M.A. in Economics builds on Austrian foundation

Grove City College is launching a Master of Arts in Economics program in the fall of 2025 that will prepare students for Ph.D. programs and careers in the fields of market analysis, organizational and institutional design, and public policy.

The master’s degree program is an extension of the College’s distinctive Austrian School approach to the study of economics, which grounds economic analysis on the foundation of an understanding of who we are as human beings and the consequences of various ways we associate with each other in society.

The online program is designed for working professionals, recent college graduates, and current Grove City College students to pursue as a “plus one” after completing their undergraduate degrees.

Dr. Christy Crute, executive director of Graduate & Online Programs, said the new program builds on the strong legacy and academic excellence of Grove City College’s undergraduate Economics Department.

“The M.A. in Economics program taps into the deep expertise of our Economics faculty, many of whom are widely published and recognized for their contributions to the field. It will undoubtedly attract students from across the nation, including those from think tanks and public policy sectors, who are looking to further their understanding and influence in economics,” she said.

Establishing a graduate program has been a goal of the College’s Economics Department for more than a half a century, according to Dr. Jeffrey Herbener, department chair and professor of Economics.

In the early 1960s, then-department Chair Dr. Hans Sennholz brought together leading Austrian economists, including Ludwig Von Mises and Murray Rothbard, to develop a graduate program at Grove City College. While that plan did not immediately reach fruition, Herbener said the legendary professor’s initiative would “prove to be a harbinger of things to come.”

In the decades since, under the direction of Sennholz and the stewardship of succeeding faculty, Grove City College has become the world’s leading undergraduate institution for the study of Austrian economics. “This graduate program is the result of the tremendous growth of the community of scholars in Austrian economics since Sennholz’s attempt in the 1960s. Our Economics faculty has played a part in building this community,” Herbener said.

The new program is the latest offering from Grove City College’s growing Department of Graduate & Online Programs. The College’s graduate programs are designed for career-focused adult learners who want to improve their positions and undergraduates who want to jump start their early career with an advanced degree.

In addition to the Master of Arts in Economics degree, the College offers online Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Analytics, and Master of Accounting degrees as well as an innovative 3+1 program from the Department of Biblical and Religious Studies that allows some students to earn their B.A. and an M.A. in ministry in the time it usually takes to earn a four-year degree.

Graduate Programs include in-person residency events that bring students together with established professionals and experts, many of whom are alumni or represent alumni-owned businesses or companies aligned with the College.

The degree programs are designed around Grove City College’s firm educational foundation and legacy of exceptional student outcomes. The College’s Christ-centered approach integrates faith and learning, fostering a moral and ethical approach to the profession that values service along with success.

For more about the Master of Arts in Economics program or other graduate programs, visit gcc.edu/gradprograms.

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