (BDRC) and has continuing engagements with various international developmental organizations.
Mary Hansen
Assistant Professor
Mary Eschelbach Hansen is widely published in the fields of child welfare policy and economic history. Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the Institute for New Economic Thinking.
Evan Kraft
Economist in Residence
Evan Kraft specializes in the economics of transition, monetary policy, and banking issues. He served as Director of the Research Department and Adviser to the Governor of the Croatian National Bank. His scholarly work includes studies of soft-budget constraints and their impacts in former Yugoslavia, macroeconomic stabilization in transition countries, banking efficiency, lending booms, deposit growth and financial stability, and monetary policy under dollarization.
Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou
Assistant Professor
Professor Mohseni has worked extensively in a number of divisions in the World Bank, including its treasury group, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) sustainable development group, and Development Economics (DEC) research group. Prior to his academic career, Professor Mohseni worked as a telecommunication engineer for Texas Instruments, Inc. His research interests include development macroeconomics, economies of the MENA region, and Islamic finance. Professor Mohseni has taught courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, history of economic thought, and development economics at both undergraduate and graduate levels. He will be teaching ECON-605 Introduction to Mathematical Analysis. Listen to Amin and learn more about his experience in this short video.
Walter Park
Professor
Walter Park is on the faculty of economics at American University. His area of research is the economics of technology and intellectual property rights, and the impacts on economic growth and international economic development. He has a variety of teaching experiences, in macroeconomics and microeconomics, and at all levels: undergraduate, MA and doctoral. He has recently taught online courses in introductory microeconomics. He will be teaching ECON 546 Industrial Economics.
Mahmud Yesuf
Associate Professor
Professor Yesuf’s research interests include poverty, environment and development issues in low-income countries, with a special focus on households’ behavioral issues (such as risk aversion). He has international teaching and research experience working on various projects with the World Bank and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Africa. He will be teaching ECON 623 and ECON 624 (Econometrics I and II). Listen to Mahmud and learn more about his experience in this short video.
Kara M. Reynolds
Associate Dean of Graduate Studies
Professor Reynolds joined the department in 2003 after completing her PhD at the University of Virginia. Her research interests include the political economy of trade protection, particularly antidumping protection, and the impact of trade liberalization on workers and firms. Learn more about Kara M. Reynolds.Learning Online
American University welcomes its online students as a part of its community. As an online student, you’ll learn from the same outstanding faculty and be held to the same learning standards as students who attend courses on campus. On-campus and online programs deliver the same outcomes, and important support systems, like career resources, are set up for online learners as well. The only difference is you’re allowed to learn when and where it’s best for you so you can earn your degree and advance your career without putting the rest of your career and life on hold.
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Rigorous Courses
Online courses are as challenging as their on-campus counterparts and taught by the same connected faculty members, influential guest speakers and prominent lecturers.
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Use virtual tools to talk about your coursework, work in teams with classmates, build strong connections, network with others and ask your instructor questions and turn in assignments.
Admission to American University’s online Graduate Certificate in Project Monitoring and Evaluation program requires an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university.
Applicants will need to submit:
- Completed Application
- Statement of purpose
- Official transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
- $55 Application Fee*
- Résumé
*The application fee is typically waived if the application file is complete within a three-week period.
Curriculum Overview
The online Graduate Certificate in Project Monitoring and Evaluation is an experiential, project-oriented program that will give you the technical skills you need to craft monitoring and evaluation systems that measure performance and impact, while supporting equity.
To deliver a strong ROI from your graduate certificate in monitoring and evaluation, AU constructed the program with an expert advisory panel to offer an experiential degree that teaches core competencies, best-practice standards, and industry trends while building your experience with application-based coursework in each class.
The Measurement & Evaluation Program Advisory Council ensures that the curriculum is current, relevant, and reflective of emerging trends in evaluation. It consists of program faculty, alumni, and top evaluation practitioners who have experience evaluating programs for the public, private, and philanthropy sectors, including:
- U.S. Agency for International Development
- The Department of State
- Various state and local Departments of Education
- Abt Associates
- Ford Foundation
- Open Society
- And more
One of the strongest components of American University’s online Certificate in Project Monitoring and Evaluation is the practicum element, where students partner with organizations to plan and carry out evaluations. Out of the four courses you’ll take to complete the program, two of them require practicum partnerships.
