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Department of Economics

Faculty of Social Sciences

COVID-19 information and updates

Find the most recent updates here, as well as FAQs and information for students, faculty and staff.

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Undergraduate Programs

McMaster’s economics program is one of the best in Canada. Current faculty members are leading researchers in all major areas of economics and former economics undergraduates at Mac have gone on to outstanding careers in academics, law, finance, politics and industry.

Research

The Department includes faculty experts in microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, experimental, health, international, labour, monetary, population, and public economics. Much of their research is applied to policy issues and utilizes advanced quantitative techniques.

Graduate Programs

The strength of our programs is the quality of our faculty and of our research facilities. We have a strong research focus, winning awards and honours on the quality and impact of our research. Our teaching excellence has been recognized through teaching awards for high-quality classroom teaching and excellence in thesis supervision.

Alumni

We are proud of our many alumni from both our undergraduate and graduate programs. Economics alumni are a highly successful group of individuals working in a variety of different industries throughout the world.

Latest News & Events

Food bank users in Hamilton, according to a study by researchers at McMaster University, are struggling significantly more than most low-income residents.

Oct 08, 2021

New Spaces Open on Campus for Students

More indoor spaces are now available to students for studying, eating, and participating in virtual lectures.
Oct 08, 2021

Walter Steingress (Bank of Canada and University of Rochester) "Exporting and Investment under Credit Constraints (joint work with Kim Huynh, Robert Petrunia and Joel Rodrigue)"

Friday October 1, 2021 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Sep 30, 2021

Michael Gilraine (New York University) "Incentives and the Persistence of Teacher Value-Added "

Friday, September 24, 2021, 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Sep 22, 2021

Shahar Rotberg (The Canada Mortgage and Housing) " Inflation as a Subsidy to Homeownership"

Wed, September 15, 2021, 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Sep 13, 2021

Rob Gillezeau (University of Victoria) "The Determinants and Impacts of Historical Treaty-Making in Canada" (co-authored by Donna Feir and Maggie Jones)

Wed, September 8, 2021, 12:30pm – 1:30pm via ZOOM
Sep 07, 2021

Learn about our Programs

Hons.B.A. Honours Bachelors of Arts in Economics

The BA in Honours Economics program is a four-level program that offers the challenge of more advanced work in economics.

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Hons.B.A. Honours Economics: Specialist Option

Honours BA Specialist Option stream provides the same, solid grounding in Economics as the Honours BA stream, with a minimal but highly specific differentiation. The Specialist Option requires an additional econometrics course that is necessary preparation for econometrics courses to be taken in MA in Economics programs.

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Hons.B.A. Combined Honours in Economics and Another Subject

Economics can be combined with programs in the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Humanities.

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Hons.B.A. Honours Economics and Computer Science

This program provides the students with a solid foundation in computer science and exposure to the field of economics thereby opening up major opportunities for economist with a programming background.

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Hons.B.A. Honours Economics and Mathematics

For the motivated student, the honours economics and mathematics program gives the benefits of two cultures and two distinct modes of thought: an important aspect in developing critical thinking and in today's job market.

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B.A. Bachelor of Arts in Economics

The BA in Economics program is a 3-year program designed to provide a general education, with an emphasis on the skills and knowledge required to understand the economy. Although it is not intended to prepare students for specific careers, the degree continues to be attractive to a wide range of employers.

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Minor Minor in Economics

Students enrolled in a four- or five-level program in another subject may pursue a minor in economics.

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M.A. Master of Arts in Economics

The Masters of Arts in Economics (MA) is a one-year program that provides a thorough grounding in modern economics, blending both theoretical and empirical methods. Graduates of the program normally pursue one of two career tracks. One track is immediate placement in a position as an economic analyst. Graduates regularly take up positions in a variety of public- and private-sector organizations. A second track is advanced study of economics, usually at the PhD level.

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M.A. Masters in Economic Policy

The Masters of Economic Policy (MAEP) is a one-year program that provides a thorough grounding in modern economics, blending both theoretical and empirical methods.

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Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy in Economics

The PhD program in economics prepares students to become professional, independent economic researchers applying state-of-the-art methods to analyze economic phenomena.

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