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Department of Economics | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Simon Fraser University Calendar | Spring 2025

Economics

Master of Arts

The Department of Economics offers a master of arts (MA) that provides training in a wide range of theoretical, empirical, and policy-related fields. The program is designed to prepare students for a career in the public or private sector, or to pursue further studies in a PhD program.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the university admission requirements as stated in Graduate General Regulations 1.3 in the SFU Calendar.

Program Requirements

This program has three options and consists of course work and either a thesis, research project, or research paper, for a minimum of 30 units.

Students complete all of

ECON 798 - Introduction to Mathematical Economics (4) *
ECON 802 - Microeconomics (4)
ECON 835 - Econometrics (4)
ECON 836 - Applied Econometrics (4)
ECON 807 - Macroeconomic Theory and Policy (4)

Course Option

and four graduate elective ECON courses**

and a research paper

ECON 899 - MA Research Paper (4)

Project Option

and three graduate elective ECON courses**

and a project

ECON 999 - MA Project (10)

Thesis Option

and two graduate elective ECON courses**

and a thesis

ECON 991 - MA Thesis (18)

*ECON 798 is not required if a grade acceptable to the graduate program committee has been obtained in equivalent courses. An undergraduate course can be used with the approval of the graduate program committee.

**The elective courses are graduate courses from Economics or, with permission of the graduate program chair, graduate courses in other subjects.

Program Length

Students are expected to complete the program requirements in three terms for the course option, four terms for the project option, and five terms for the thesis option.

Other Information

Research and Oral Examination

The thesis and project must meet the standards set out in the Graduate General Regulations (see 1.9). An oral examination is required covering the students' written research in particular, and program in general, as outlined in the Graduate General Regulations.

Co-operative Education

This optional program provides work experience that complements MA studies. MA students in good standing with a minimum 3.0 CGPA may apply to co-op. The program consists of one or two separate work terms. Arrangements are made through the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences co-op co-ordinator during the first term of study (see Co-operative Education). To participate, prior approval from the graduate chair in the department of economics is required.

Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations

All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations, as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled.