Master of Arts in Financial Economics

Photo of Master of Financial Economics Graduate Students in the Maurer Center on the BGSU campus.

The MA in Financial Economics is a STEM designated degree program that is designed to prepare its students either for a career in the financial industry or for further graduate study in economics or finance. 

The program requires at least 30 hours of course work.  There are certain general and coursework prerequisites that should be met for admission.  Full time students with a strong background usually meet all these prerequisites and therefore can complete the program in one calendar year (fall, spring, and summer). Working professionals enrolled part-time can complete the course requirements in two years by taking classes in the evenings.

The required courses of the program are (see specific course descriptions):

OR

  • Econ 6900 – Directed Research

Admission Criteria:

Admission is determined on the basis of GPA, GRE/GMAT scores, a statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation. At least two of the recommendation letters need to come from your academic supervisor, professor or mentor.

The application deadline for fall semester is July 1. We also provide admission for spring semesters, with the application deadline being November 1.    

Financial Aid:

Graduate assistantships are available on a competitive basis.  Assistantships include a substantial scholarship and a significant stipend. Undergraduate GPA, GRE/GMAT scores, letters of recommendation, the student’s statement, and other materials are all used in the aid decision.  The department reserves the right to adjust the level of funding conditional on the availability of funds or the student’s academic progress. For any general information about graduate assistantships such as description of Teaching Assistants, Research Assistants, or Graduate Assistant policies, visit the University Graduate Assistants Guide.

Application Instructions

Apply to our program, follow the instructions of the online application system step by step. The system requires the following materials for applying to our program:

  • Transcripts from each college or university you have attended
  • GRE or GMAT (BGSU is temporarily waiving GRE/GMAT requirements for master’s programs through spring 2024)
  • TOEFL or IELTS (international applicants only)
  • A statement of purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation.

Graduate Assistantships are available, and you are automatically included in the review for assistantships once you are admitted to the program.  No separate application is necessary for a graduate assistantship.

Graduate Program Director: Dr. Isabel Zeng

Professional photo of Isabel Zeng

Isabel Zeng, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Economics
(419) 372-8397
zzeng@bgsu.edu
316 Maurer Center

Visit the BGSU on-line graduate application.

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BGSU MA in Financial Economics (STEM) ranked 5th in the nation

Bowling Green State University’s Master of Arts in Financial Economics was ranked 5th in the country by the TFE Times (formerly The Financial Engineer).  The rankings were based on GMAT scores, starting salary and bonus, undergraduate GPA, acceptance rate and full time graduates employed at graduation and three months after graduation.

Henrietta Appiah economics

Henrietta Appiah, ‘20

Pursuing a Ph.D. in economics

“BGSU’s M.A. Financial Economics has a place for everyone. Whether you decide to pursue a Ph.D. program after or decide to get a job, the program will prepare you adequately. The curriculum challenges you to think critically and also attain skills such as coding among others. Also, the professors in the department are very helpful; they present the students with opportunities they come across in the industry and are the best references if you decide to pursue academia too.”

Osmar Cervantes economics

Osmar Cervantes, ‘20

Head of Department/Director at Ministry of Finance, UASLP (a public university in Mexico)

“If you compare the curriculum of similar programs at other universities in the U.S., the content offered by BGSU is highly competitive and covers the most important topics for any professional in the financial economic field. The faculty members are helpful, and every class is challenging; they are always pushing you to achieve higher results. Their main goal is to help you truly understand each topic and not just memorize information or get a general idea.”

Updated: 11/18/2022 03:26PM