Commerce and Economic Development, MS (Boston)

Globalization has created a borderless economy with a host of new opportunities and challenges for those engaged in commerce and economic development. While global markets offer exciting growth prospects, navigating the world stage requires in-depth knowledge of the financial, regulatory, and economic environments and institutions that affect the global economy and international trade. To meet the need for both insight and skills development, Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies—in collaboration with Northeastern University’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities—offers the online Master of Science in Commerce and Economic Development.

This graduate-level program integrates economics, leadership, institutional organization, technology, and public policy into a unique and focused educational experience designed to help guide and advance a rewarding career in the private or public sectors.

Beginning with students admitted in the fall of 2026, all students pursuing on-ground master's degree programs must complete a university-level experiential learning requirement. This requirement may be fulfilled through the curriculum, co-op, or other work- or industry-integrated learning experiences.

Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.

Required Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
CED 6010	Applied Microeconomic Theory 1	3
CED 6020	Applied Macroeconomic Theory 1	3
CED 6030	Mathematical Methods for Economics 1	2
CED 6040	Applied Econometrics 1	3
CED 6050	Integrated Economics and Finance	3
Restricted Electives:
Complete 4 semester hours of the following		4
CED 6120	Environmental Economics and Public Policy
CED 6130	Sustainable Economic Development
CED 6983	Special Topics
CED 6995	Project
Capstone
CED 6910	Capstone: Master’s Project	4

Concentrations or Electives Option

A concentration is not required. Students may complete the electives option in lieu of a concentration.

• Data Analytics
• Economic Analysis
• Financial Economics 
• Financial Risk Management
• Forensic Accounting
• Tech Innovation and Financial Analytics
• Electives Option

Optional Experiential Learning Opportunities

The College of Professional Studies encourages its students to incorporate optional experiential learning opportunities in their academic plans. 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Co-op
This option requires 1 additional semester hour of credit and tuition in addition to this program's required credit hours.
INT 6200	Experiential Project Preparation	1
COP 6945	Co-op Work Experience—Full Time	0
or COP 6946	Global Co-op Work Experience—Full Time
or COP 6954	Co-op Work Experience - Half-Time
Integrative Experiential Learning
This option substitutes for 3 semester hours of restricted elective credits in programs that require at least 3 semester hours of restricted elective credits. If the student has already completed the program's restricted electives or the program does not have an elective requirement, this option requires 3 additional hours of credit and tuition in addition to this program's required credit hours.
INT 6943	Integrative Experiential Learning	3

Program Credit/GPA Requirements

34 total semester hours required

Additional hours required for participation in optional experiential learning opportunities.
Minimum 3.000 GPA required

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Data Analytics Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
ALY 6105	Introduction to Applied Statistics	3
ALY 6125	Intermediate Analytics	3
CED 6150	Risk Analytics in Finance and Economics	3
CED 6310	Network Analytics and Machine Learning in Finance	3

Economic Analysis Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Complete 12 semester hours of the following:		12
CED 6011	Applied Microeconomic Theory 2
CED 6021	Applied Macroeconomic Theory 2
CED 6031	Mathematical Methods for Economics 2
CED 6041	Applied Econometrics 2
CED 6051	Open Economy Macroeconomic Analysis

Financial Economics Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
CED 6220	Global Financial Economics	3
FIN 6102	Asset and Liability Management	3
FIN 6161	Investment Analysis	3
Complete 3 semester hours of the following:		3
CED 6210	Economic Perspectives in Managerial Finance
CED 6230	Quantitative Methods
CED 6240	Financial Ethics

 Financial Risk Management Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
CED 6250	Risk Management: Derivatives and Alternative Investments	3
CED 6260	Credit Risk Management	3
FIN 6101	Accounting Fundamentals for Financial Institutions	3
FIN 6102	Asset and Liability Management	3

Forensic Accounting Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
ACC 6210	Advanced Forensic Accounting Foundations (Advanced Forensic Accounting Foundations)	3
ACC 6220	Financial Statement Analysis in Forensics (Financial Statement Analysis in Forensics )	3
ACC 6230	Fraud Detection and Investigative Accounting Methods	3
ACC 6240	Forensic Accounting in Litigation	3

Tech Innovation and Financial Analysis Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
CED 6140	Economics of Digital Commerce	3
CED 6270	Economics of Entrepreneurial Innovation	3
CED 6271	Economics of Technological Innovation	3
CED 6280	New Product Development in Digital Finance	3

Electives Options

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Complete the following courses to meet program requirements:
Any College of Professional Studies graduate level courses or unused courses in the program or a combination of both in lieu of a concentration.		12