Economics-MIA | 5-Year (3+2) Degree Program • The Bush School of Government & Public Service

The Bush School of Government & Public Service and the Department of Economics offer a 5-year (3+2) degree program in which students can earn a Bachelor of Arts or Science in Economics and a Master of International Affairs (MIA) track in International Development and Economic Policy (IDEP) in only five years.

Description

Students begin their studies at Texas A&M University in the Economics department taking classes toward their undergraduate degree. Throughout the course of the student’s first three years at Texas A&M, the student works with their undergraduate advisor to ensure they satisfy all eligibility requirements listed below prior to applying to the Master of International Affairs (MIA) International Development & Economic Policy (IDEP) track, in the fall of their junior year (when classified as a U3).

If admitted, students must ensure they fulfill the rest of the requirements listed below by the time they enter The Bush School in the fall of their senior year at Texas A&M University when classified as a U4. In the student’s fourth year, they take Bush School graduate level courses, 18 credit hours of which will double count toward their bachelor’s degree. In the student’s fifth year, they are re-classified as a G7 graduate student and take the remaining courses left to satisfy the requirements for the MIA degree.

After successful completion of both degrees, students receive both Texas A&M degrees, earning a B.A. or B.S. in Economics and a Master of International Affairs at the end of their second year in The Bush School. Although they earn both, students will only walk for their MIA graduation.

Students who choose not to finish the MIA degree after starting the 3+2 degree program may exit the program at any time. Completed Bush School courses will be applied to their bachelor’s degree in economics, as appropriate. Failure to complete the MIA program will in no way impede a student’s ability to attain a bachelor’s degree when the requirements for that degree are completed.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply to the 3+2 MIA/ECON degree program, students must:

be classified as a U3 majoring in Economics at Texas A&M University, and
have a 3.25 GPA or above by the start of the fall semester in which they will enter the 3+2 program (if admitted), and
work with their undergrad advisor to map out courses the student must complete prior to entry into the 3+2 program (if admitted), and
have approximately 66-78 credit hours completed by the time they apply to the 3+2 program in the fall semester of their junior year, and
have approximately 102 credit hours completed before entry into the 3+2 program in the fall of their senior year (including all required courses for ECON major, college, and Texas A&M), and
be in good academic standing with their undergrad department, and
not be expected to graduate during the academic year in which they are applying, and
understand that failure to satisfy ALL of these requirements will result in 3+2 admission (if offered) being revoked.

Curriculum

A B.A. or B.S. degree at Texas A&M requires a student to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours. In the 3+2 ECON/MIA degree, students complete a total of 150 total credit hours: 102 credit hours of B.A/B.S. ECON degree requirements + 48 credit hours of MIA degree requirements. This means a maximum of 18 credit hours of MIA courses double count toward the student’s B.A. or B.S. ECON degree.

Note: Those pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Economics must also fulfill the foreign language requirement of two years of the same foreign language in High School or complete a two-semester sequence of the same foreign language for university credit (which is an additional 8 credit hours).

Students majoring in Economics at Texas A&M who intend to apply to the MIA portion of the 3+2 ECON/MIA degree program must complete the 102 credit hours of their B.A./B.S. ECON degree requirements (+8 hours of foreign language if pursing the B.S. ECON degree) prior to the fall semester in which they intend to enroll in the MIA portion, if admitted. To help students in planning their undergraduate coursework in preparation for applying to the 3+2 program, we’ve created a 3+2 B.A. ECON/MIA and a 3+2 B.S. ECON/MIA Course Planner for them to use throughout their first three years of undergraduate study.

Click here to find and download the 3+2 MIA Course Planner for your undergrad major and catalog.

Admitted 3+2 students are required to complete the same two-year, 48-hour curriculum as other MIA students in the International Development & Economic Policy track, starting in the fall of their senior year when classified as a U4. The MIA curriculum consists of six core courses (18 hours), at least two concentration areas of three courses each (18 hours), and four additional elective courses which can be used for a third concentration if desired (12 hours). Those without professional experience must complete a non-credit bearing internship or intensive language/cultural study in the summer between their fourth and fifth year (first and second year in the MIA). Additionally, native English speakers must pass an oral exam demonstrating proficiency in one foreign language to graduate. A capstone project for a “real world” client in the final semester concludes the learning experience.

Admissions

Economics majors who satisfy (or are expected to satisfy) all of the eligibility requirements listed above can apply to the 3+2 MIA program in the fall of their junior year when classified as a U3. Admissions criteria for the 3+2 MIA program is the same as other MIA students. To apply visit the 3+2 Admissions page. If admitted, students begin the MIA degree in the fall of their senior year.

Advising

It is imperative for students interested in the 3+2 MIA work with their undergrad ECON advisor as soon as possible to ensure the student is on track to complete all necessary courses prior to entry into the program, if admitted. The Bush School Admissions Office can help answer questions about the admissions process, but cannot help answer questions about undergrad degree or course requirements. The MIA department is available to help answer questions about the MIA curriculum or courses and will be the student’s point of contact if admitted into the 3+2 program.

For questions about undergrad courses or degree requirements in preparation for applying to the 3+2 program: