The  programme delivered by University of South Carolina combines a solid foundation in economics or financial economics with an emphasis on applying that knowledge to real-world situations. While the program prepares students for careers as professional economists in government and business, some graduates use the degree as a springboard toward further education in law or a doctoral degree in business or economics.

The structure of the Master of Arts in Economics program allows for flexibility to match the particular interests and needs of the individual student. All students will acquire a strong background in economics, but those seeking an applied emphasis are provided opportunities for courses and research experiences with direct relevance to contemporary business and social problems. Students can choose courses in the Department of Economics’ strengths in international economics, economic growth and the applied microeconomic areas of health, labor and environmental economics.  Students selecting a financial economics emphasis can take advantage of the department's strength in financial institutions, investments and corporate finance,  

Regardless of their chosen specialty, all graduates of the program demonstrate mastery of the following core skills:

• Ability to approach economics-related issues analytically

• Ability to use data appropriately to answer economic research questions empirically

• Ability to effectively communicate research findings

All students must pass a comprehensive exam after completing the core courses.

The MAEcon program offers three options: Economics Track, Financial Economics Track or Thesis Track. Students in all tracks have the same core classes: Applied Macroeconomics, Applied Microeconomics, Introduction to Economics and Applied Statistics I.