In addition to Faculties of Graduate Studies and Arts requirements, the Department requires:
Master of Arts (thesis-based)
a) For students holding an Honours Economics degree with credits in Economics 387, 389, 395, 495, 497,557 and 559 or their equivalents, the completion of three full graduate courses in Economics. Such students may be able to complete the degree in one year. In special cases the Department may allow students to substitute one full or two half courses from a related discipline for one of the elective graduate courses in Economics.
b) For students without an Honours Economics degree or students whose Honours degree in Economics does not include the undergraduate courses specified in (a) or their equivalents, the completion of such courses as are required to raise their competence to the appropriate level. Graduate course requirements for such students are the same as in (a). Such students may be able to complete the degree in two years.
c) The completion of Economics 615, 657, and 659 unless one or more of them is explicitly exempted by the requirements for a specialization.
d) Successful completion and examination of the MA thesis (in accord with examination procedures of the Faculty of Graduate Studies).
Master of Arts (course-based)
The departmental academic requirements for the course-based Master of Arts degree are comparable to those for the thesis-based Master of Arts specified above. The differences in the course-based program are:
a) The thesis requirement is replaced by two additional full graduate courses (making a total of five full courses).
b) The number of full courses from a related discipline are increased to one and one-half of the elective graduate courses in Economics.
c) A research paper. The topic may be a limited empirical research project, a critical review of the literature in a particular area, or a critical analysis of a theoretical or important policy problem.
d) An exit requirement consisting of a research defence in an open conference and if unsuccessful a comprehensive written examination.
Master of Arts (thesis-based or course-based) with a Specialization in Health Economics
a) The completion of Economics 679 and 681 as two of the six half courses required in the thesis-based program, or as two of the ten half courses required in the course-based program.
b) Students may be excused from the requirement that they take Economics 659. However, if they are contemplating continuing on to a doctoral program, they are cautioned that most doctoral programs will require a course that is equivalent to Economics 659.
Doctor of Philosophy
The Department of Economics requires that doctoral students take twelve half courses. Required courses include two courses each in econometrics, Economics 615 and 715, microeconomic theory, Economics 657 and 757, and macroeconomic theory, Economics 659 and 759. In addition, students must take six half courses in “field” areas. Students are also recommended to take a non-credit one-week course in the Fall Session Block Week (the week prior to the start of classes) of the first year in Mathematical Economics (Economics 600). The Department allows for the possibility that Master's-level courses and course work taken at other institutions may be substituted for some of the required doctoral courses. Decisions concerning course substitutions and the transferability of graduate courses from other institutions are made on a case-by-case basis. Students are advised that the comprehensive theory examinations, which are required of all doctoral students, include material from the core courses listed above.
Program Descriptions