All students entering the Master of Science program must have achieved the University required minimum 70% (B-) average or equivalent. In addition, they are expected to have already taken, or be expected to take at the initiation of the program, the following basic courses:

• Intermediate level micro- and macro-economic theory (ECON*2310 and ECON*2410) or equivalent)

• Calculus and matrix algebra with applications to economics (ECON*2770 or equivalent)

• Intermediate level statistics (ECON*3740) or equivalent).

These courses, if needed, normally are taken as make-up courses and do not carry graduate credit. In some instances they may be supplemented with other undergraduate courses at the discretion of the Departmental Graduate Program Committee. The Departmental Graduate Program Committee examines each application before the student is proposed to the School of Graduate Studies for admission into the program.

MSc students are required to complete successfully six taught courses plus a seminar course. The minimum course work requirements (assuming all undergraduate background requirements have been met) are:

• Microeconomic Theory (ECON*3710 or ECON*6000)

• Macroeconomic Theory (ECON*4810or ECON*6020)

• One graduate course in quantitative methods selected from:

  • Mathematical Programming (AGEC*6360)

  • Econometrics (ECON*6050) or (ECON*6140)

  • Multivariate Statistics (COST*6060)

• Two graduate courses in agricultural economics

• One additional graduate course

• One-credit seminar course (AGEC*6800).

Areas of study in the Program

The fields in which the Master's program at Guelph specializes are natural resource and environmental economics, food business economics and the economics of agricultural markets. For students wishing to specialize in one of these fields, the following course combinations are recommended:

Natural Resource and Environmental Economics:

• Microeconomic Theory (ECON*3710 or ECON*6000)

• Macroeconomic Theory (ECON*4810 or ECON*6020)

• One graduate course in quantitative methods selected from:

  • Mathematical Programming (AGEC*6360)

  • Econometrics (ECON*6050 or ECON*6140)

  • Multivariate Statistics (COST*6060)

• Renewable Resource Economics (AGEC*6610)

• Environmental Economics (ECON*6800)

• One-credit seminar course (AGEC*6800)

Food Business Economics:

• Microeconomic Theory (ECON*3710 or ECON*6000)

• Macroeconomic Theory (ECON*4810 or ECON*6020)

• One graduate course in quantitative methods selected from:

  • Mathematical Programming (AGEC*6360)

  • Econometrics (ECON*6050 or ECON*6140)

  • Multivariate Statistics (COST*6060)

• Three of the following:

  • Marketing Management (AGEC*6110)

  • Food and Agribusiness Strategic Management (AGEC*6140)

  • Future and Options (AGEC*6250)

  • Operations Management (AGEC*6410)

  One-credit seminar course (AGEC*6800)

Economics of Agricultural Markets:

• Microeconomic Theory (ECON*3710 or ECON*6000)

• Macroeconomic Theory (ECON*4810 or ECON*6020)

• One graduate course in quantitative methods selected from:

  • Mathematical Programming (AGEC*6360)

  • Econometrics (ECON*6050 or ECON*6140)

  • Multivariate Statistics (COST*6060)

• Two of the following:

  • Futures and Options (AGEC*6250)

  One additional graduate course

  One-credit seminar course (AGEC*6800)

Note that students electing to take certain courses that are offered to MBA students in the department may be required by the Departmental Graduate Program Committee to complete successfully more than six taught courses.