MS Applied Economics
San Francisco, USA
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
15 Jan 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
USD 29,880 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for living on campus and living in off-campus housing
Introduction
In the San Francisco Bay Area, the development of advanced technologies is altering the way people live and work. Digital markets are fundamentally changing interactions between consumers, businesses, organizations, and governments throughout the world. As a next-generation economist with an MS in Applied Economics, you will have the skills to take a leadership role in this dynamic environment.
The Master of Science in Applied Economics at the University of San Francisco trains students to apply the theoretical insights and empirical techniques of modern economics to practical problems in the business, government, and non-profit sectors.
This 36-unit program focuses in particular on the skills needed in the increasingly digitized economy. Manipulation and analysis of data using industry-standard programming languages is an integral part of the curriculum from day one. Students learn how to use the tools of economics to grapple with the implications of the new markets and new information sources created by advances in information technology.
About the Program
The Master of Science in Applied Economics generally requires two years of full-time study. In the first year, you will master the core mathematical, microeconomic, econometric, and computational tools required for the field and study how these tools are used in cutting-edge academic research and business applications. In the summer after the first year, students typically seek out internships with firms or other organizations in the Bay Area where they can begin to apply and hone their skills in a practical setting.
In the second year, you will enhance your knowledge and skills through advanced courses. The completion of a capstone research project in the graduate seminar will demonstrate and solidify your ability to analyze real-world data, draw conclusions from this data, and communicate those conclusions clearly in oral, written, and visual forms. You may also choose to take your capstone research to a higher level as a Master’s thesis or to pursue another internship.
Classes are typically held in the late afternoon and evening to facilitate internships or part-time work. Due to the requirements of coursework, students planning to graduate in two years will not be able to work full-time. A flexible three-year option is also available for students who wish to continue full-time employment.
Admissions
Curriculum
Mathematical Foundations (4 units)
Students learn core mathematical techniques for economic theory and econometrics.
- ECON 615 - Mathematics for Economists (4 units)
Microeconomic Foundations (4 units)
Choose at least 4 units from the following:
- ECON 501 - Applied Microeconomic Theory (2 units)
- ECON 601 - Microeconomics: Theory & Applications (4 units)
- ECON 603 - Core Microeconomic Theory (4 units)
- ECON 640 - Institutions, Markets, and Platforms (2 units)
- ECON 641 - Microeconomics for the Digitized Economy (2 units)
- ECON 663 - Experimental Economics (4 units)
- ECON 673 - Development Microeconomics (4 units)
Data Analytics (14 units)
Choose at least 14 units from the following:
- ECON 611 - Computation for Economics (4 units)
- ECON 620 - Graduate Econometrics (4 units)
- ECON 621 - Data Science for Economics (4 units)
- ECON 622 - Machine Learning for Economics (4 units)
- ECON 623 - Field Research Methods (4 units)
- ECON 624 - Fundamentals of Macro Data (4 units)
- ECON 625 - Econometrics of Financial Markets (4 units)
- ECON 626 - Experiments & Causal Inference (4 units)
- ECON 630 - Special Topics in Econometrics (2 units)
- ECON 631 - Data Visualization (2 units)
- ECON 636 - Econometrics: Panel Data (4 units)
- ECON 637 - Econometrics: Causal Methods (4 units)
- ECON 638 - Advanced Applied Econometrics (4 units)
- ENVM 673 - Accelerated Intro to GIS (4 units)
- ENVM 674 - Accelerated Intermediate GIS (4 units)
- ENVM 675 - Advanced GIS (4 units)
- MSDS 596 - EDA, Visualization, and Ethics (4 units)
- MSDS 597 - Data Management (4 units)
- MSDS 598 - Modeling I (4 units)
- MSDS 599 - Modeling II: Machine Learning (4 units)
Professional Communication (2 units)
Choose at least 2 units from the following:
- PC 680 - Graduate Program Writing (2 units)
- ECON 640 - Institutions, Markets, and Platforms (2 units)
- ECON 665 - Law and Economics (4 units)
Independent Research (4 units)
Choose at least 4 units from the following:
- ECON 692 - Applied Economics Seminar (4 units)
- ECON 696 - Internship (2 or 4 units)
- ECON 698 - Directed Reading/Research (2 or 4 units)
- ECON 699 - Thesis (4 units)
Electives (8 units)
Choose 8 units from the following:
- ECON 501 - Applied Microeconomic Theory
- ECON 601 - Microeconomics: Theory & Applications
- ECON 602 - Macroeconomics: Theory & Applications
- ECON 603 - Core Microeconomic Theory
- ECON 611 - Computation for Economics
- ECON 615 - Mathematics for Economists
- ECON 620 - Graduate Econometrics
- ECON 621 - Data Science for Economics
- ECON 622 - Machine Learning for Economics
- ECON 623 - Field Research Methods
- ECON 624 - Fundamentals of Macro Data
- ECON 625 - Econometrics of Financial Markets
- ECON 626 - Experiments & Causal Inference
- ECON 630 - Special Topics in Econometrics
- ECON 631 - Data Visualization
- ECON 636 - Econometrics: Panel Data
- ECON 637 - Econometrics: Causal Methods
- ECON 638 - Advanced Applied Econometrics
- ECON 640 - Institutions, Markets, and Platforms
- ECON 641 - Micro for Digitized Economy
- ECON 663 - Experimental Economics
- ECON 665 - Law and Economics
- ECON 670 - International Economics
- ECON 672 - Economics of Development
- ECON 673 - Development Microeconomics
- ECON 674 - Development Macroeconomics
- ECON 676 - Natural Resource Economics & Development Policy
- ECON 690 - Development Economics Seminar
- ECON 691 - Special Topics in Economics
- ECON 692 - Applied Economics Seminar
- ECON 696 - Internship
- ECON 698 - Directed Reading/Research
- ECON 699 - Thesis
- ENVM 673 - Accelerated Intro to GIS
- ENVM 674 - Accelerated Intermediate GIS
- ENVM 675 - Advanced GIS
- MSDS 596 - EDA, Visualization, and Ethics
- MSDS 597 - Data Management
- MSDS 598 - Modeling I
- MSDS 599 - Modeling II: Machine Learning
- PC 680 - Graduate Program Writing
This structure ensures a comprehensive foundation in economic theory and data analysis, with flexibility for students to pursue their research interests through electives and independent research projects.
