Economics: Economics MA

Master of Arts

Program Description

The MA is a coursework-only program (i.e., has no thesis requirement) that may be taken on a full-time or part-time basis. It is designed for individuals who wish to work in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, and also for students intending to pursue a PhD in economics.

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Economics' additional admission requirements stated below.

  • An appropriate bachelor's degree with at least a mid-B (75%) standing in the final year of the program.

  • Successful completion of full-year courses in calculus, intermediate microeconomics, intermediate macroeconomics, and statistics.

  • Admission is competitive, so accepted applicants will normally have achieved a standing considerably higher than the minimum of at least a mid-B (75%) in the final year.

  • All applicants who do not hold a degree from a Canadian university must submit an official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test score. Applicants who hold a degree from a Canadian university are strongly encouraged to submit an official GRE General Test score. See the departmental website for details.

Program Requirements

  • Successful completion of 4.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • 0.5 FCE mathematics and statistics course (ECO1010H);

    • 4.0 FCEs including the core courses in micro (ECO1200H), macro (ECO1100H), and econometrics (ECO1400H). Five 0.5 FCE elective courses are selected from current courses or may be graduate courses offered by another unit, provided they make a strong contribution to the student's economic training. At most two (1.0 FCE) of the five courses may be offered by another unit, and these courses must be approved by the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies. Units that offer courses that we may approve include Mathematics, Statistical Sciences, and the Rotman School of Management.

    • An MA student may be permitted to fulfil core course requirements by taking the corresponding PhD-level core courses (ECO2200H and ECO2201H for microeconomics, ECO2100H and ECO2101H for macroeconomics, or ECO2400H and ECO2401H for econometrics). To make this substitution, the student will be required to take the PhD-level ECO2010H (mathematics and statistics course), and must obtain written permission from the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies prior to starting the mathematics and statistics course in August.

Program Length

2 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W);
6 sessions part-time

Time Limit

3 years full-time;
6 years part-time