IBS BA/MA Program for Brandeis Undergraduates

The Program

The Lemberg Master of Arts (MA) is a two-year graduate program of the International Business School. Qualified Brandeis undergraduates who wish to earn the MAief may pursue a special track that will allow for completion of the MA with one year of post-BA study. 

For information on the BA/MBA, visit this page.

What careers will the BA/MA prepare me for?

The Lemberg MA Program has traditionally prepared students for careers in international finance, economics, consulting, business and policymaking. It is especially relevant for positions that require strong analytical and technical skills.

Graduates of the MA program have accepted permanent positions with firms such as McKinsey, JP Morgan, Price WaterhouseCoopers, The World Bank, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Citicorp, Fidelity Investments, Goldman Sachs, GEC, Bank of America, ING Clarion Capital, Manulife Financial, The Nielsen Company, Evercore Partners, Boston Properties, Factset, International Data Group, KPMG Peat Marwick.  Several graduates are employed by the central banks and finance ministries of the United States and other countries.

See more on careers for MAief graduates

How the Program Works

Brandeis undergraduates enter the program in their senior year and remain enrolled at Brandeis for one additional year of full-time graduate study leading to the MA. Undergraduates in the BA/MA Program are required to spend five years as a full-time student at Brandeis.

Students planning to complete their BA in the fall semester of their senior year should expect to remain in the MA Program for an additional three semesters. It is important to note that you are considered an undergraduate until you have successfully satisfied all of the requirements for your baccalaureate degree.

Study Overseas
One semester in the program may be spent at an affiliated foreign university. The timing of foreign study is determined on a case-by-case basis. IBS has affiliations with leading universities around the world, including France, Denmark, Holland, Italy, Germany, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Israel, Korea, Japan, China, and Singapore. 

Degree Requirements
A student's preparation for the Lemberg MAief Program should include:

• Introduction to Economics (2A)
• Analysis of Economic Problems (8b)
• Microeconomic Theory (80a)
• Statistics (83a)

The Lemberg MAief Program requirements:

• Two years of full-time residency at Brandeis (during these two years, students must complete 16 courses, including any required to complete BA requirements). The MAief degree itself requires 16 ECON courses; upper level ECON courses taken before entering Lemberg can count toward this total.

Applying and Financing the Degree
Find out how to apply and about financing the degree.

How can I learn more about the program?
The following two documents give more detailed information on the BA/MA program:

• Program Guides

You can also:

• Attend an Information Session held in the Sachar International Center.
• Discuss the program with an admission counselor or with the Director of the Lemberg MAief Program, Carol Osler
• Discuss your plans and questions with your economics instructors and/or advisor.
• Talk with a current student to get a student's perspective on the program. You can contact the Office of Admission if you would like to get in touch with a current student or alum.
• Visit program courses and seminars. Make sure to check the IBS bulletin board and this website for upcoming events.

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