The Master of Science in Economic Policy (MSEP) is designed for students who are interested in the effects of public policy decisions on the economy and who want to acquire quantitative skills for public policy analysis.

Students completing this program will typically pursue:

• A career in government budget or tax analysis
• A career in government consulting or government relations
• A Ph.D. in economics or public policy.

Public policy practitioners and analysts will find the program valuable in investigating current and proposed public policy initiatives. For those working in business or the financial sector, the program will help develop the skills necessary to analyze the effect of public policies on their industry and the economy.

The MSEP degree requires successful completion of:

• Seven required courses
• Two elective courses
• An internship, or EC 785 with relevant work experience.

Full-time students with appropriate background can complete the program in three semesters. The program will be offered in the evening and students may enroll on a full-time or part-time basis. The full-time course load is twelve credit hours per term. All courses carry three credit hours unless otherwise indicated. The program must be completed in no more than five years. 

Admission and Financial Aid

To be considered for admission you must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, take the GRE and complete the application process. International students must submit the TOEFL scores and provide a statement of financial resources. Completion of undergraduate courses in Principles of Economics and Principles of Statistics are required. Domestic applicants may take these courses at Suffolk University before entering the program.

Graduate fellowships, assistantships and Beacon Hill Institute stipends are available to full-time graduate students. The awards may be limited and only cover a part of the total cost of your study.
Candidates should submit the application for admission to the Graduate Admission Office, and the application for financial aid to the Financial Aid Office and to the Department of Economics.

Required Courses

EC 710 Macroeconomics
EC 720 Applied Microeconomics
EC 721 Public Economics: Tax and Budget Policy
EC 723 Economics of Regulation
EC 724 Cost Benefit Analysis
EC 733 Public Choice
EC 750 Applied Econometrics
EC 790 Internship (three credits)
OR
EC 785 Topics in Economics (for students who are working or have relevant work experience)

Elective Courses

EC 730 International Trade Theory and Policy
EC 760 Economic Forecasting
GOV 623 Political Survey Research*
GOV 637 Public Policy and Business*
GOV 763 International Political Economy
PAD 713 Foundations of Public Financial Administration**
PAD 827 Financing State and Local Government**
*Offered by the Department of Government
**Offered by the Sawyer Business School

You can find full course descriptions in our Academic Catalog.