Haslam College of Business Building

4+1 Accelerated Program

combined
bachelor’s +
master’s

The Department of Economics and Department of Finance offer an accelerated 5-year Bachelor’s/MA program for qualified students. Students first obtain a BA degree in Economics through the College of Arts and Sciences, a BSBA in Economics through the Haslam College of Business, or a BSBA in Finance through the Haslam College of Business.

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MA Economics Program

4+1 Accelerated Program

Benefits

Save time

Students take up to 9 credits their senior year that count towards both their bachelor’s degree in economics or finance and the MA in Economics. Completing the MA requires only two additional semesters!

Avoid stress

We screen applicants as undergraduates, and there is a guaranteed path to graduate program acceptance. Students do not need to take the GRE or GMAT, nor do they need letters of recommendation.

Lower costs

The accelerated timeline will save you money.

A high return on your investment

Average starting salaries are about $20k higher for those with a master’s versus a bachelor’s degree in economics or finance.

4+1 Accelerated Program

Provisional admission process

Students pursuing the 4+1 program go through a two-step admission process. The first step requires approval by the student’s home department. The Department of Economics and Department of Finance offer an accelerated 5-year Bachelor’s/MA program for qualified University of Tennessee-Knoxville students.

Minimum requirements for provisional admission

  • 3.3 cumulative GPA
  • Declared major in economics or finance
  • At least 64 credit hours of required coursework towards the undergraduate major.
  • While not required, applicants are encouraged to have taken ECON 311, 313, and 381 prior to applying.

Other admission criteria

  • Overall and major GPA
  • Prior coursework in economics, mathematics, statistics, and other quantitative fields.
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Work experience

4+1 Accelerated Program

How To Apply

Students complete an application for the combined accelerated program. There is no application fee. As part of the application, students are asked to upload a resume and an (unofficial) academic transcript. While no reference letters are needed, students are asked to provide contact information for one faculty member who can speak to the applicant’s qualifications.

Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. Students are encouraged to apply during or immediately after their junior year.

4+1 Accelerated Program

Admission Requirements for the MA in Economics Program

While those granted provisional admission are not automatically approved for the graduate program, we have developed a set of requirements that, if met, guarantee admission to the program. All graduate program applicants are further required to meet Graduate School admissions requirements.

The MA program requires students to select between two concentrations: Applied Economic Analysis, and Financial Economics. Economics and Finance majors are welcome to select either concentration. The admissions criteria depend on the chosen concentration, and are therefore separated below.

It is possible for students to be admitted via other pathways, and students are encouraged to discuss alternatives with the MA program director.

4+1 Accelerated Program

Applied Economic Analysis

  • Economic theory: ECON 311 and ECON 313
  • Data analysis: ECON 381; and ECON 300 (Data Science for Economists), BAS 474, ECON 474, or ECON 481
  • Mathematical methods: MATH 141 and MATH 142; or ECON 482
  • Grades of “B” or better in all coursework used to fulfill the theory, data analysis, and mathematical methods requirements.
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.3.

4+1 Accelerated Program

Financial Economics

  • Economic theory: ECON 311 and ECON 313
  • Data analysis: ECON 381
  • Mathematical methods: MATH 141 and MATH 142; or ECON 482
  • Finance: FINC 306, FINC 420, and FINC 425
  • Grades of “B” or better in all coursework used to fulfill the theory, data analysis, and mathematical methods requirements.
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.3.

4+1 Accelerated Program

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a combined accelerated bachelor’s/master’s (4+1) program?

This, and related programs, are a bridge between an existing bachelor’s program and an existing master’s program. Aside from the fact that up to 9 credits can count toward both degrees, the curriculum of the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs are unchanged.

I am an economics major. Can I pursue the financial economics concentration in the MA program?

Yes, you can. You will need to take core coursework in finance to prepare for this, as detailed on this web page.

Can I take courses for graduate credit without being admitted?

Yes, the Graduate School allows seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher to take graduate courses. However, if you have not been admitted to a 4+1 program, you will not be able to apply these credits toward your undergraduate degree.

How long does it take to receive an admission decision?

We continually monitor the application site and strive to make decisions within 2-3 weeks.

Do I need to change my undergraduate major?

No, unless you are not currently an economics or finance major. Any existing finance or economics undergraduate major can be a part of the 4+1 program.

If admitted, am I committing myself to completing the MA in Economics?

No, admission to the 4+1 program does not commit you to applying to or enrolling in the MA program. Of course, we hope that you do!

How do I apply?

The application form can be accessed through https://tiny.utk.edu/econapp. It should only take a few minutes to complete. This is separate from UT’s undergraduate and graduate program application portals.

Need More Information?

Undergraduate Economics majors, please contact:

Christian Vossler (cvossler@utk.edu)

Undergraduate Finance majors, please contact:

David Maslar (dmaslar@utk.edu)

Interested in the

MA in Economics program

MA in Economics Program