Economics

专业详情

The free-standing MA program in Economics is intended for students who wish to improve their knowledge of economic theory and its applications, but who plan to pursue only the MA degree. The free-standing MA program may also be of interest to students seeking further training in economics before deciding whether to pursue a PhD in economics. Students interested in earning a PhD are advised to apply to the PhD program directly.

The MA program has been designed to provide a technical and rigorous approach to the study of economic theory. At the same time, the program offers students the flexibility to take field electives in order to tailor their programs of study to their academic and professional goals. We welcome applications from all students who would like to pursue a free-standing MA degree in Economics at Columbia University. Admission to the MA program is limited to highly-qualified applicants, and study must be undertaken on a full-time basis.

The MA program in Economics requires successful completion of 22 credits through eight core classes and 9 credits through the program elective classes. Students satisfy the course requirements for the MA degree in three semesters: four required classes in the first fall semester, three required classes in the following spring semester, one required class in the second fall semester, and electives completed between the spring and second fall semesters. In addition, each student will be required to complete a research paper by the end of the third semester. The research paper will have to demonstrate mastery of the field, along with the ability to think originally and to convey results clearly in writing.