Practicums can be local or global, owing to new advances in conducting evaluations virtually. To complete your practicums, you’ll identify organizational partners, oftentimes with the assistance of faculty. You could partner with a current or former employer or an organization where you’ve volunteered or network to find a new organization.
You’ll complete your Graduate Certificate with experience and be ready to improve the performance, outcomes and support equity of the programs you manage.
At the epicenter of impact, AU’s Washington, D.C. location leverages the proximity of the thriving business, non-profit, NGO and government sectors so the leaders of today can train the leaders of tomorrow. Partnering with key organizations in the region and around the globe, we’re able to better the human condition, learn from a vast array of experiences, model purposeful leadership and address society’s current and emerging challenges.
The DC Experience (DCX), an optional on-campus residency, gives you the opportunity to connect with the campus and explore the unique cultural landscape in the nation’s capital. You’ll also immerse yourself in the AU community, enhance your relationships with faculty and other online graduate students, and meet with guest speakers from the evaluation field.
American University offers a Master of Science in Measurement and Evaluation to provide you with the knowledge to lead evaluation efforts and the technical skills needed for analytically demanding roles in upper management. The program consists of six additional courses (10 courses total) and can be completed within 20 months. Learn more about the master’s program.
Course Descriptions
This 12-credit-hour program consists of four courses and can be completed in as few as eight months. The certificate curriculum is designed and taught by expert academic practitioner faculty who integrate their real-world evaluation experiences into their teaching.
This course introduces the terminology, critical issues, and current debates in the field of evaluation, as reflected in evaluation theories and practice. The course teaches the skills necessary to design Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning plans that reflect varying purposes, fields, and contexts. Students learn how to develop Program Theories of Change Models, Evaluation Logic Models, and Evaluation Statements of Work, three documents important to Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning. Students partner with organizations they identify to plan an evaluation, including articulating the purpose of the evaluation; crafting evaluation questions; setting outcomes and indicators; and proposing data collection and analysis plans.
Sample reading and discussion topics include:
- Critique evaluation theories and reflect on your “evaluator identity”
- Analyze the needs assessment and Program Theory of Change for a case study initiative
- Identify the purposes of an evaluation: Performance or impact
- Examine the strengths and limitations of traditional evaluation approaches and designs
- Explain how evaluators address causation, attribution, and contribution in their work
Sample assignments and projects include:
- Work with project collaborators to craft Theory of Change and Evaluation Logic Models
- Set evaluation questions and identify the data needed to answer them
- Develop an Evaluation Statement of Work (Evaluation SOW)
Course Outcomes
Outcomes reflect the knowledge, skills, and attitudes a learner should have upon completing PME 600.
Knowledge
- Discuss and critique the use of Logic Models.
- Demonstrate understanding of evaluation principles throughout the project lifecycle.
- Describe different evaluation purposes, approaches, and designs; and when they are useful within the project lifecycle.
- Recognize the opportunities and challenges of conducting quality planning, monitoring, and evaluation in varied contexts.
- Identify alternative approaches and designs, including complexity- aware approaches, developmental evaluation, and Most Significant Change.
Skills
- Develop a Program Theory of Change (PTOC).
- Develop a Logic Model, including project goal, purpose, outcomes, outputs, inputs/activities, indicators, data sources, and assumptions.
- Develop an Evaluation Statement of Work (SOW).
Attitudes
- Appreciate the complexity of project evaluation.
- Appreciate the importance of community and project collaborator participation in evaluation.
- Advocate for quality evaluation planning and implementation processes throughout the project lifecycle.
Gain the skills necessary to craft qualitative data collection instruments and conduct qualitative research Practice using qualitative data collection techniques including observation, participant observation, interviews, and focus groups. Explore the strengths, weaknesses, and uses of qualitative data and investigate the circumstances under which project planners, managers, and evaluators use qualitative data collection methods. Under mentorship of faculty, students partner with an organization and its project collaborators to set a qualitative research or evaluation question, collect qualitative data to answer it, write a report, and present findings.
