When Kevin Rusu was in his final year of university, about to graduate with a bachelor’s in marketing, there was a turning point that led him to study at Boston College. While working on a research project with his economics professor, he had discovered applied economics, a field that pairs economic theory with data analysis to improve real-world outcomes. Rusu would go on to pursue the Master of Science (MS) in Applied Economics at Boston College’s Woods College of Advancing Studies. “I chose Boston College because of its interesting curriculum and I felt very supported throughout the application process,” he says. Upon starting the programme though, he would soon find out that his peers aren’t just fresh grads like him, but rather a mix of students from different countries and professional backgrounds — Rusu himself coming from Germany. Take Bicheng An, for one. Originally from Shanghai, China, An had decided to return to university after spending more than 20 years in the oil and gas industry. Before, he would rely on trial and error to keep pace with changes and challenges in industry. Now, with the MSAE, he can better contextualise and analyse them. “I can now connect objective economic facts with established economic theories to better explain both past and current events,” he says. “This process has enabled me to develop a more comprehensive, evidence-based perspective on how the economy and industries evolve.”
The #3 best online master’s programme in economics, the Woods College’s MSAE, allows flexible scheduling for working professionals. Source: Boston College
A master’s degree tailored to you
Woods College offers industry-relevant, ethically grounded master’s programmes that are designed to train students like you to make a difference. The MSAE is a prime example of that: it’s flexible, rigorous, and connects research to the real world. It’s the #1 online master’s programme in economics for postgraduate earnings, according to Forbes.
Whether you’re a fresh grad or an experienced professional, the MSAE is customisable to your career goals and interests. Students can study full- or part-time, online or on campus, during the evening, or arrange their schedule in whatever combination fits them best. If you seek to further improve your skills in data analysis, like An, you can pursue the MSAE as a dual degree with the MS in Applied Analytics.
“For someone with years of industry experience, this connection has been particularly valuable. It has changed the way I approach problems,” he says. “I believe this integrated way of thinking will become increasingly important in the AI era, where understanding both the theory behind decisions and the data supporting them is essential.”
Depending on the way you arrange your schedule, you can complete the programme in as little as 16 months. There are 10 courses in total: five core courses, and the other five, electives. You’ll sharpen your fundamentals in subjects like Applied Macroeconomic Theory and Data Analysis, growing the skills to analyse data and work hands-on with data analysis tools to get career-ready. Once you’ve built a strong foundation, you can specialise in a particular area through electives like big data, health care economics, marketing research, and economic development.
The Woods College offers eight master’s programmes, including a dual degree pathway in Applied Analytics and Applied Economics. Source: Boston College
Deeper exploration, real-world experience
When Rusu first started taking MSAE courses, he’d come with little background in math and coding, which meant he had some catching up to do. Over time, he’d learn to embrace the way coding involves problem-solving, and the projects he would later work on led him to explore areas like machine learning and AI deeper. He most enjoyed courses like Data Analysis and Time Series Forecasting with Dr. Arvind Sharma, Assistant Professor of the Practice in Applied Economics.
“Many of my professors are active in their respective industries, and they are always open to sharing their insights and offering guidance for my next career steps,” says Rusu.
An found the Macroeconomics and ML/AI Algorithms courses particularly impactful for his professional development. Macroeconomics improved his ability to interpret economic news by helping him understand economic data, market trends, and policy decisions, while ML/AI Algorithms had shown him how to transform data into practical business insights. His professors challenged him to think critically, to fully leverage his background.
“I no longer see my previous career as something I am leaving behind,” says An. “Instead, I see it as a foundation that can be strengthened by economics, analytics, and AI, opening up new career possibilities that I had not considered before.”
Through courses run by accomplished academics and practitioners, alongside practical learning experiences, you’ll graduate career-ready. Rusu has participated in hackathons and the March Symposium, which connected him with industry professionals and boosted his analytical thinking skills.
Using the knowledge gained from the Econometrics course, An plans to build his own model analysing the relationship between geopolitical events and oil prices.
“For me, the greatest value of the programme is not that it tells me what to think, but that it has taught me how to think — using economic theory and evidence to evaluate complex issues and make more informed decisions,” says An.
