Program Requirements

Students are accepted by both a department and the Stevenson Center, so it is in your best interest to understand what your department is looking for in a successful applicant and to be certain that you meet all department requirements. 

Stevenson Center students must satisfy certain prerequisites (listed by department below).  Prerequisites can be completed at any accredited institution, including community colleges and online courses, and students must earn a "C" or better. It is possible to be accepted with the understanding that you would complete any necessary class(es) before starting the program in August. This is called being admitted with a deficiency. You will need to document completion of prerequisites with an official transcript after the final grades have posted.

Prerequisite requirements include the following:

• All Stevenson Center students must complete one college-level, graded (not pass/fail) economics class. The preferred method is to earn a "C" or higher in an introductory (e.g., 100-level) class at an accredited institution. Alternate methods include (official documentation is required):
  • High school AP credit for microeconomics or macroeconomics: must score 3, 4, or 5
  • High school International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program: must score at least 4
  • CLEP exam in Principles of Microeconomics or Principles of Macroeconomics: must score at least 50. Students must schedule the CLEP exam far enough in advance to a) send the test score well before the first day of fall semester, AND b) initiate a contingency plan if the score is lower than 50, since CLEP exams in economics are rigorous and there is a waiting period of at least three months between exams.

• Master's in Anthropology: while an undergraduate degree in anthropology, history, geography, biology, or a related social science field is desirable, it is not required
• Master's in Applied Economics: principles of economics, calculus, statistics, intermediate microeconomic theory, and intermediate macroeconomic theory
• Master's in Kinesiology and Recreation: while an undergraduate degree in kinesiology and recreation or a related field is desirable, it is not required
• Master's in Political Science: at least 15 hours of coursework in the social sciences
• Master's in Sociology: depending on applicants' overall qualifications, courses in sociological research methods, statistics, and theory, or their equivalents, may be required

As you are exploring options, we can connect you with the Graduate Advisor in your department to help you determine which classes would meet the requirements for that degree program. The prerequisites establish a foundation for success in your graduate program.