MA program

Overview
Core courses
Electives
Extended essay or thesis option
Co-op option
Faculty
Further information

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the following information, prospective students are urged to consult the latest University of Victoria Calendar, or contact the Graduate Advisor in the Department of Economics.

Overview

The Department of Economics at the University of Victoria is recognized for the quality of its teaching and research in both economics and econometrics. The learning environment is open and friendly with small classes and an actively involved faculty. We admit approximately 25 new MA students and 3 new PhD students per year. This maintains the quality and intimacy of the program and our success in co-op placements. MA graduates will be well prepared for doctoral studies in economics or for research and analysis positions in the private or public sectors.

Our Master’s degree provides a rigorous foundation in economic theory and econometrics, supplemented by electives with an applied focus. The capstone to the MA program is either an Extended Essay or a Thesis. Students who choose the extended essay must complete the three core courses and five elective courses. Students who choose the Thesis option must complete the three core courses and four electives.

Learning outcomes for the MA program include:

Learn foundation material from formal coursework in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics, conducted at a level needed to pursue successful careers as professional economists or progression onto a PhD program
Identify and synthesize existing knowledge
Exposure to important research questions
Learn to identify relevant economic questions
Ability to use acquired knowledge to develop models of interest
Application of modeling tools and economic arguments to specific research questions
Ability to critically assess own work and that of others
Acquire effective communication skills through written work and oral presentations
Write research projects and an extended essay or thesis that illustrates skills acquired

Core Courses

There are three required core courses for the MA degree:

ECON 500 Microeconomic Analysis;
ECON 501 Macroeconomic Analysis; and
ECON 545 Econometric Analysis.

All three courses are offered in the fall term only. Taking all three in the first term of studies facilitates learning in elective courses and leaves students with more flexibility - for instance, to accept a co-op position in the Fall of the second year. Those planning to complete the program in one year normally take a fourth course in the Fall term as well.

Electives

For details on the number of elective courses to take please see the University of Victoria Academic Calendar.

The elective courses offered vary from year to year and in any given year only a subset of those listed in the University of Victoria Calendar will be offered.

Individual faculty members may offer Directed Studies courses at any time of the year and some additional theory courses are available jointly with their senior (400) level undergraduate equivalents. With the prior approval of the Graduate Advisor, students may also take a limited number of other suitable advanced level courses in economics or suitable courses offered by other departments.

Extended Essay or Thesis Option

As previously mentioned, the MA program can be completed with an Extended Essay or a Thesis. Both the Extended Essay and the Thesis are substantial research projects done under the individual supervision of a faculty member. While completion times vary, a student can expect to take the equivalent of one semester of full time work to complete an Extended Essay and up to two semesters for a Thesis.

Most MA students take the Extended Essay option for the program rather than the Thesis option, but we encourage students to undertake the Thesis option, as it enables research to be completed at a more advanced level. Students should consult with the Graduate Advisor concerning their choice of program option. Students must select a research topic and formalize arrangements with an Essay Supervisor by completing and submitting an MA Essay Registration Form or a MA Thesis Registration Form within twelve months of starting the program. Further information about this process will be provided to students in the Spring term.

Students are encouraged to follow their own interests and develop their own research topics with their supervisor. Professors also post research topics in their sphere of interests to the Department’s graduate web page.

Co-Op Option

An attractive feature of both the MA and the PhD degree is the co-operative education option. Students taking the co-op option have the opportunity to take semester-long paid employment with public and private sector employers. This provides an excellent opportunity for both domestic and international students to integrate professional experience into their degree program and obtain additional financial support.

Students selecting the Co-op option must take Econ 516, Cost-Benefit Analysis (offered in the Spring term) prior to taking their first work term. They must also maintain a cumulative GPA of B (5.0) or better.

In order to receive the co-op designation on their UVic degree, M.A. students must complete a minimum of two, four-month work terms. It is also possible for students to go on a single work term, although in such a case, the student’s degree will not include the recognition of a co-op option.

There is a lot of flexibility allowed in scheduling co-op work terms. The following Table provides examples of the most common degree sequences:

OPTION 1

	Fall	Spring	Summer
Year 1	Study	Study	Co-op Work
Year 2	Study & Start Essay/Thesis	Co-op Work	Study & Complete Essay/Thesis

OPTION 2

	Fall	Spring	Summer
Year 1	Study	Study	Co-op Work
Year 2	Co-op Work	Study & Start Essay/Thesis	Study & Complete Essay/Thesis

Research undertaken during the work terms may provide the basis for the student's Thesis or Extended Essay.

Each work term is followed by a written report from the student that must be judged satisfactory by the Department. Students who may be interested in the Co-op option will have an opportunity to meet the Co-op coordinator in the Fall of their first year in the program.

Co-op positions are filled by a competitive process involving the submission of applications and participation in interviews. Flexibility regarding job location and work setting increases the probability of placement. Visa students should note that they are not eligible to apply for Canadian Federal Government positions but are generally eligible for most other positions.

Information relating to the type of Co-op positions that are typically available to our graduate students, and some of the recent employers of our students, is provided in the Co-op section of our website.

Faculty

The faculty members of the Department of Economics have a broad range of research interests, as is reflected in their recent publications and other research activities.