Optional Thesis
Students who have completed Econ 601, 611, 615, and 620 with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher are eligible to write a master's thesis. The petition for thesis completion must be addressed to the Economics Department along with the research paper and the endorsement of the research adviser. The completion of a master's thesis will include an oral examination, signature of the final product by three faculty members including the thesis adviser, and final approval by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. A copy of the thesis will be made available for general consultation in Gleeson Library.
Not more than 6 units of the basic program minimum of 36 units may be counted toward research associated with a thesis or research project. Students may register for additional research units over and above the basic program requirements.
Program Outcome
- Economic Data Manipulation: Students will be able to effectively use modern programming languages to clean, organize, query, summarize, visualize, and model large volumes and varieties of data.
- Economic Data Analytics: Students will possess a theoretical and applied understanding of the use of econometrics and statistics for descriptive and causal inference.
- Applied Economic Theory: Students will be able to understand and apply economic theory to understand how businesses and other organizations interact with each other and with users/customers/clients and use this understanding to guide data analysis.
- Economic Problem Solving: Students will be able to solve real-world data-driven business and policy problems by working with economists, policymakers, data scientists, and business practitioners.
- Economic Communication: Students will be able to communicate their research approach and findings at an excellent level, both in writing and verbally.
Scholarships and Funding
The MSCS program offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships to incoming and current graduate students, both domestic and international, on a competitive basis.
MSCS Admission Scholarship
Awarded to incoming MSCS applicants with outstanding applications from all backgrounds. Approximate awards range up to $5k over the first year of study.
MSCS Merit Scholarship
Awarded to incoming MSCS applicants with outstanding applications from all backgrounds, or current MSCS graduate students who demonstrate outstanding skills and leadership. Approximate awards range from $5–10k over one to two semesters.
The Dean's Scholarship
An award of up to $15,000 to use toward tuition, research, and conference travel. Connect with other Dean's Scholarship recipients and leaders across the College of Arts & Sciences. Serve as a program representative to USF donor initiatives to help transform the lives of other USF students. For more information please see the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Scholarships website.
Double Dons Scholarship
USF Alumni and current students can be awarded the USF Double Dons Scholarship upon admission. The scholarship covers 20% of the program tuition, and may not be stacked with other USF scholarship awards. Exceptions may apply.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Applied Economics program have achieved success in their careers in the Bay Area and beyond, joining teams at companies including Google, Visa, Shell, and more. Others also pursue further study in applied economics in a PhD program.
Positions & Employers
A partial list:
- Software Engineer, Mpower Logic
- Research Analyst, Apartment List
- Data Scientist, Milliman
- Data Science Fellow, Correlation One
- EU Policy Researcher, Shell
- Analyst, Business Science, MediaCom
- Data Manager, Aguilas
- Sales Operations Specialist, Rahi Systems
- Analyst, Business Analytics, Retail at Sephora
- Product Data Scientist, Fetch Rewards
- Associate Data Scientist, Citi
- Business Operations & Strategy, Kyte
- Administrator, On-Field Operations, Major League Baseball
- Data Analytics Manager, Development, University of San Francisco
- US Interchange Pricing Analyst, Visa
- Data Scientist, Evidi
- Vendor Manager, Amazon
- Portfolio Management Analyst, PG&E
- Data and Policy Analyst, Acumen LLC
- Data Scientist, Thumbtack
- Data Center Market Analyst, Intel Corporation
- Research Analyst, Polaris Pacific
- Data Analytics Engineer, Firework
- Team Lead, Enterprise Business Development - Data Analytics, Google Cloud, Google