An MBA in Economics is a sought-after commodity in today’s business world. It provides an invaluable perspective for anyone looking for a career in the business world or areas of government involved with business. It teaches students what they need to analyze and create financial reports while also being able to explain and implement concepts based on the complex nature of economic theory.
It’s a field that allows MBA students to work in everything from agriculture to marketing, health care and even international relations. Graduates with an MBA in Economics might find themselves working as accountants, marketing analysts, strategy consultants and more. In fact, there are a range of career opportunities available to these students since their education promotes critical thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills valuable to almost every company.
In Boston, Massachusetts, an MBA in Economics isn’t available at any of the top schools. Instead, it’s best to choose a Boston MBA program based on the strength of their economics department and electives offerings. Below, we’ve outlined the top four business schools in Boston that would provide the best economics education opportunities.
Harvard Business School
The Harvard Business School is ranked as the top graduate school for economics by the U.S. News & World Report, so while economics isn’t a concentration available for the MBA, the school offers a set of nine electives that fall under the Business, Government & the International Economy subsection. These courses are available in both the spring and fall and include such topics as The Microeconomics of Competitiveness, The Role of Government in Market Economies and Globalization and Emerging Markets.
Harvard is also home to the Institute for Strategy & Competitiveness, which covers Economic Strategy as one of its frameworks. The Institute is a nonprofit research, education, and policy organization that’s dedicated to:
- Developing practical, research-based frameworks
- Advancing scholarships
- Educating and advising leaders and policymakers
One of the main areas of interest at the Institute is Competitiveness and Economic Development, which looks at why some nations and regions are more prosperous than others, and what conditions enable growth.
Sloan School of Management – MIT
Ranked the second best graduate school for economics by the U.S. News, the Sloan School of Management at MIT offers MBA students an opportunity to participate in an economic academic group. The MIT Sloan Applied Economics Group uses economic theory and econometrics to address challenges facing humanity. The focus of the group is high-quality research with real-world applications involving health economics, macroeconomics, pricing, markets, and more.
MIT is also home to the Graduate Economics Association, which provides graduate students with an opportunity to socialize and gain access to faculty. The Association offers a variety of activities and meetings for students and faculty. Finally, there are four Centers that are part of the MIT Economics Department. Each Center offers students a chance to delve into the subject of economics through environmental policy research, poverty action labs, and more.
Questrom School of Business – Boston University
While an MBA with a focus in economics isn’t available at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, a dual MBA and Master of Arts in Economics degree is. This joint offering gives students the opportunity to obtain two degrees and to earn a career in investment banking, management, strategy, consulting and more. The MA in Economics is offered by one of the top 10 economics departments in North America, according to the Journal of Economic Perspectives. And students take courses such as Microeconomic Theory, Econometrics and Elementary Mathematical Economics.
Boston University also houses the Institute for Economic Development (IED), which is an umbrella organization that focuses on solving economic problems in developing countries. It provides weekly seminars, workshops, conferences, special programs, and research grants. The Institute is part of the University’s Department of Economics, and consolidates Boston University’s research on economic development into one Center.
D’Amore-McKim School of Business – Northeastern University
There are multiple economics courses at the D’Amore-McKim School of Business that students can take to enhance their education. Courses include Economics for Managerial Decision Making, which is a required course during the first semester of the program. And for electives, students can choose from a list of over a dozen Managerial Economics courses including Global Competition and Market Dominance, Sustainability and the Economics of Markets and Understanding the Global Business Environment.
Outside of coursework, students can participate in the Economics Society, a student club at Northeastern University that covers topics such as economics, the political economy and more.