With a focus on applied economics, our Master of Arts (MA) program provides you with relevant analytical and problem-solving skills through coursework, research and practice. Our well-established co-op option allows you to supplement your academic education with an 8-month work term and on-the-job learning. The work term serves as a stepping stone to a career for many of our graduates. Degree requirements can be fulfilled by one of three options: Course Work, Master's Research Paper, or Thesis. Typical degree completion time is 2 to 3 terms without co-op or 4 to 5 terms with co-op. Funding is available and is allocated on a merit basis.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the MA program in Economics is only in September and is open to students who have:
- Honours bachelor's degree (or equivalent)
- Applicants must have strong preparation in economics and in the mathematical tools needed to be successful in the program, including the following university-level courses:
- Two semesters of intermediate and/or advanced microeconomics
- Two semesters of intermediate and/or advanced macroeconomics
- Two semesters of statistics and/or econometrics
- One semester of mathematical economics or equivalent
- Two academic letters of reference
- Proof of competency in English (if applicable)
- A GRE score is not required but is recommended for all international applicants.
- For students educated abroad, see the Admission Guide for International Applicants for further details.
Degree Requirements
Course Work Option
- Eight courses (5 required and 3 elective)
- Mathematics for Graduate Students in Economics (a two week course offered the last week of August and the first week of September)
- Academic Integrity Workshop
- Students are expected to write a paper with a value of at least 30% in at least one of their courses
FALL TERM
- ECON 601 (Microeconomic Theory 1)
- ECON 602 (Macroeconomic Theory 1)
- ECON 621 (Econometrics 1)
- One elective course
WINTER TERM
- ECON 606 (Research Methodology)
- ECON 622 (Applied Microeconometrics 1) OR Econ 623 (Applied Macroeconometrics 1)
- Two elective courses
Research Paper Option
- Seven courses (5 required and 2 elective)
- Master's Research Paper
- Mathematics for Graduate Students in Economics (a two-week course scheduled the last week of August and the first week of September)
- Academic Integrity Workshop
FALL TERM
- ECON 601
- ECON 602
- ECON 621
- One elective course
WINTER TERM
- ECON 606
- ECON 622 OR ECON 623
- One elective course
SPRING TERM
Thesis Option
- Five required courses
- Thesis
- Mathematics for Graduate Students in Economics (a two-week course scheduled the last week of August and the first week of September)
- Academic Integrity Workshop
FALL TERM
- ECON 601
- ECON 602
- ECON 621
WINTER TERM
- ECON 606
- ECON 622 OR ECON 623
- Thesis (a four course equivalent embodying the results of research on a topic approved by the Department.)
SPRING TERM
Students who fail (<60%) a first term required course (ECON 601, 602, 621) will be required to withdraw from the program.
In order to graduate, candidates must receive a minimum overall average of 70%.
Co-op Option
The co-op option involves terms of study alternating with work-terms. The Department of Co-operative Education has a large network of relations with employers throughout Canada and they assist students in finding suitable work term employment. Students have been very successful in the co-op option, taking up employment positions they deem suitable and earning on average $2,700 per month while on their work-terms. Furthermore, after graduating from the MA program, many of our students have been hired as permanent employees by their work-term employers with starting salaries averaging around $42,000.
The co-op option is a four or five-term program which requires the satisfactory completion of:
- the course work, Master's research paper, or thesis option
- an eight-month work term placement
- submission of ONE work report deemed satisfactory by the Department.
Normally, a minimum overall average of 78% in ECON 601, ECON 602, and ECON 621, with no one of these grades falling below 70%, will be required of those students wanting to pursue the co-op option.
Areas and Duration of Study in the MA Program
Both regular and co-op students take courses together on campus in the fall and winter terms. The course work option can be completed in two terms while the major research paper and thesis options require three terms to complete. Students enrolled in the co-op option take up employment for two terms or eight months (May 1 to December 31). Students may choose between the regular and co-op options during their first term on campus.
Students may take a course in another department, such as Management Sciences, Political Science, School of Accountancy, Statistics and Environmental Studies. Ordinarily, no more than one course may be taken from another department, with the approval of the Graduate Advisor of the Department of Economics, in fulfillment of the MA degree.
All graduate students are provided with office and computer facilities.
Financial Assistance in the MA Program
All successful candidates are automatically considered for financial assistance in. The current level of funding for MA students is $12,000 per year. International students are eligible to receive an International Master's Student Award valued at $1,690 per term. Candidates in the co-op option can also expect to receive approximately $2,700 per month while in employment during their two work terms.