The degree requirements for the BA/MA are the same as the MA, but with some substitutions. Upon entering the program, but while still an undergraduate, a BA/MA is required to take at least 2 courses at Brandeis IBS (200-level or higher) per semester. Once entering the program, BA/MA students must take graduate Brandeis IBS courses, not their undergraduate substitutions.
There are 7 required areas of study for students in the BA/MA program: Foundational, Career Skills, International Economics, Finance, Accounting, Quantitative Methods, and Elective and/or Specialization courses. Each are described in detail below. If you have any questions, contact your Academic Advisor to schedule a meeting to review the degree requirements for the program.
Foundational
Required only if student has little or no background in the given area.
| Course Number | Course Name | Usually Offered |
| ECON 200f | Fundamentals of Microeconomics | Fall |
| ECON 210f | Fundamentals of Statistical Analysis | Fall |
Career Skills
| Course Number | Course Name | Usually Offered |
| BUS 224f | Launching Your Global Career | Fall & Spring |
International Economics
3 courses (12 credits) are required.
| Course Number | Course Name | Usually Offered |
| ECON 201a | Global Economic Environment | Fall |
|
ECON 161a or ECON 202a |
International Economics or Applied International Macroeconomics |
Spring |
|
ECON 160a or ECON 260a |
International Trade Theory or International Trade Policy and Institutions |
Spring |
ECON 161a is a substitute for ECON 202a and it counts for credit if it was taken prior to being accepted into the BA/MA program. It may not be taken once the student has been accepted into the BA/MA program; ECON 202a must then be taken. ECON 82a is not a substitute for ECON 202a and ECON 202a does not satisfy the undergraduate Macroeconomics requirement.
ECON 71a and ECON 60a are substitutes for ECON 260a, but do not count for credit. ECON 160a is a substitute for ECON 260a and it counts for credit if it was taken prior to being accepted into the BA/MA program. It may not be taken once the student is accepted into the BA/MA program; ECON 260a must then be taken. Students who took ECON 60a or ECON 160a can not take ECON 260a.
Finance
2 courses (8 credits) are required.
| Course Number | Course Name | Usually Offered |
|
FIN 201a or ECON 171a or FIN 205a |
Financial Theory or Financial Economics or Accelerated Financial Theory |
Fall |
|
ECON 174a FIN 202a |
Corporate Finance International Corporate Finance |
Spring |
ECON 171a is a substitute for FIN 201a and it also counts for credit if it was taken prior to being accepted to the BA/MA program. It may not be taken once you have started the BA/MA program; FIN 201a must then be taken instead. Students who took ECON 171a can not take FIN 201a, but instead can take FIN 205a (an accelerated version of FIN 201a); however, it is not recommended.
ECON 174a is a substitute for FIN 202a and it counts for credit if it was taken prior to being accepted into the BA/MA program. It may not be taken once a student is accepted into the BA/MA program; FIN 202a must then be taken. Students who took ECON 174a prior to starting the BA/MA program can not take FIN 202a.
Accounting
1 course (4 credits) required. BUS 6a is a substitute for FIN 212a but it does not count for master's credit. If you took BUS 6a before starting the BA/MA program, you can not take FIN 212a, but may choose to take FIN 213a instead.
| Course Number | Course Name | Usually Offered |
| BUS 6a | Financial Accounting* | Fall |
| FIN 212a | Accounting and Financial Analysis | Fall |
*This course counts as fulfillment of requirement, but does not count for credit. It may not be taken once enrolled in the BA/MA program.
Quantitative Methods
1 full course equivalent (4 credits) is required.
| Course Number | Course Name | Usually Offered |
| BUS 211f | Information Management | Spring |
| FIN 217f | Financial Modeling | Fall & Spring |
| FIN 218f | Financial Modeling II | Spring |
| ECON 184b | Econometrics** | Fall & Spring |
| ECON 185a | Econometrics with Linear Algebra** | Spring |
Students may count ECON 184b or ECON 185a towards the quantitative requirement. It may be taken either before entering or while enrolled in the BA/MA program.
**These courses assume knowledge of statistics and intermediate micro- and macroeconomics.
Electives
6.5 full courses (an equivalent of 26 credits) is required. These courses should be focused on the specialization you wish to pursue.