Sample reading and discussion topics include:
- The nature of qualitative inquiry
- Reflection, bias, and positionality in qualitative research
- Qualitative research questions
- Qualitative measurement, including concepts and indicators
- Qualitative data collection techniques, including observation, participant observation, interviews, focus groups, and participatory tools
Sample assignments and projects include:
- Partner with an organization and its project collaborators to conduct observation, participant observation, interviews, and a focus group
- Analyze qualitative data and design data visualizations
- Write a final report
- Complete Human Subjects Training
Course Outcomes
Outcomes reflect the knowledge, skills, and attitudes a learner should have upon completing PROF 640.
Knowledge
- Explain when and how project planners, managers, and evaluators use qualitative data collection techniques
- Identify the kinds of data gathered through different qualitative methods
Skills
- Use observation, participant observation, participatory tools, interviews, and focus groups for project planning and monitoring and evaluation activities
- Analyze qualitative data collected from multiple qualitative data collection techniques
- Design qualitative indicators to measure concepts and change
Attitudes
- Identify and be prepared to address the possible challenges of collecting qualitative data in different contexts
- Appreciate the ethical considerations related to the collection of qualitative data
- Appreciate the role of the researcher, including biases and positionality, as it relates to qualitative data collection and analysis
This course comprehensively introduces quantitative research methods, the skills to conduct survey research, and the knowledge to produce descriptive and analytical reports that meet the guidelines and expectations of professional practitioners in the field. Students explore various statistical procedures, starting from descriptive statistics, correlation, and graphical representation of data to inferential techniques, analysis of variance, and beyond, and practice using SPSS and R to manage data and generate statistical analysis reports. The course covers ethical considerations in quantitative data collection, data equity, and equity-impacting decision points in data projects. Using practical applications and real-world examples, students are guided through these topics in an informative and approachable manner to make this often-intimidating subject more accessible.
Sample reading and discussion topics include:
- Sampling
- Questionnaire design
- Managing quantitative data
- Measures of central tendency
- Correlations
- T-tests
- Analysis of Variance
- Regression analysis
Sample assignments and projects include:
- Quantitative research design and data collection plan
- Create and administer a quantitative survey
- Analyze survey data
- Create data visualizations
- Write a final report
Course Outcomes
Outcomes reflect the knowledge, skills, and attitudes a learner should have upon completing PROF 650.
Knowledge
- Differentiate between different types of quantitative research
- Identify and describe the different types of validity and reliability
Skills
- Develop and test a hypothesis using quantitative research methods
- Apply various descriptive and inferential statistics.
- Use statistical software for data management, analysis, and presentation of findings.
- Evaluate different strategies to analyze and report quantitative data.
Attitudes
- Appreciate the ethical considerations related to the collection of quantitative data
This course emphasizes the use of mixed method performance and summative evaluation designs that measure progress, outcomes, and impact. Students learn to differentiate performance and impact evaluations, including the data designs needed to support each. The course introduces different performance evaluation designs, including snapshot, simple, cross-sectional, before and after, time series, and case study design; and then focuses on impact evaluation designs, including experimental and quasi-experimental designs. Students learn about different evaluation approaches, such as culturally responsive equitable evaluation, empowerment evaluation, and participatory evaluation. Students partner with organizations they identify to plan an evaluation (including its design and approach); craft theory of change and evaluation logic models; develop data collection instruments; collect and analyze data; and write an evaluation report.
Sample reading and discussion topics include:
- Evaluation purposes: Performance and impact and the data needed to support each
- Evaluation approaches: (Culturally Responsive Equitable Evaluation, Developmental Evaluation, Empowerment Evaluation, etc)
- Evaluation designs (case study, pre/post test, experimental, etc)
- Emerging designs (systems analysis, Outcome Harvesting, Most Significant Change, etc)
Sample assignments and projects include:
- Working with project collaborators, craft an Evaluation Logic Model
- Select an evaluation approach and design and use these to develop an Evaluation Statement of Work (Evaluation SOW)
- Develop qualitative and quantitative data collection instruments
- Collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data
- Write an evaluation report
Course Outcomes
Outcomes reflect the knowledge, skills, and attitudes a learner should have upon completing PME 610.
Knowledge
- Explain the purposes of, and differences between, performance and impact evaluation.
- Explain different approaches to evaluation, such as Culturally Responsive Equitable Evaluation, Developmental Evaluation, and Empowerment Evaluation.
- Demonstrate the appropriate use of performance and impact evaluation designs.
- Identify evaluation designs (and their related data) that are appropriate for addressing particular evaluation needs.
Skills
- Construct a Logic Model.
