The M.A. in Economics at Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics offers an attainable option for earning a graduate degree in the coveted and in-demand discipline of economics. An M.A. in Economics can be preparatory for either a doctoral program with a focus on a teaching or research career or lucrative and rewarding opportunities in the private sector, such as investment banks or real estate firms.

Here are five reasons why the CSUF M.A. in Economics will benefit your career growth.

1. Dedicated Support

Remember those massive lecture hall classes when you took macroeconomics and microeconomics as an undergrad? The M.A. in Economics is worlds apart, with small class sizes that translate to easier access to your professors, who are experts on fiscal and monetary policy, macro- and microeconomics, and econometrics.

With regular career-focused bootcamps, opportunities for on-campus employment, competitive scholarships, and a faculty ranked among the top for research, the CSUF M.A. in Economics offers a truly world-class graduate experience.

2. The Ability to Customize Your Degree

At Cal State Fullerton, you can tailor your graduate degree to your aspirations and objectives. With the ability to take two to four elective classes, you can focus on such fields as finance, game theory, economic development, or data analytics. Our new Quantitative Economics concentration is keeping our M.A. in Economics focused for the AI age, with the latest on big data and machine learning. Combined with the college’s strong reputation in Orange County and beyond, students in this concentration are uniquely primed for strong employment prospects at an affordable price.

3. Opportunities For Experiential Learning

In the CSUF M.A. in Economics, you’ll begin making an impact on the world before you graduate! Our cutting-edge courses focus on big data and machine learning, providing valuable hands-on experience and real-world application. Through the Center for Economic Education, economics students provide financial literacy mentoring to local school children and recovering homeless populations. The Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting presents twice annual economic forecasts to the Southern California business and government sectors. And M.A. in Economics students are front and center in researching and preparing the reports.

4. Programs that Fit Your Schedule

The timeline from starting your degree to graduation is only three semesters, which means a year and a half is the entire commitment for full-time students. Since most classes meet in the late afternoon and evening, it is easy to continue working full-time while earning your economics masters. Or perhaps focus on an internship, which many students obtain through the support and guidance of Business Career Services, Business Graduate Programs and the economics department.

5. The Strength of the Alumni Network

The CSUF M.A. in Economics has graduated hundreds of professionals who now teach, research and lead. They are among the more than 80,000 Business Titan alumni, who form a strong and omnipresent network in Southern California and beyond, eager to support the success of the new generation of grads. Among our alumni is Denisa Marc ’24, who was recognized for her study on the impact of Federal Reserve statements on Treasury yields. Some of our alumni serve as lecturers, including Thomas Clark, Austin Albright, Cris Vega, and Michael Guillen, who hold full time jobs as economists in the private sector or utilities while teaching undergraduate classes at night. This means the alumni network often begins with your professor, and broadens further with guest speakers, career recruiters, and recent grads accessible at alumni reunions and events.

Get Started on Your M.A. in Economics Journey Today

Feel the M.A. in Economics is the best path for you? Learn more or apply today! Or read more of our articles on our economics graduate program.