Graduate Programs - Overview Of Programs

(Currently the Department of Business and Economics accepts graduate students ONLY to the International Political Economy master program)

The Department of Business and Economics offers graduate programs designed to provide comprehensive and integrated training for professional careers in economics, accounting, financial management, and management of human resources. In keeping with the objectives of the university, the department incorporates into its curriculum, wherever appropriate, values and insights which derive from its Christian heritage.

The location of the university in the nation's capital, together with a faculty active in research and consulting, broadens the scope of academic pursuit for students in the department. Course scheduling, to the extent possible, is designed to accommodate part-time as well as full-time graduate students.

The programs offered by the department lead to the following degrees: M.A. in economics; M.A. in accounting; M.A. in financial management; M.A. in human resource management. Joint programs also are offered in the following areas: M.A. in economics and J.D. (law); M.A. in accounting and J.D. (law); M.A. in management and J.D. (law); and M.A. in international political economy (joint program with the Department of politics). Students enrolled in joint programs should consult with the departmental chair concerning the specific requirements and program design. As a rule, candidates must be admitted to both schools participating in a joint degree program, for example, the School of Law and the School of Arts and Sciences.

General Requirements

Specific programs for students seeking a degree and changes in such programs must be approved by the department or by the program director. Students admitted to programs are bound by university and departmental regulations specified in these announcements as well as by any additional regulations approved by the university or department subsequent to the publication of these announcements. Before regular admission can be granted, the student must take the GRE or the GMAT. Any student with deficiencies in undergraduate prerequisites or with deficiencies indicated by the results of a placement examination must remedy these deficiencies by taking appropriate prerequisite course work for which no credit will be given toward graduate degree requirements. Students are required to obtain a grade of B or better in all required courses as specified by the department. A grade of B or better must be earned in all seminar courses. The department will review the continuance in any program of students who have accumulated two grades of less than B. Students must complete all required courses before the semester in which they take the comprehensive examination. Students who fail any comprehensive examination are required to wait a year before taking the examination again unless they petition the department in writing, stating valid reasons for an earlier examination, and receive departmental permission to take the examination in the next semester. A student who twice fails the qualifying and/or comprehensive examination will not be allowed to continue in the program.