- Select an appropriate evaluation design and approach to meet the needs of an evaluation.
- Write an evaluation report.
Attitudes
- Become reflective, critical thinkers in evaluation purpose, approach, and design.
- Appreciate the importance of report writing and communicating results to project collaborators.
- Appreciate different performance, impact, and alternative evaluation designs, approaches, and frameworks.
Make a Difference with Monitoring and Evaluation Skills
American University’s online Graduate Certificate in Project Monitoring is designed to help current employees and job seekers assess a project’s performance as well as its lasting impact. Whether you’re backstopping a project or conceptualizing a program, you’ll need targeted M&E knowledge to help make your efforts a success and support equity in program outcomes.
This vital credential, paired with an accredited institution like American University, positions you for domestic and international advancement in measurement and evaluation careers.
Project managers and program evaluators are needed in several fields, including education, public health, international development, philanthropy, government, and the private and nonprofit sectors.
Your skills in measurement and evaluation will make your efforts a success in roles such as:
Project or Program Manager
Program managers collaborate with teams across an organization to oversee and coordinate projects to ensure they complement one another and benefit the company.
Community Development Officer
Community development officers work on projects that involve urban planning assessment to improve the community or city they work for. In this role, you’ll often work with zoning officers, building inspectors, and land development managers.
Research Associate
As a research associate, you’ll collect, prepare, analyze and evaluate qualitative and quantitative data to support the improvement and management of programs.
Nonprofit Program Manager
Nonprofit program managers maintain the quality of their organization’s programs and ensure they meet the stated goals. They also oversee the budget and staff for projects.
Evaluation Specialist
As an evaluation specialist, you’ll work under a team leader and help to design and structure the evaluation, review methodologies, and collect, analyze, and interpret findings. You may be asked to write reports regarding the evaluation, or parts of the report.
Alumni Employers
As passionate change-makers, our alumni are responsible for using their policy skills to make an impact. You can find some of them working at these outstanding organizations:
- Bizzell Group
- Briya Public Charter School
- Columbia University in the City of New York
- Development Alternative Inc
- HumRRO
- Mathematica
- TCC Group
- Tufts University School of Medicine
- US Dept of Commerce
- USAID
- Washington Metro Area Transit Authority
Beverly Peters, Ph.D.
Program Director & Senior Professorial Lecturer
Dr. Peters is a specialist in community development in Southern Africa, with over twenty-five years of experience in teaching, conducting research and managing projects in the region. She has developed proposals and managed research, democratization, and community development programs in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and other countries.
As a program evaluator, Dr. Peters specializes in the use of qualitative methods for monitoring and evaluation. She currently is a blog writer for Qualitative Methods for M&E and is a regular contributor for the American Evaluation Association’s 365 Series. In 2013, she won the American University’s Jack Child Teaching with Technology Award and the Mobile Technology Award. Additionally, she was awarded the SPEXS 2017-18 Excellence in Teaching and Service Award.
Dr. Peters holds a Master of Arts in International Affairs from California State University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh.
Blanca Flor Guillen-Woods, M.S.
Adjunct Instructor
Ms. Guillen-Woods has been involved with several aspects of applied research and evaluation including management of multi-site and multi-year projects for non-profits organizations working with communities of color. Her experience includes research design, fieldwork, public opinion polling, conducting focus groups, facilitation of community meetings, as well as quantitative and qualitative data analyses. For over twenty years, Ms. Guillen-Woods has conducted quasi-experimental and mixed methods research studies and program evaluations. Her research areas cover education, youth services, civic engagement, health prevention, and intervention, all through the lens of diversity and inclusion. She actively participates in discussions centered on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in education and evaluation. For the past several years, she has been involved with Latino Decisions, working towards empowering Latinos and giving them a stronger voice in shaping national and statewide policies. These policies range from healthcare to immigration reform efforts. Additionally, her work with Strategic Learning Partners revolves around implementing culturally responsive and equitable evaluation approaches.
Ms. Guillen-Woods holds a Master of Arts in Social Psychology from Claremont Graduate University.
