MBA & MS in Applied Economics

Set Yourself Apart as a Business Economist

The Master of Science in Applied Economics (MS-APEC) and Master of Business of Administration (MBA) prepare leaders who, armed with a thorough understanding of both applied economics and business, are ready to innovate, create, and inspire.  This dual degree provides tremendous benefits to students who will be:

  • Managers need to have the skills and knowledge of how to harvest, process, and analyze data to extract important insights as they relate to business, environmental and resource economics, food systems, and development and trade.
  • Supervisors who understand the intersection between both roles in a corporation.
  • Leaders who are trained in high-level management and leadership competencies that extend across these sectors

The APEC/MBA degree combines the strengths of two existing programs from the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and Minnesota Carlson; creating unique learning opportunities for students that allow them to employ their skills and knowledge to areas outside the traditional single-degree career paths.
 

More Information About APEC-MBA

Candidates must apply for both programs and be admitted separately in order to pursue the dual degree. Candidates may apply for both programs at the same time or current APEC students may apply to the Full-Time MBA Program during their first year of study in the APEC program.

MBA Application Dates - Fall Start

RoundSubmission DeadlinesDecision Notification
Round 1October 1November 15
Round 2December 1February 1
Round 3February 1March 15
Round 4 April 1May 15

Deadlines that occur on a weekend or holiday are extended through the next business day. We will review applications beyond our final round deadline on a case-by-case basis.

 

GRE/GMAT: Students who are applying concurrently for a Full-time MBA/dual degree program in which the respective partner program does not require a standardized test this year can apply for a GMAT/GRE waiver. Applying for the waiver does not guarantee it will be granted and the Admissions Committee may still require the applicant to complete MBA Math, submit additional materials or take the GMAT/GRE. Receiving a waiver does not guarantee admission.

MBA Admissions Requirements APEC Admissions Requirements

Students enrolled in the dual APEC/MBA program have the benefit of bolstering one degree with the other. Students in the APEC program will gain more extensive business skills that will give them an advantage in this arena as they are competing against other candidates that may not have a similar background in both applied economics and business. Likewise, students in the MBA program will learn how to further harvest, process, and analyze data as it relates to applied economics along with a background in agricultural, commodity markets and/or other food markets. A dual APEC/MBA degree will allow students with both degrees to function at the highest level of leadership in organizations both big and small.

Learn More About MBA Career Services

APEC-MBA students pay the tuition and fees at the school through which they are registered each semester. Scholarships are awarded separately by each program and are applied when a student is enrolled in that designated program.

All applicants admitted to Carlson are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. 

MBA Tuition & Financial Aid APEC Tuition & Financial Aid

Program Structure

Fall Semester

MS in APEC, Plan B option. Below are the required courses and recommended elective options; students choose one elective course.

Fall Semester Required Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
APEC 5151Applied Microeconomics**Required3
APEC 5031Methods of Economic Data Analysis*Required3
APEC 8901Graduate SeminarRequired1
Various

Recommended Electives
Choose one:

  • APEC 5411 - Commodity Marketing
  • APEC 5451 - Food Marketing Economics
  • APEC 5751 - Global Trade
Elective3

Total credits: 10
 

Spring Semester

MS in APEC, Plan B option. Below are the required courses and recommended elective options; students choose two elective courses.

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
VariousAPEC 5152 Applied Macroeconomics (3) Or
APEC 5032 Methods fo Economic Data Analysis II (3)
And
APEC 8902 Graduate Seminar (1)
RequiredCredits Vary
Various

Recommended Electives
Choose two:

  • APEC 5481 - Futures and Options
  • APEC 5821 - Business Economics and Strategy
  • APEC 5811 - Agricultural Cooperatives
Elective3

Total credits: 10
 

Summer

Any course or internship requirements.

Note: MBA Orientation (mandatory) last 2 weeks of August


Minimum Credits Completed: 20

Fall Semester

Register as an MBA student.

Fall Semester Required Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
MBA 6031Financial AcctRequired3
MBA 6211Marketing ManagementRequired3
MBA 6221Supply Chain & Operations Required3
MBA 6231Financial ManagementRequired3
MBA 6301Strategic ManagementRequired3
MBA 6121Data Analysis & Statistics*Waived3
MBA 6141Managerial Economics** Waived2
VariousElectiveElective2-4 

* MBA 6121 waived based on completion of APEC 5031 
** MBA 6141 waived based on completion of APEC 5151 

Total credits: 17 min recommended (tuition band 12-20)
 

Spring Semester

Register as an MBA student.

