Program Requirements

The Master of Arts degree in Economics requires successful completion of eight core courses and at least nine credits from elective courses. Students may register for courses offered by other Columbia schools or departments if the course is open to registration to students outside of the home unit. However, required core and elective courses cannot be substituted with courses outside of the Economics M.A. program.

In order to maintain good standing in the program, students must be making satisfactory academic progress toward completing their degree.  Per Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) policy, students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all courses for which they are registered.  In addition, students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all economics MA courses. For a complete description of the requirements for good academic standing, please see the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Policy Handbook.

Students who do not maintain the required 3.0 GPA, beginning in the first semester in the program, must meet with the Program Director. At the meeting, the Program Director will explain to the student what requirements must be fulfilled in the next semester in order to regain good standing. Students who do not satisfy the requirements in the next semester may not be allowed to continue in the program. Students who find themselves in academic difficulty should contact the Program Director as soon as possible.

Students are expected to fulfill all the requirements for the degree over the course of three semesters. Course requirements for the M.A. degree will be satisfied by taking four core classes in the fall, three core classes in spring, one core course in the fall of second year and a total of at least nine credits from elective courses over the course of all three semesters.

In addition, each student is required to write a research paper as a capstone project of the program. Students are expected to produce a research paper that demonstrates their ability to think originally and convey results clearly.

For a detailed description of courses, see our course offerings page.

CORE COURSES

• GR5211 Microeconomic Analysis I
• GR5212 Microeconomic Analysis II
• GR5215 Macroeconomic Analysis I
• GR5216 Macroeconomic Analysis II
• GR5410 Mathematical Methods for Economists
• GR5411 Econometrics I
• GR5412 Econometrics II
• GR5120 Research in Economics

ELECTIVE COURSES

Students are required to take at least nine credits in elective courses:

• GR5218 Advanced Microeconomics
• GR5220 Advanced Macroeconomics
• GR5250 Industrial Organization
• GR5311 Economic Policy Analysis
• GR5415 Advanced Econometrics
• GR5711 Financial Economics
• GR5721 Advanced Financial Economics
• GR5911 International Economics
• GR5110 Fieldwork in Economics

Core Courses in the M.A. program are offered as follows.

Fall Semester:

• Mathematical Methods for Economists
• Microeconomic Analysis I
• Macroeconomic Analysis I
• Econometrics I

Spring Semester:

• Microeconomic Analysis II
• Macroeconomic Analysis II
• Econometrics II

Second Fall Semester:

• Research in Economics