Program Structure

A Unique Degree

As in any Master of Arts degree in Economics, students in the MAE program will learn modern micro and macroeconomics, and will obtain sound quantitative skills. Unlike standard programs however, MAE graduates will acquire in-depth knowledge of either the sub-fields of environmental and development economics or of contemporary economic policy. This program will train highly-qualified students to master the use of modern analytical tools and to apply them to issues of regulation, health care, environmental policy, natural resource extraction, housing, poverty, labour issues and finance.

MAE graduates will be well-prepared for jobs in business or government. They will be uniquely positioned to act as researchers and practitioners in the growing non-governmental and not-for-profit sectors, both in Canada and around the world.

Program Structure

Students must complete a total of 24 credit hours to graduate from the program. All students must complete the five Core courses listed below (for 12 credit hours total). There are then two possible streams, the first focusing on the sub-fields of environmental/natural resource economics and development economics, and the second focusing on a range of applied fields such as health economics, finance, regulation and public enterprises, etc., both requiring an additional 6 credit hours. Students then complete 6 credit hours of electives either from the Economics department (listed below), or from other departments across the university. These elective courses include a research project (GECON-7000) or a practicum (GECON-7002).

1. Environmental, Resource and Development Economics (ERDE) stream: Contemporary social and environmental concerns have focused attention on the sustainability of economic growth strategies pursued by different countries. The ERDE stream develops students’ expertise in this area, allowing students to apply their skills in economic analysis to problems affecting low-income communities, resource use and the environment.

2. Policy Analysis (PA) stream: This stream provides the opportunity for students to apply their skills in economic analysis to a wide range of applied economics fields. Governments and the private sector are increasingly seeking economists with quantitative skills and the ability to apply those skills across a wide range of policy issues, from labour policy to finance. The PA stream develops students’ expertise in cost-benefit analysis, public finance and policy analysis.

Core Economics Courses for MAE

GECON-7200 MATH REVIEW FOR MAE STUDENTS
GECON-7102 MICROECONOMICS
GECON-7103 MACROECONOMICS
GECON-7201 APPLIED ECONOMETRICS
GECON-7003 COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS AND VALUATION TECHNIQUES

Required ERDE courses

GECON-7305 DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
GECON-7315 ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS

Required PA courses

Two of:

GECON-7303 TOPICS IN APPLIED ECONOMICS
GECON-7316 TOPICS IN REGULATION AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
GECON-7314 TOPICS IN PUBLIC ECONOMICS
GECON-7313 TOPICS IN INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION AND COMPETITION POLICY

May include a maximum of one of:

GPOL-7341 AN INDIGENOUS APPROACH TO PROGRAM EVALUATION
GPOL-7385 SPECIAL TOPICS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
GPOL-7505 POLITICS OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT