Applied Economics and Management (MPS)

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, SC Johnson College of Business

Program Website

Program Description

The Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Applied Economics and Management program entails 30 credit hours of training in applied economics and management through coursework and a capstone problem-solving project. All students are required to select one of six industry-focused concentrations. Students must meet general MPS AEM degree requirements in addition to concentration-specific coursework.

Academic Standards

Program Policies

  • A maximum of 6 graduate-level credits may be earned prior to admission and transferred in; these credits must be related to the subject of study and completed not more than 5 years before admission.
    • Students who complete their undergraduate degree at Cornell may only transfer graduate-level courses taken in the final semester toward the MPS-AEM requirements.
    • In any case, graduate-level coursework must not have counted toward the requirements of the undergraduate degree to be eligible for transfer.
  • ​Students who fail a course required to complete degree requirements, may take an equivalent graduate level course elsewhere and transfer in the credits provided the following apply:
    • The credit will not exceed the 6-credit transfer credit maximum.
    • The course is pre-approved by an advisor and Dyson School Registrar.
    • The course is completed within two years of the initial expected graduation date.
  • The MPS-AEM degree is designed to be in two consecutive semesters (Fall-Spring), with students starting in the Fall semester.
  • Under certain circumstances, a student may be approved for an additional semester of full-time study. Additional semesters are only permitted with prior approval of the Dyson Registrar.
  • Personal Leave of Absence (PLOA) - Consistent with the voluntary leave of absence policies for the University, the MPS AEM Program Committee has the responsibility to approve (or deny) both i) PLOA requests and ii) conditions of a student's return from PLOA based on curriculum sequencing, time to degree, or other academic actions determined and communicated to the student.
  • Students who take a PLOA should also be aware of the following conditions and risks: 
    • When on leave, status as a student no longer applies, and no guarantees can be made regarding either i) when student status would resume or ii) if and when graduation might occur.
    • Any scholarship funding that the student was awarded prior will be lost and not apply to future semesters.
    • To qualify for a return from PLOA, international students will generally need to re-submit financial certifications and potentially handle risks associated with obtaining a new SEVIS ID, I-20, and new U.S. visa if out of the U.S. for more than 5 months.
    • CPT eligibility may be interrupted.
    • OPT eligibility may be interrupted.
  • Students who wish to request a PLOA must submit a petition for consideration by the MPS AEM Program Committee.
  • Students must be enrolled as full-time for all semesters (12 credit minimum). No part-time study is permitted.

Academic Requirement Standards

  • Students may enroll in a maximum of 22 credits per semester (pre-enrollment is restricted to 18 credits).
  • Students must complete at least 30 credits in courses numbered 5000 or higher.
  • At least 24 credits must be taken in the S.C. Johnson College of Business, including the following subject codes: AEM, HADM, NACCT, NBA, REAL.
  • Up to 6 credits toward MPS-AEM requirements may be taken as S/U (satisfactory/unsatisfactory), which includes any required courses.
  • Courses taken as Audit will not count towards the degree credit and students may only enroll in one audit course per semester.
  • Special studies courses will not count towards the degree credit, including but not limited to AEM 6980 and AEM 7000.
  • Up to two substitutions may be applied via petition, including a maximum of one substitution in the Quantitative Methods requirement and one substitution in the concentration.
  • Students will not be able to enroll in two classes that meet at the same time. If you have an exceptional situation that requires enrollment in conflicting classes, submit the time conflict form. The completed form must be received by the add deadline for the current semester.
  • A minimum grade point average of 2.5 is required.
  • Degree must be completed within 4 years of admission.

Special Academic Options

CEMS is a global alliance of top business schools around the world with a presence on six continents. These schools come together to offer a unique academic credential: the CEMS Master in International Management (MIM). Based in Paris, CEMS admits only one institution per country. Cornell University is the only institution in the United States to offer the CEMS MIM. Other top global member institutions include the London School of Ecnonomics and Political Science, the Stockholm School of Economics, HEC Paris, and Tsinghua University in China.

CEMS also partners with more than 80 multinational corporations; this vast network provides students access to a diverse range of potential clients for team projects, internships, and employment.

  • Students admitted to the MPS-AEM with CEMS follow the degree requirements for MPS-AEM and also have some additional requirements to complete for the CEMS MIM.
  • The MPS with CEMS is designed as a three semester program and includes an exchange semester abroad.
  • The CEMS exchange semester must be taken in the first two semesters.
  • In order for credit earned on exchange to transfer back to Cornell, the grade earned must be equivalent to a "C" or better.