Bachelor of Science in Economics
Fairfax, USA
BSc
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Jun 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
USD 4,897 / per semester **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* International student deadline is 1st of June of every year | Domestic student deadline is 1st of February
** in-state tuition full-time (12-15 credits); USD 16,980 - out-of-state tuition full-time (12-15 credits); USD 1,803 - mandatory student fee
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
As an economics major at Mason, you will be studying in one of the top economics programs in the world. You will be taking classes from professors well-known for their scholarship, their regular contributions to major national media such as the New York Times and the Washington Post, and their engaging blogs such as Café Hayek and Marginal Revolution. Two Nobel Prize winners, who were members of our department, set in place our strong foundation in free market economics, public choice, and experimental economics.
You will join bright and energetic students from all over the world who are active in organizations like our own Economics Society. You will have opportunities to pursue your own original research or an accelerated master’s degree, study abroad, or reach your career goals through internships. Students have interned at small entrepreneurial companies to large financial institutions such as the Bank of America. They also find internships in government, including the US Department of the Treasury, the Department of Commerce, and in congressional offices and Washington DC think tanks.
The BS in Economics provides a stronger emphasis on quantitative analysis. You will be well prepared for a career as an analyst in government, consulting, trade associations, or other private sector positions, and for graduate school in economics or more quantitative business administration programs.
Our department offers two optional concentrations within the major: Managerial Economics and Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE).
Opportunities
All students have opportunities for research, global engagement, public service, and career preparation.
- Highly motivated students can do an independent research project with a faculty member. They are encouraged to apply to the accelerated master’s program in economics.
- Gain valuable work-related experience by interning at places such as Smith Barney, the International Monetary Fund, ExxonMobile, Merrill Lynch, or BB&T Bank.
- Join the GMU Econ Society, a club for students passionate about economics.
- Understand the key concepts and theoretical models of microeconomics.
- Understand the key concepts and the different schools of thought in macroeconomics.
- Apply insights from field-specific knowledge in economics to analyze economic problems
- Interpret bivariate relationships as presented in empirical research.
- Demonstrate effective writing in the discipline.
Our majors achieve success in a range of careers. They are financial analysts and economic forecasters, lawyers, managers, researchers in government, think tanks, and non-profits, entrepreneurs—even medical professionals and musicians. The great benefit of an economics degree is its versatility.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: minimum 120
Some economics courses may fulfill the Mason Core requirement in global understanding. Check with the departmental advising office for more information.
Core Courses without Concentration
Required Courses
- ECON 103 Contemporary Microeconomic Principles (Mason Core) 3
- ECON 104 Contemporary Macroeconomic Principles (Mason Core) 3
- ECON 306 Intermediate Microeconomics 3
- ECON 311 Intermediate Macroeconomics 3
- ECON 309 Economic Problems and Public Policies 3
- ECON 345 Introduction to Econometrics 3
- MATH 113 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (Mason Core)
- MATH 114 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II
Total Credits 26
Statistics
Select one from the following: 6
- STAT 250 & STAT 350 Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core) and Introductory Statistics II
- STAT 344 & STAT 354 Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I and Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists II
Total Credits 6
Additional Course
ACCT 203 Survey of Accounting 3 or STAT 362 Introduction to Computer Statistical Packages
Total Credits 3
Electives without Concentration
- Select 18 credits of electives from courses in economics at the 300 or 400 level 18
- Select 6 credits of electives from courses in economics at the 400 level or higher. 6
Total Credits 24
Optional Concentrations
Students interested in a degree in economics with a concentration will complete the coursework for one of the concentrations below.
- Concentration in Managerial Economics (MECN)
- Concentration in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE)
Concentration in Managerial Economics (MECN)
Students who wish to focus their BS in economics for application in the business world may choose to pursue a concentration in managerial economics. They complete 62 credits, 10 of which may be used also to fulfill Mason Core requirements.
Required Courses
- ECON 103 Contemporary Microeconomic Principles (Mason Core) 3
- ECON 104 Contemporary Macroeconomic Principles (Mason Core) 3
- ECON 306 Intermediate Microeconomics 3
- ECON 308 Managerial Economics and Strategy 3
- ECON 309 Economic Problems and Public Policies 3
- ECON 310 Money and Banking 3
- ECON 311 Intermediate Macroeconomics 3
- ECON 345 Introduction to Econometrics 3
Total Credits 24
Statistics
Select one from the following: 6
- STAT 250 & STAT 350 Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core) and Introductory Statistics II
- STAT 344 & STAT 354 Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I and Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists II
Total Credits 6
Required Courses in Math, Accounting, and Information Technology
- ACCT 203 Survey of Accounting 3
- MATH 113 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (Mason Core) 4
- MATH 114 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II 4
Total Credits 11
Two Required Courses in Business Writing
- BUS 103 Develop Professional Skills I: Foundational Elements 3
- BUS 303 Develop Professional Skills II: Advanced Elements 3
Total Credits 6
Electives in Economics
Select 9 credits from the following: 9
- ECON 321 Economics of Labor
- ECON 370 Economics of Industrial Organization
- ECON 390 International Economics
- ECON 412 Game Theory and Economics of Institutions
- ECON 415 Law and Economics
- ECON 420 International Money and Finance
- ECON 421 Financial Economics
- ECON 471 Airline Economics
- ECON 496 Special Topics in Economics
Total Credits 9
Additional Electives in Economics
Select 6 credits of electives in economics from courses at the 300 and 400 level or higher. 6
Total Credits 6
Elective not in Economics
Select one elective from the following: 3
- BULE 303 Legal Environment of Business
- FNAN 303 Financial Management
- MGMT 303 Principles of Management
- MKTG 303 Principles of Marketing
- MIS 303 Introduction to Business Information Systems (Mason Core)
- OSCM 303 Operations Management
Total Credits 3
Writing-Intensive Requirement
The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated as "writing intensive" in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in economics fulfill this requirement by successfully completing one of the following courses:
- ECON 355 The Political Economy of Nonprofit Institutions
- ECON 365 Topics in Economic History
- ECON 395 Effective Writing in Economics
- ECON 435 Economics of Energy
- ECON 470 Economics of Regulation
- ECON 485 Smithian Political Economy I
Upper-Level Requirements
Students seeking a bachelor’s degree must apply at least 45 credits of upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above) toward graduation requirements.
Additional Electives
Any remaining credits may be completed with elective courses to bring the degree total to 120.
Mason Core
Some Mason Core requirements may already be fulfilled by the major requirements listed above. Students are strongly encouraged to consult their advisors to ensure they fulfill all remaining Mason Core requirements.
Foundation Requirements
- Written Communication (ENGH 101) 3
- Oral Communication 3
- Quantitative Reasoning 3
- Information Technology and Computing 3
Exploration Requirements
- Arts 3
- Global Understanding 3
- Literature 3
- Natural Science 7
- Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
- Western Civilization/World History 3
Integration Requirements
- Written Communications (ENGH 302) 3
- Writing-Intensive 3
- Synthesis/Capstone 3
Total Credits 40