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
MBA 6111Organizational BehaviorRequired2
MBA 6241Competing in Data Driven AgeRequired2
VariousEnterpriseRequired4
Various

Electives/Other Requirements (timing at student's choosing):

  • Global Requirement (int'l travel May/June or glocal course) (4)
  • Electives
Required4

Total credits: 17 min recommended (tuition band 12-20)
 

Summer

MBA Internship


Minimum APEC Credits Completed: 20
Minimum MBA Credits Completed: 34

Fall Semester

Register as an MBA student.

Fall Semester Required Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
VariousEnterpriseRequired4
MBA 6315Business EthicsRequired2
MGMT 6465Leadership DevelopmentRequired2
Various

Electives/Other Requirements (timing at student's choosing):

  • Global Requirement (int'l travel May/June or glocal course)  (4)
  • Electives
RequiredCredits Vary

Total credits: 14 min recommended (tuition band 12-18)
 

Spring Semester

Register as an APEC student.

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
APEC 8793Master's Paper: Plan B ProjectRequired4
VariousMBA ElectivesElective3-4
VariousAny remaining MBA requirements/coursesRequired4

Total credits: 4 APEC, 4-5 MBA
 

Note: Graduation for both programs in May.

Fall Semester

MS in APEC, Plan B option. Below are the required courses and recommended elective options; students choose one elective course.

Fall Semester Required Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
APEC 5151Applied Microeconomics**Required3
APEC 5031Methods of Economic Data Analysis*Required3
APEC 8901Graduate SeminarRequired1
Various

Recommended Electives
Choose one:

  • APEC 5411 - Commodity Marketing
  • APEC 5451 - Food Marketing Economics
  • APEC 5751 - Global Trade
Elective3

Total credits: 10
 

Spring Semester

MS in APEC, Plan B option. Below are the required courses and recommended elective options; students choose two elective courses.

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
VariousAPEC 5152 Applied Macroeconomics (3) Or
APEC 5032 Methods fo Economic Data Analysis II (3)
And
APEC 8902 Graduate Seminar (1)
RequiredCredits Vary
Various

Recommended Electives
Choose two:

  • APEC 5481 - Futures and Options
  • APEC 5821 - Business Economics and Strategy
  • APEC 5811 - Agricultural Cooperatives
Elective3

Total credits: 10
 

Summer

Any course or internship requirements.

Note: MBA Orientation (mandatory) last 2 weeks of August


Minimum Credits Completed: 20

Fall Semester

Register as an MBA student.

Fall Semester Required Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
MBA 6031Financial AcctRequired3
MBA 6211Marketing ManagementRequired3
MBA 6221Supply Chain & Operations Required3
MBA 6231Financial ManagementRequired3
MBA 6301Strategic ManagementRequired3
MBA 6121Data Analysis & Statistics*Waived3
MBA 6141Managerial Economics** Waived2
VariousElectiveElective2-4 

* MBA 6121 waived based on completion of APEC 5031 
** MBA 6141 waived based on completion of APEC 5151 

Total credits: 17 min recommended (tuition band 12-20)
 

Spring Semester

Register as an MBA student.

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
MBA 6111Organizational BehaviorRequired2
MBA 6241Competing in Data Driven AgeRequired2
VariousEnterpriseRequired4
Various

Electives/Other Requirements (timing at student's choosing):

  • Global Requirement (int'l travel May/June or glocal course) (4)
  • Electives
Required4

Total credits: 17 min recommended (tuition band 12-20)
 

Summer

MBA Internship


Minimum APEC Credits Completed: 20
Minimum MBA Credits Completed: 34

Fall Semester

Register as an MBA student.

Fall Semester Required Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
VariousEnterpriseRequired4
MBA 6315Business EthicsRequired2
MGMT 6465Leadership DevelopmentRequired2
Various

Electives/Other Requirements (timing at student's choosing):

  • Global Requirement (int'l travel May/June or glocal course)  (4)
  • Electives
RequiredCredits Vary

Total credits: 14 min recommended (tuition band 12-18)
 

Spring Semester

Register as an APEC student.

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
APEC 8793Master's Paper: Plan B ProjectRequired4
VariousMBA ElectivesElective3-4
VariousAny remaining MBA requirements/coursesRequired4

Total credits: 4 APEC, 4-5 MBA
 

Note: Graduation for both programs in May.


Credit Distribution

To complete in this time frame students will carry a very demanding course load, but with a credit reduction benefit of a dual degree program.  At the end of three years, students will have completed 76 credits.

MBA credits = 52 minimum 
APEC credits = 24 minimum
Transfer credits = 18 total

Transfer APEC --> MBA = 12 credits of 5000+ level APEC electives
Transfer MBA --> APEC = 6 credits, courses TBD


 

Full-Time & Part-Time MBA Programs

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 612-625-5555

Full-Time MS-APEC Program