Advanced study in business administration and economics is available through a dual degree program sponsored by the School of Business.
The dual degree Master of Business Administration and Master of Arts in Economics program allows students to earn two degrees with a minimum of 63 graduate credits rather than the 75 graduate credits necessary if the two degrees were pursued separately. This efficiency lowers the overall cost of tuition while also reducing time to earning both degrees.
Prerequisite and/or foundation courses may effectively increase the number of credits needed to earn the degrees.
Program goals
The objectives of this dual degree program are to:
- Prepare individuals to be effective leaders and managers in corporate and policy-making settings
- Equip individuals with knowledge of advanced macroeconomic and econometric models for managerial decisions and for policy analysis
- Provide the ability to analyze the impact of policy decisions on consumers and firms and for effective governance
- Develop interpersonal and professional skills critical to business, including communication and presentation skills, and leadership and management, among others
Among the many benefits offered by participation in the dual degree program are the following:
- Complementing the general management skills obtained in the M.B.A. with a solid specialization in econometric modeling for managerial decision-making
- Acquiring a high degree of competency in using data for economic analyses and modeling
- Enhanced ability to effectively compete for managerial positions across a wide spectrum of organizations where increasing emphasis is on using data for strategic decisions
- The ability to effectively complete both degrees within a shorter time frame with considerable time and tuition savings through the 12 shared credits
The diplomas for this dual degree program may be awarded sequentially or simultaneously. Students are not required to begin both programs in the same semester, but must be enrolled in both degrees for at least one semester prior to graduation from either program for credits to be shared across programs.
Student learning outcomes
See each degree program page for student learning outcomes.
Other information
Advising
A program manager will serve as an adviser and administrative liaison for students. The assigned program manager will assist in developing a plan of study to meet the curriculum requirements of both programs. A faculty adviser from the Department of Economics will help students consider electives that will best serve their professional goals.
Admission requirements
Students must officially apply and be admitted to each degree program separately before the pursuit of the dual degree program may begin. It is not required to begin both programs in the same semester. View the application requirements for each program for additional details.
Degree requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 63 total credits to earn the Master of Business Administration and Master of Arts in Economics. Students without sufficient background in economics may be required to first complete prerequisite course work.
A total of 12 credits may be counted toward both programs:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 604 | Advanced Microeconomic Theory (core requirement for M.A.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| ECON 607 | Advanced Macroeconomic Theory (core requirement for M.A.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| ECON 612 | Econometrics (core requirement for M.A.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| FIRE 623 | Financial Management (core requirement for M.B.A.; satisfies M.A. elective) | 3 |
The diplomas for this dual degree program may be awarded sequentially or simultaneously.
Curriculum requirements for the dual degree
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| M.B.A. requirements | ||
| • Required courses | ||
| ACCT 507 | Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT 608 | Managerial Accounting Concepts | 3 |
| ECON 610 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| FIRE 520 | Financial Concepts of Management | 3 |
| FIRE 623 | Financial Management (satisfies three credits of M.A. electives) | 3 |
| INFO 661 | Information Systems for Managers | 3 |
| INFO 664 | Information Systems for Business Intelligence | 3 |
| MGMT 641 | Leading People and Organizations | 3 |
| MGMT 642 | Business Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| MKTG 671 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| SCMA 524 | Statistical Fundamentals for Business Management | 3 |
| SCMA 675 | Operations Management | 3 |
| • Electives | ||
| Satisfied by ECON 604, ECON 607 and ECON 612 | 9 | |
| M.A. requirements | ||
| • Required courses | ||
| ECON 604 | Advanced Microeconomic Theory (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| ECON 607 | Advanced Macroeconomic Theory (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| ECON 612 | Econometrics (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| ECON 614 | Mathematical Economics | 3 |
| ECON 641 | Econometric Time-series Analysis | 3 |
| ECON 642 | Panel and Nonlinear Methods in Econometrics | 3 |
| • Approved electives | 12 | |
| (FIRE 623 satisfies three credits) | ||
| Select an additional nine credits from the following: | ||
ECON 600:609 | ||
ECON 616:699 | ||
FIRE 600:699 | ||
| Health System Organization, Financing and Performance | ||
| Health Analytics and Decision Support | ||
| Health Economics | ||
| Introduction to Health Policy | ||
HCPR 701:734 | ||
| Data Mining | ||
MGMT 600:699 | ||
MKTG 600:699 | ||
| Machine Learning Algorithms | ||
| Decision and Risk Analysis | ||
| Multiobjective Decision Analysis | ||
| Intro to Public Service and Administration | ||
| Politics and Economics | ||
| Financial Management in Government | ||
| Public Sector Budgeting | ||
| Policy Insights: Assessing Public Policies | ||
SCMA 600:699 | ||
| Mathematical Statistics I | ||
| Mathematical Statistics II | ||
STAT 600:699 | ||
| Total Hours | 63 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 63.
Sample plan of study
What follows is an example plan that meets the prescribed requirements. Students may work with their adviser to consider an individual enrollment plan that best meets their goals. Part-time enrollment and summer courses may be considered.
| Year one | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| ACCT 507 | Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 |
| FIRE 520 | Financial Concepts of Management | 3 |
| INFO 664 | Information Systems for Business Intelligence | 3 |
| SCMA 524 | Statistical Fundamentals for Business Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ECON 610 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| INFO 661 | Information Systems for Managers | 3 |
| MGMT 641 | Leading People and Organizations | 3 |
| SCMA 675 | Operations Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Year two | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ACCT 608 | Managerial Accounting Concepts | 3 |
| FIRE 623 | Financial Management (satisfies M.A. elective) | 3 |
| MGMT 642 | Business Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| MKTG 671 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ECON 607 | Advanced Macroeconomic Theory (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| ECON 612 | Econometrics (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| ECON 641 | Econometric Time-series Analysis | 3 |
| Economics elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Summer semester | ||
| ECON 614 | Mathematical Economics | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 3 | |
| Year three | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ECON 604 | Advanced Microeconomic Theory (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| ECON 642 | Panel and Nonlinear Methods in Econometrics | 3 |
| Economics electives | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Total Hours: | 63 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 63.
Contact
Austen Gouldman
gouldmana@vcu.edu
(804) 828-4622
Additional contact
Graduate Studies in Business
gsib@vcu.edu
(804) 828-4622
Program website: business.vcu.edu/academics/mba-options