Nina Sabarre, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professorial Lecturer
Dr. Sabarre is the Founder and CEO of Intention 2 Impact, Inc., a research, evaluation, and strategy consulting firm that helps purpose-driven organizations measure and maximize their impact. She has over a decade of experience in mixed-methods research and evaluation in over twenty-five countries. She has collaborated with a wide variety of cross-sector clients including USAID, United Nations, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Rockefeller Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Asian Pacific Islander Council, Elevate Prize Foundation, Earthjustice, and the University of Southern California. Her work focuses on developmental and utilization-focused evaluation for strategic grantmaking and policy advocacy for systems change.
She is passionate about progressive causes, breaking glass ceilings for women, and using entrepreneurship to dismantle the status quo.
Dr. Sabarre holds a PhD in Evaluation and Applied Research from Claremont Graduate University, where her dissertation research focused on the role of entrepreneurship in shaping the supply of and demand for evaluation services in the philanthropic sector. She earned a master’s degree in political science from Virginia Tech, as well as a graduate certificate in Measurement & Evaluation from American University.
Nicassia Belton, Ed.D.
Adjunct Professorial Lecturer
Dr. Nicassia Belton serves as the Vice President of Learning, Evaluation, and Data Management at the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund (BCYF), responsible for providing direction, leadership, and management for BCYF’s youth-centered, community accountable, racially equitable evaluation, learning framework, and data strategy. She has spent over 15 years working with state and local education agencies, postsecondary institutions, and non-profits leading the work to promote the use of accountability ecosystems centered on culturally responsive and equitable evaluation and strategic research and data use to drive change to improve equity in access, opportunity, and outcomes for our children and youth. Dr. Belton’s work is squarely focused on her central belief that the easiest way to affect change is holding people and organizations to high expectations of culturally responsive behaviors and practices through the utilization of effective accountability ecosystems.
Felicia Jones, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professorial Instructor
Dr. Felicia Jones serves as the Vice President of the Strategic Solutions Group-Global Government Solutions at KBR, Inc. She develops strategic initiatives and technical capabilities to drive innovation and collaboration across all business units.
Dr. Felicia Jones served as the Director of Engineering and Technology at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). She is highly skilled in the management of technical organizations, providing end-to-end engineering capability for all space flight missions from advanced concepts to implementation, integration, test, and launch. She led one of the largest engineering organizations at NASA with over 1,250 civil servant employees and 2,000 support service contractors supporting over $5B of NASA and other government agency space flight programs. She managed a portfolio of over $3B in technical contracts, providing leadership to a multi-disciplined, technical organization charged with advancing the Nation’s science, human exploration, and space technology programs. She led new business developments, forging partnerships and capturing new work in support of NASA’s Earth science, space science, and exploration missions.
Dr. Jones is the recipient of numerous awards including the Presidential Rank Award, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal.
Dr. Jones holds a PhD in Systems Engineering from the George Washington University, a M.S. degree in Business Science from the Johns Hopkins University, a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Howard University, and a B.A. in Biology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Ally Krupar, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professorial Lecturer
Dr. Krupar is a dedicated researcher who focuses on the critical aspects of lifelong learning in conflict-affected regions and transitional societies. Her primary interests lie in exploring education in international development, particularly in low-resource settings, and leveraging technology to enhance learning experiences.
In her recent and ongoing research projects, she has been involved in diverse areas, including conducting learning assessments for children in displacement, developing an index to monitor the fulfillment of the right to education globally, and implementing Accelerated Education programming in transitional settings. Additionally, her work has delved into exploring participatory pedagogy in the context of international development and examining youth community engagement in conflict-affected and resource-limited environments. Moreover, she has investigated the intersection of learning, technology, and the challenges faced by low-income and hard-to-reach populations.
With over thirteen years of experience, she has contributed significantly to the field of adult education, collaborating with universities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Her expertise spans curriculum development, teacher training, project planning, monitoring and evaluation, and the incorporation of technology to enrich learning experiences for diverse communities.
Dr. Krupar holds a Master of Arts in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education from Penn State University.
