Join a welcoming and collaborative campus community and learn from internationally-recognized researchers in the Master of Arts (MA) in Economics program at the University of Guelph. This advanced program will extend your economics and finance knowledge beyond the undergraduate level and prepare you for a variety of roles within the public and private sectors, as well as further education at the PhD level. The program offers a finance specialization for students who wish to focus their studies towards finance-based economics.
Advancing your knowledge in core economic theory and quantitative methods will prepare you to work in public policy and conduct economic research that will help solve any economic and business problem. Our MA program offers a strong introduction into advanced theoretical coursework and the flexibility to investigate your interests through elective courses.
You will take a minimum of four credits that include economics core courses and electives.
You will take a minimum of four credits that include economics core courses, electives and the MRP.
View course descriptions in the Graduate Calendar.
Developing extensive financial knowledge and excellent quantitative research skills will enable you to become an expert analyst, understand market trends and risk, and manage financial portfolios. Our MA program features courses in asset pricing, portfolio management and financial econometrics.
You will take a minimum of four credits that include economics core courses, finance core courses and electives.
You will take a minimum of four credits that include economics core courses, finance core courses and your MRP.
Graduates of the MA in Economics program can be found in a range of organizations across Canada and around the world
MA student Kyel Governor and professor Thanasis Stengos discuss the MA Economics program.
"I most enjoyed the interest the professors took in the students’ learning and the connections they provided. On several occasions I was able to have one-on-one conversations with top-level industry executives, access only provided through the relationships the faculty have."
Kristian Adomait, MA '15 Manager - Funds, Insurance & Real Estate at KPMG
"The support and guidance of my advisors was extremely helpful. Their encouragement, comments and advice helped me grow as a researcher. Also the experience as a sessional lecturer at the University of Guelph was very important. It gave me the opportunity to understand how challenging and rewarding teaching can be."
Diana Alessandrini, MA and PhD Economics alumnus. Assistant Professor, St. Francis Xavier University
The university requires that students have the equivalent of an honours degree at the baccalaureate level. Admission to the MA program requires that students have a solid background in economic theory and econometrics from a recognized undergraduate program. Normally, the Department requires a 'B+' average as a minimum.
Students whose background is not in economics but who are otherwise outstanding should consult the Department of Economics and Finance at the Lang School. Applicants whose background in economics is difficult to evaluate may be granted admission as a provisional graduate student for one semester. If, at the end of the semester, the Department is satisfied with the student's progress, it will recommend to the Assistant Vice-President (Graduate Studies) that the student be transferred to regular graduate student status.
Program offices should be consulted for admission deadlines.
The application deadline is February 1.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Rene Kirkegaard
Graduate Coordinator
rkirkega@uoguelph.ca
(519) 824-4120 x53551
Graduate calendar | Tuition | Department of Economics and Finance
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Economics and Finance faculty at Guelph have a long-established reputation for delivering quality education and research. Our faculty are some of the world's most cited and highly regarded researchers within economics and finance. We rank in the top 5% of the world for research output in economics, according to Research Papers in Economics (RePEc).
Full faculty and staff list for the Department of Economics and Finance.
The MA requires the completion of a minimum of 4.0 course credits. Most one-semester courses have 0.5 course credits. With approval from the Department, up to 1 credit of the required 4 credits can be taken outside the Department of Economics and Finance. However, students may, with approval, take additional courses from other Departments provided that their program includes at least six-course equivalents (3.0 credits) from the Department of Economics and Finance. The minimum duration of the program is 2 semesters of full-time study as a regular graduate student. There are two options to the MA in Economics: (i) by course work, and (ii) by course work and major research paper.
A minimum of 4.0 credits is required, including:
The Economics Core (1.5 credits)
ECON*6020 [0.50] Macroeconomic Theory I
ECON*6500 [0.50] Microeconomic Theory MA
ECON*6140 [0.50] Econometrics I
or
ECON*6180 [0.50] Econometric Methods
Three additional courses (1.5 credits)
ECON*6940 [1.00] Research Project
COURSE WORK
A minimum of 4.0 credits is required, including:
The Economics Core (1.5 credits)
ECON*6020 [0.50] Macroeconomic Theory I
ECON*6500 [0.50] Microeconomic Theory MA
ECON*6140 [0.50] Econometrics I
or
ECON*6180 [0.50] Econometric Methods
Five additional courses (2.5 credits). At least two courses must have substantial research components (50% or more of the total course grade).
The Economics Core (1.5 credits)
ECON*6020 [0.50] Macroeconomic Theory I
ECON*6500 [0.50] Microeconomic Theory MA
ECON*6140 [0.50] Econometrics I
or
ECON*6180 [0.50] Econometric Methods
The Finance Core (1.5 credits)
FIN*6000 [0.50] Asset Pricing
FIN*6200 [0.50] Empirical Finance and Financial Econometrics
FIN*6300 [0.50] Security Analysis and Portfolio Management
ECON*6940 [1.00] Research Project
A minimum of 4.0 credits is required, including:
The Economics Core (1.5 credits)
ECON*6020 [0.50] Macroeconomic Theory I
ECON*6500 [0.50] Microeconomic Theory MA
ECON*6140 [0.50] Econometrics I
or
ECON*6180 [0.50] Econometric Methods
The Finance Core (1.5 credits)
FIN*6000 [0.50] Asset Pricing
FIN*6200 [0.50] Empirical Finance and Financial Econometrics
FIN*6300 [0.50] Security Analysis and Portfolio Management
Note that all courses in the finance core have substantial research components (50% or more of the total course grade).
Two additional courses (1.0 credits). Students are encouraged to take:
FIN*6400 [0.50] International Finance
ECON*6490 [0.50] Money and Banking
Electives are chosen by the graduate student with the approval of the Graduate Program Coordinator and his/her advisory committee. Any Social Science Graduate level course may be substituted for the Elective.