MA in Economics

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Become a Mason Graduate Student

All applicants for graduate study at George Mason University must meet the admission standards specified in the Admission chapter of the University Catalog.

CHSS Graduate Admissions is self-managed. You are responsible for submitting all required application materials by the posted deadline. Review your program's Admissions Requirements and Deadlines before you begin your application. You can also visit our Grad Admissions FAQs page for helpful hints on how best to prepare your transcripts and other Admissions materials.

Step 1: Complete and submit the online Graduate Admissions application:

Step 2: Upon submission and payment of the online application, you will receive an email confirming application submission and instructions for uploading any supplementary materials required to complete the admission process. You will also be assigned a Mason identification number—called a G number—that will be key to all University communications. You can find this number through your self-service center.

Step 3: Check your application status. You can use your application log-in and password to access your information throughout the application process. Graduate Admissions may send updates or notify you of issues with your application through your self-service center, so it is best to log in periodically to stay on top of your application.

Step 4: For newly admitted students, refer to the CHSS New Graduate Student webpage for tips on confirming enrollment, submitting official transcripts, registering for class and more.

Program Specific Requirements

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Additional Information

In addition to holding an undergraduate degree, not necessarily in economics, it is encouraged that applicants should have satisfactorily completed the following before enrolling in graduate courses:

  • Intermediate microeconomics.
  • Intermediate macroeconomics.
  • At least one semester of calculus (MATH 113 or equivalent).
  • At least one semester of statistics (OM 210 or STAT 250 and STAT 350, or equivalent).

Successful applicants have earned a GPA of 3.00 in the last two years of undergraduate work and in all economics courses as well as satisfactory scores on the GRE. The average incoming MA student has a GPA of 3.36 and GRE percentile scores of 73% verbal and 55% quantitative.

GRE scores are optional. Scores must be submitted by applicants who believe the GRE scores will lead to a better demonstration of their qualifications. Submitted GRE scores may be no older than 5 years. The general exam will suffice, no subject test is needed.

The admissions committee places a great deal of emphasis also on the quality of grades received in economics courses as well as courses taken in science and mathematics.

A writing sample is optional but will be reviewed if included with the application.

Application Deadlines

Priority Fall Deadline: February 15
Space Available Deadline: June 15

All applicants are encouraged to submit applications and all supporting documentation by the program’s posted priority deadline. Applying by the priority deadline ensures admissions consideration for the intended semester as well as consideration for funding opportunities (graduate assistantships and fellowships). After the priority deadline, the program will continue to review applications for admissions on a space-available basis until June 01.

The department accepts MA students for the fall semester only.

Additional Requirements for

International Applicants

Students applying for graduate study must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education, which is verified from official transcripts, by the time they enroll at Mason. They should also have earned a GPA equivalent to a 3.0 on a 4-point scale.

Unofficial documents may be considered for admissions purposes only. Applicants may upload copies of their transcript with their application. Transcript must include a version in the original language as well as in English, and should contain a copy of the graduation certificate/diploma to verify the conferral date. Transcript evaluations can be made from unofficial documents.

For student who prefer to submit official transcripts instead, they can be mailed directly to:

Office of Graduate Admissions
George Mason University
4400 University Drive, MS 4C8
Fairfax, VA 22030

Please review the guidelines for international transcript submission.

*Note: For admitted students needing an F-1 or J-1 visa, the Office of Graduate Admissions and the Office of International Services and Programs must have an official transcript on file before visa paperwork can be completed. These can be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions after receipt of a decision of admission to the above address.

Transcript Evaluations

A transcript evaluation is also required for all international transcripts. Evaluations must be completed by an accredited agency approved by NACES or AACRAO, or you may submit your transcript for evaluation by George Mason’s International Credential Evaluation office. If you choose to use Mason’s service, please expect 6-8 weeks for processing.

For more information, visit the International Application Hints section of the Admissions Website.

Proof of English Proficiency

Students who were educated outside of the US, Canada (excluding Quebec), UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand must submit qualifying TOEFL, IELTS, or Pearson Test of English exam results. All examinations require advance registration and it could take several weeks to receive your results. It is important to register for these examinations early.

Minimum scores required for each exam:

  • TOEFL: 88 points, minimum of 20 points in each section
  • IELTS: 6.5 total band score
  • Pearson: minimum score of 59

Visa Information

Please submit the following documents as part of your I-20 application:

If you already hold an F-1 or J-1 visa, please provide a copy of your I-20 form and your passport ID photo as part of your application. For questions regarding the I-20 application, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions or the Office of International Programs and Services.

*Note: For admitted students needing an F-1 or J-1 visa, the Office of Graduate Admissions and the Office of International Services and Programs must have an official transcript on file before visa paperwork can be completed. These can be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions after receipt of an admitted decision to the above address.


Non-Degree Admissions

You have the option to take graduate courses in non-degree status. To apply, you must complete an online application for your intended start term and include transcripts as well as a resume. You will also be required to indicate on the application which courses you plan to take for approval during the application review process. Credits earned in non-degree status may potentially transfer to a degree program at a later date so long as it meets the program requirements and the program director approves the transfer. For information on transfer credit policies, please refer to the University Catalog.

Non-Degree Requirements

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Application deadlines for graduate non-degree coursework differ from program deadlines. For additional information on the non-degree application process and deadlines please refer to Applying for Non-Degree Graduate Study.

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