This option is designed for students who have a particular interest in one area. Students who are interested in this option should consult a potential thesis advisor before selecting this option.
Required Courses (27 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 650 | Research 1. | 3 |
| ECON 651 | Research 2. | 3 |
| ECON 652 | Research 3. | 3 |
| ECON 670 | Thesis 1. | 6 |
| ECON 671 | Thesis 2. | 6 |
| ECON 672 | Thesis 3. | 6 |
Complementary Courses (18 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 662 | Econometrics 1. | 3 |
| ECON 663 | Econometrics 2. | 3 |
| ECON 709 | Microeconomic Theory 3. | 3 |
| ECON 711 | Microeconomic Theory 2. | 3 |
| ECON 712 | Macroeconomic Theory 1. | 3 |
| ECON 713 | Macroeconomic Theory 2. | 3 |
Note: Choose either ECON 662, ECON 663, ECON 709, ECON 711; or ECON 662, ECON 663, ECON 712, ECON 713; or ECON 709, ECON 711, ECON 712, ECON 713.
6 credits at the 500 level or higher, as determined by the student's area of study and in consultation with the MA Director.
- Completion of a Master's thesis, the subject of which must be approved by a thesis committee, no more than 12 months after the student enters the M.A. program. Students should begin to plan the M.A. thesis early in the academic year. The M.A. Thesis is rarely an original contribution to knowledge, in the same sense that a doctoral dissertation is expected to be. Its purpose is to demonstrate that the student can design and complete a significant piece of research. The thesis should deal with a well-defined problem, with significant review of previous work. The M.A. thesis manuscript does not normally exceed 100 pages of typescript. Unlike the research report completed under the non-thesis option, an M.A. thesis is examined by an external examiner chosen by the candidate's supervisor and by an internal examiner from the Economics Department. The supervisor no longer grades the thesis an academic member from the department is chosen.
- The Thesis program requirement is 45 credits (18 credits course work and 27 credits thesis). An average grade of B (70%) in approved courses is needed for graduation.
- Residency requirement for the M.A. degree: Three full-time terms of residency, one of which can be the Summer Term. The thesis option can be completed in 12 months, although most students take until December of the second year to finish. Additional session fees are applicable.
- A student who fails (receives a grade less than 65%) one graduate course may be asked to withdraw from the M.A. program. The Department may allow the student to write a supplemental examination, re-take the course or, if the course is not a required course, substitute the failed course with another course. A student who fails two or more approved courses in the graduate program must withdraw from the M.A. program.
Please consult the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website for details regarding formatting.