Learn more about Boston College’s Master of Science in Applied Economics program from alumnae, Sherry Peng Tian. In the above video, Sherry describes how her undergraduate finance degree led her to want to educate herself further on the microeconomics industry.
MSAE Program Experience
When asked to speak on her experience in the program, Sherry Peng Tian called the MSAE program “very useful and exciting.” The program gave her a combination of econometrics and data science through qualitative research and an applicable-to-industry learning style. The prerequisite courses prepared Ms. Tian from the very start. Economic research, programming, communicating, and presenting are a few of the many skills she developed during her time in the MSAE program.
According to Ms. Tian, one of the primary attractions of an applied economics master’s degree was the versatility of the skills she would learn. Graduates can follow the path into traditional economics roles in business, academics, and public policy, as well as secure jobs as data scientists, and in many cases, positions that give companies a competitive advantage in the industry through their analyses. Many economists work for local, state, and federal governments, with the Federal Research alone employing hundreds of economists, according to a Boston College article. Nonprofit organizations also employ many economists.
Demand for Economists in the U.S.
The return on investment of becoming an economist is high, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The demand for economists nationwide is projected to grow 8 percent from 2018 to 2028, which is faster than the average for all occupations. As of May 2019, the median wage for economists was $105,020 per year.
In recent years there has been a technology boom, which has opened doors for those graduating with a degree in applied economics. Earning your Master’s degree with the Boston College MSAE program can open new doors and help you meet your goals.