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MA Program in Economics

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Master’s Offerings

The Department offers a master’s program leading to an MA in Economics. This program prepares students for positions in both the public and private sectors and for further academic training.

Students can pursue an M.A. in Economics or in the following specializations:

Hear from Professor Maya Papineau, MA Supervisor, regarding the merits of an MA in Economics and how this degree benefits your future endeavors

Important Pages for MA Students

Graduate Course Outlines

Graduate Application Information and FAQs

A Guide for International Students

CGES

Scholarships and Funding

Course Plans for MA Students

How Long is the Program?

Changing your Status from Full-Time to Part-Time in the MA Program

To change your status, you need to email the Graduate Administrator, Renée Lortie, requesting a change of status. Please read Section 7.10 of the Graduate Calendar, which describes the circumstances whereby a change of status is allowed.

The program is typically completed in eight to twelve months and contains rigorous training in microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, and econometrics, as well as elective courses in a wide range of applied fields. Students can also pursue a concentration in financial economics or a collaborative specialization in data science, climate change or African studies.

Students in Carleton’s undergraduate economics programs who are interested in pursuing our MA in Economics prepare by taking the courses listed below.

Extended Masters in Economics (EMA)

If the aforementioned courses (or equivalents from your university) have not been completed with minimum grades in the B+ range or higher or are not in progress by the time an MA application is submitted, the applicant may be required to complete or repeat any or all of the courses listed below which may be included in an offer of admission to Carleton’s Extended Masters in Economics (EMA), providing the applicant is meeting the other admission criteria, including the B+ CGPA requirement, calculated using a student’s grades in their last 20 courses completed.

For help with course planning, please see our course planning for MA students page.

Professional and Academic Development

Job Opportunities and Search

The federal government begins most of its recruiting initiatives in the fall, master’s students need to start thinking about applying for jobs almost as soon as they begin their program. Useful sites for job search include jobs.gc.ca and Carleton’s Career Startup site along with the International Student Services Office (ISSO).

Make sure that the Graduate Administrator has your current e-mail address and check your e-mail regularly. Whenever we hear of any job opportunities, we circulate them to the students.

Recent graduates of our master’s program have accepted positions at a number of different government agencies—including the Bank of Canada, Finance Canada, Industry Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada (formerly Human Resources and Skills Development Canada), and the Competition Bureau—and at various private firms—including Nesbitt Burns and Infometrica or have continued on to doctoral programs—including those at the University of British Columbia, the University of Toronto, Queen’s University, and Ottawa-Carleton.

More placements include:

Successful applicants to our master’s program may be offered a teaching assistantship worth $12,085 and/or scholarships of between $2,000 and $10,000.

MA Program Handbook2025-2026 MA Handbook
MA Program Inquiries Renée Lortie, Graduate Administrator
Professor Maya Papineau-Koritar, M.A. Supervisor
Specializations and ConcentrationsSpecializations: African Studies, Climate Change and
Data Science
Concentrations: Financial Economics
General InformationFAQ Prospective Students
FAQ Current Students

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