Masters in Econ. w/o Undergraduate in Econ.

[kbui]

I want to have a career transition from science & non-profits to government & private, and I have a high interest in economics (especially behavioral economics). I would eventually enjoy a high-profile position in government working to help secure U.S. interest and investment in Southeast Asia.

 

I graduated cum laude at a private Catholic university in Minnesota with a B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Mandarin. I've read many popular economics books including: Freakonomics, Super Freakonomics, the Tipping Point, Outliers, Naked Economics and Naked Statistics.

 

I have not taken any economics courses, but have taken statistics and calculus with stellar grades.

 

I have two questions up for advice:

1. Are there (decent) schools and programs that don't require students to have an undergraduate background in economics?
2. If not, would an online course in micro and macro suffice for pre-requisites for (decent) schools?

 

[ExponentialDecay]

I've read many popular economics books including: Freakonomics, Super Freakonomics, the Tipping Point, Outliers, Naked Economics and Naked Statistics.

 

How do you think it would sound if I said that I want to become a high energy physicist because I've read A Brief History of Time? Don't ever mention this to anybody outside of the context of a joke. You will be laughed at, behind your back and maybe to your face.

 

Honestly, your career ambition sounds a little like me wanting to be Superman when I was 5 years old, but since we're talking admission to an econ MA, the fact that you have stellar grades in stats and calculus means more than any of this.

Generally, the requirements for a straight up Econ MA are:

 

Calc III

Linear Algebra

Statistics with regression analysis

(Econometrics) - not always required/mostly recommended

 

People with technical backgrounds transition into economics all the time. I think it's still possible for a person with a math, physics, or engineering background to go straight into the PhD without any econ courses (but typically with research experience). So, read admissions requirements of the schools you are looking at carefully, email the person on the contacts list, and may The Wealth of Nations be with you.

 

P.S. it's not a bad idea to read some serious works in the field of economics - The Wealth of Nations is not a bad start.

 

Edited July 31, 2014 by ExponentialDecay