Hobart and William Smith Opens Graduate Pathway to Levy Institute
Qualified economics students at the Geneva, New York college gain guaranteed admission and credit transfer to Levy graduate programs at Bard College.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Economics — General
Hobart and William Smith Colleges has created a graduate pathway to Bard College's Levy Economics Institute, covering the one-year Master of Arts and two-year Master of Science programs in economic theory and policy. Qualified HWS economics students receive guaranteed admission and credit transfer through coordinated advising and a streamlined application process.
Why it matters
The pathway gives undergraduate economics students a defined route into advanced study in economic theory and policy. The arrangement reflects a shared approach between the HWS economics department and Levy of examining economic questions through multiple theoretical perspectives.
The pathway offers a one-year Master of Arts and a two-year Master of Science in economic theory and policy at Levy. The source does not state how many students are expected to enroll or the scholarship amounts available.
The players
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
A private liberal arts college in Geneva, New York, that enrolls students in economics programs and created this graduate pathway.
Levy Economics Institute of Bard College
A research institute at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, focused on economic theory and public policy, which offers the master's programs in the pathway.
Joshua Greenstein
An HWS associate professor of economics who advises students interested in the Levy programs.
The details
Students must complete ECON 304, Econometrics, by the end of the first semester of their senior year to qualify. HWS Associate Professor of Economics Joshua Greenstein advises students interested in the programs.
Timeline
End of first semester of senior year: deadline to complete ECON 304, Econometrics, for pathway eligibility.
Market Landscape
Partnerships like this one allow small liberal arts colleges to offer students direct routes into specialized graduate research programs. The HWS-Levy arrangement follows a model where undergraduate economics departments feed established policy-focused institutes.
Qualified HWS economics students can secure guaranteed admission to Levy graduate programs without a separate competitive application process. Eligible students may also qualify for scholarships that reduce the cost of the Master of Arts or Master of Science degrees.
The takeaway
Undergraduate economics students interested in graduate study in economic theory should plan early to complete econometrics by their senior year. Advising from department faculty can help map the requirements for this pathway.
Further reading
Explore more in Economics — General for related coverage of the field.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fingerlakes1.