Beverly Peters
Program Director
Dr. Peters is a specialist in community development in southern Africa, with more than 25 years of experience teaching, conducting research, and managing development projects in the region. She has developed proposals for and managed research, democratization, and community development programs in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, among other countries. A program evaluator, Dr. Peters is a specialist in the use of qualitative methods for monitoring and evaluation. She writes a blog on Qualitative Methods for M&E and is a regular contributor on this topic for the American Evaluation Association’s 365 Series. She was one of the winners of American University’s 2013 Jack Child Teaching with Technology Award and 2013 Mobile Technology Award; and was awarded the SPExS 2017-2018 Excellence in Teaching and Service Award. Dr. Peters holds an MA in Public and International Affairs from California State University Sacramento and a PhD in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh.Learning Online
American University welcomes its online students as a part of its community. As an online student, you’ll learn from the same outstanding faculty and be held to the same learning standards as students who attend courses on campus. On-campus and online programs deliver the same outcomes, and important support systems, like career resources, are set up for online learners as well. The only difference is you’re allowed to learn when and where it’s best for you so you can earn your degree and advance your career without putting the rest of your career and life on hold.
We Bring AU to You
Our digital campus was intentionally designed based on extensive research behind what makes online learning successful. We combine advanced technology, hands-on experiences, and full access to the American University community. Here, you’re not an online student, you’re an AU student.
Rigorous Courses
Online courses are as challenging as their on-campus counterparts and taught by the same connected faculty members, influential guest speakers and prominent lecturers.
100% Support
New-student orientation, 24×7 help desk for technical issues, a student services coordinator, financial aid advisers and more are all available to ensure your success.
Expert Faculty
Home to some of the most acclaimed scholars and thought leaders in the world, you’ll learn from award-winning scholars and policymakers, diplomats, authors, artists, attorneys, scientists, journalists and more.
Collaborative Learning
Use virtual tools to talk about your coursework, work in teams with classmates, build strong connections, network with others and ask your instructor questions and turn in assignments.
Military Education Benefits
American University is dedicated to supporting military service members, veterans, and their families.
As an online MA in Economics, Applied Economics student, you can transform your military experience and leadership skills into new career possibilities as you earn your degree regardless of where you live or are stationed.
We support a full range of military education benefits such as:
- Post-9/11 GI Bill
- Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)
- Tuition Assistance (TA)
- Yellow Ribbon Program
Additionally, if you’ve served in any branch of the U.S. military on active duty within the past three years, you’re eligible to waive the application fee. We accept transfer credits from military coursework, have a dedicated Office of Veterans Services to help connect you to benefits, and maintain an active Veterans Services Support Network.
We welcome you to learn more about our military benefits and how to apply for them.
Take Your First Step Today
Become an American University student. A passion for public service, an emphasis on active leadership, and a global outlook are the hallmarks of the American University learning experience. We create graduates who stand out from their peers as active, socially aware, and compassionate leaders who work toward creating meaningful change in our world.
Join Us.
To learn more about American University’s MA in Economics, Applied Economics, request more information, request an appointment, or call us toll-free at 855-725-7614.
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Program FAQs
Degree requirements for the MA in Economics include a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Students are also expected to have completed Calculus I (or its equivalent) prior to starting coursework in the program.
Applicants will need to submit:
- Completed application
- Statement of purpose
- Résumé
- Official transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
- $55 application fee*
They will also need to complete a phone interview with a department lead.
Calculus I (or its equivalent) or the CLEP exam must be completed prior to starting coursework in the program.
Yes – it is not a requirement to have an undergraduate degree in economics. Many of our students come from other areas of study.
The program can be completed in as little as 20 months.
No, a GRE test is not required.
We may accept up to six hours of graduate work from another institution that applies directly to the MA in Economics degree.
Students with a weak academic background may be admitted with provisional status. Students who are admitted provisionally must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 after the completion of the first nine credit hours of graduate study at American University or they will be academically dismissed.
You will need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a satisfactory grade point average — a 3.0 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate work is recommended.
Applicants will need to submit:
- Completed application
- Statement of purpose
- Résumé
- Official transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
- $55 application fee*
Applicants will also complete a phone interview with a department lead.
All applicants are considered for the Online Merit Scholarship of $10,000 during the application review — no separate application is required.
*The application fee is typically waived if the application file is complete within a three week period.
A TOEFL score of 600 (or 100 on the internet-based test), a minimum score of 68 on the Pearson Test of English, or a minimum IELTS score of seven (7) is required. Additionally, applicants with international transcripts must have them evaluated course by course. For a list of acceptable evaluators, go to NACES.org.
Applicants will also need to submit:
- Completed application
- Statement of purpose
- Résumé
- Official transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
- $55 application fee*
Applicants will also complete a phone interview with a department lead.
*The application fee is typically waived if the application file is complete within a three week period.