| Location | Email Address | Program Website |
|---|---|---|
| 1050 Vari Hall | gradecon@yorku.ca | economics.gradstudies.yorku.ca |
The Graduate Program in Economics offers courses and research opportunities leading to MA and PhD degrees.
Admission Requirements
All applicants must have a four-year Honours baccalaureate degree (with at least a B average in the final two years) and must have
successfully completed:
i) one term of university level courses in Linear Algebra, Calculus, Statistics and Econometrics (3 credits each—half courses),
and
ii) two term courses in Intermediate Microeconomics and Intermediate Macroeconomics (6 credits each—full courses).
Applicants may be required to successfully complete preparatory courses, to be taken at the undergraduate level, prior to being admitted.
Other Regulations
Applicants who are asked to present evidence of competence in English should note that minimum scores are: Test of English as a Foreign Language 575, and Michigan English Language Test 88. There are no other language requirements.
Applicants must normally have completed a master’s degree in Economics which includes a B+ average and strong performance in the (core) area of Macroeconomics, Microeconomics and Econometrics.
Applicants may be asked to successfully complete preparatory courses prior to entry (or be admitted conditionally on entry).
Other Regulations
Applicants who are asked to present evidence of competence in English should note that minimum scores are: Test of English as a Foreign Language 575, and Michigan English Language Test 88. There are no other language requirements.
Degree Requirements
MA
There are two general requirements for the master’s degree: a Mathematics cognate requirement and graduate program courses. Students are expected to complete all degree requirements in two academic terms.
Students must demonstrate competence in Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Statistics by enrolling in Economics 5000 0.0: Mathematics Cognate and obtaining a passing grade. The Mathematics cognate requirement will not be included among the eight half-courses required for the master’s degree.
Note: This course is evaluated as a Pass/No Pass course and is not to be included as part of the 24 credits required.
Attendance in the classes, which are offered in August, is highly recommended but not compulsory. The course exam which is scheduled at a date near the beginning of the Fall term must be passed by all master’s students.
Master’s students must satisfactorily complete eight graduate halfcourses (or equivalently 24 credits) selected in consultation with the Graduate Program Director. Specific program course requirements are described below in (i) through (iv).
i) a Microeconomics course requirement of one of the following
course options (A) or (B) as described below:
(A) Economics 5010 3.0 OR (B) Economics 5100 3.0 and Economics 6100 3.0;
ii) a Macroeconomics course requirement of one of the following
options (C) or (D) as described below:
(C) Economics 5011 3.0 OR (D) Economics 5110 3.0 and Economics 6110 3.0;
iii) an Econometrics course requirement of one of (E) or (F) as described below:
(E) Economics 5025 3.0 OR (F) Economics 6220 3.0 and Economics 6250 3.0;
iv) students may take one elective half course (3 credits) from a graduate program outside Economics.
Students who plan to proceed to a PhD program in Economics are advised to select options B, D and F above.
At the date of entering the program, MA candidates should verify requirements and plan their courses in consultation with the Graduate Program Director during the advising session.
The MA program can be completed on a full-time basis. Entry is fall term.
The expected degree completion time for full-time master’s students is 3 terms. For those students who complete degree requirements earlier than 3 terms, they must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of 3 terms of full-time study. All requirements for a master’s degree must be fulfilled within 12 terms (4 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time master’s student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.
PhD
There are five requirements for the doctoral degree:
Satisfactory performance is required in eight graduate half courses or seminars (24 credits) chosen with the approval of the Graduate Program Director. These courses must include Economics 5100 3.0, Economics 5110 3.0, Economics 6220 3.0, Economics 6100 3.0, Economics 6110 3.0 and Economics 6250 3.0.
In addition, a student must take two of the three courses, Economics 7100 3.0, Economics 7110 3.0 and Economics 7220 3.0 during the first semester of the second year of the PhD.
Satisfactory performance is required in the PhD Research Seminar course, Economics 7000 0.0 in each year of registration, starting from the second year.
Satisfactory performance is required on written comprehensive examinations: one in Microeconomic theory, one in Macroeconomic theory, and one in Econometrics. Students have two attempts within the same term to pass the comprehensive exams. Two unsuccessful attempts result in withdrawal from the graduate program.
Students must successfully complete the preparation of one research paper (to be approved by the program).
Satisfactory performance is required in the PhD Research Seminar course, Economics 7000 0.0 (non-credit) in each year of registration, starting from the second year.
Students must successfully complete a satisfactory dissertation.
All students should verify degree requirements at the time of registration. Each candidate’s program of study and research is guided and approved by the Graduate Program Director. Candidates are sometimes encouraged to take selected courses outside Economics.
Students must successfully complete the Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Econometrics Theory comprehensive examinations within 12 months of enrolling in the program.
The doctoral program offers study in the following fields:
- econometrics
- monetary economics
- industrial organization
- international money and finance
- international trade
- applied economic theory
The comprehensive examination in the elected field is comprised of a research paper.
The research paper should be prepared (in consultation with a comprehensive exam supervisor and comprehensive examination committee) and may be regarded as a dissertation prospectus. By the end of the second year of enrolment in the PhD program a student should (a) be finished the theory comprehensive exams (b) have prepared a written research paper, to be presented to the program at a scheduled seminar date during the first month of the third year.
After the successful presentation of the research paper (pass), a dissertation committee should be formed, and a proposal should be submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. A student should consult the graduate program office for regulations regarding dates and procedures for preparation of a proposal and subsequent dissertation.
The PhD program can be completed on a full-time basis. Entry is fall term.
Normal degree completion time for full-time PhD students is 18 terms (6 years). Doctor of Philosophy students must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of six terms of full-time registration. All requirements for a doctoral degree must be fulfilled within 18 terms (6 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time doctoral student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.