Master of Science in Applied Economics and Finance
The M.S. APEF is a one-year professional masters program that provides analytical graduate training designed to prepare students for careers in business, international and domestic banking, consulting firms, government, and nonprofit organizations.
The curriculum stresses mastery of core principles in economics, finance, econometric techniques, programming and statistical software packages (R, Stata, Python). Students improve data analysis skills using large-scale data sets.
Graduates of this program have gone on to successful careers in the private and public sectors with placements at a diverse range of companies and institutions, including ADM Associates, Inc., Anderson Tax, SoFi, Cisco Systems, Seagate Technology, Google, Sony Computer Entertainment, Wells Fargo, Securities and Exchange Commission, all of the big four accounting firms, McKesson Corp., Pepsi Corp., Visa, Square Trade, the California Franchise Tax Board, Guardian News (UK), Blue Cross, the World Bank, Stanford University, and the Bank of Japan. Other graduates have gone on to earn Ph.D.s in economics.
Application deadline for Fall 2023 extended to May 10, 2023.
This program combines
- Core training in economic theory
- Meaningful applications that students are likely to face in their professional careers
- More applied orientation than a typical M.A. program in economics
- More training in economics, statistics, and econometrics than most M.B.A. programs
- Professional development, job preparation, networking opportunities
In addition, each student learns
- How to solve practical problems and to communicate the results clearly
- Advanced econometric techniques
- Programming and statistical software packages (R, Stata, Python)
- Applications using large-scale financial and microeconomic data sets
Students must pass a comprehensive capstone requirement to receive their degree. This capstone requirement consists of a comprehensive examination, which will take place within two weeks of spring graduation. Students who do not pass the June examination may take it again in August at a date scheduled by the department.
Program Requirements can be found here.
For more information
- Access information session slides with live links to resources.
- Contact Galina Hale, Professor of Economics at UC Santa Cruz, M.S. APEF Program Director
- Email econ_grad_coor@ucsc.edu to talk with an advisor.
- Watch Recorded information session below.