Introduction

Graduate Advisors: Andrea Velasquez

For students interested in combining the quantitative skills of an economics degree with the specific applications of a business degree, we offer an MA economics / MS finance dual degree. This 42-semester-hour program is offered jointly with the Business School.

A "dual" degree means that students who complete the program earn two master's degrees: MA in economics and MS in finance. Students interested in completing the dual degree in economics and public administration must apply separately to each program, meet the admission requirements of each program, and be accepted by each program. If one program accepts a student for the dual degree but the other program does not, then the student may not graduate under the dual degree program. Students may apply to both programs at the same time or apply to the economics program first, and then to the finance program after their first semester, or vice versa. Both programs must be completed in the same semester to take advantage of the dual degree program. Further information about this program can be obtained from either the Department of Economics or the Business School.

Click here for admissions requirements for the MA program in Economics

Click here for admissions requirements for the MS program in Finance and Risk Management

The dual degree program is intended to create highly-skilled research professionals with considerable econometric skill as well as familiarity with their chosen financial institutions. Given the similarity in course work within the two programs, there can be considerable time savings for the student. Essentially, the program allows students to complete the two programs that separately would require 60 hours of course work with 42 hours of combined course work.

Graduate Education Policies and Procedures apply to this program.

Program Requirements

1. The requirements for the dual degree in economics and finance include completing 21 credit hours in ECON and 21 credit hours in FNCE (42 total credit hours)
2. Students are expected to meet all course prerequisites.
3. Students must complete a minimum of 42 upper-division (5000-level) or higher ECON and FNCE credit hours.

4. Students must earn a minimum grade of B- (2.7) in all courses that apply to the degree and must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.Courses taken using P+/P/F or S/U grading cannot apply to program requirements. No course may be taken more than twice and only one attempt will retain the credit.

5. Students must complete all coursework with CU Denver faculty.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Complete the following required courses:		30
ECON 5073	Microeconomic Theory
ECON 5083	Macroeconomic Theory
ECON 5803	Mathematical Economics
ECON 5813	Econometrics I
ECON 5823	Econometrics II
ECON 6073	Research Seminar
BUSN 6640	Financial Management
FNCE 6330	Investment Management Analysis
FNCE 6382	Futures, Forwards, Swaps (and Other Derivatives)
RISK 6909	Corporate Risk Management
Complete three credits of graduate (5000-level or higher) ECON elective credits.		3
Complete nine credits of 6000-level or higher FNCE elective credits. 2		9
Total Hours		42

¹

Students are strongly encouraged to take 3 elective hours of ECON 6053 Seminar In Applied Economics/ECON 6054 Seminar In Applied Economics II or to meet with an economics graduate advisor to discuss how to otherwise prepare for ECON 6073 Research Seminar. Contact a graduate advisor in the Economics Department for information about ECON course requirements.

²

Except FNCE 6290 Quantitative Methods for Finance. Contact a graduate advisor in the Business School for information about Finance course requirements. 

To learn more about the Student Learning Outcomes for this program, please visit our website. 

To learn more about the Student Learning Outcomes for this program, please visit our website.