Course sequences for MA students in Economics

Note that priority must be given to compulsory courses. In particular, the material of the course ECO 5185 – Econometrics I is often considered as mastered, or in the process of being so, by professors who teach elective courses. Moreover, postponing a compulsory course may require a student to add an extra semester to their program, as not all mandatory courses are offered every term.

We normally offer ECO 5185 - Econometrics and ECO 6122 - Microeconomics in both the Fall and Winter terms, while ECO 6120 - Macroeconomics is typically offered in the Winter and Summer terms.

Over their entire MA program, a student may take a maximum of two electives outside of the uOttawa Economics Department, after they have completed two compulsory courses and subject to approval. Access to a course must also be approved by the receiving Department, and we cannot guarantee that you will be allowed to enroll. MA elective courses in Economics at Carleton University are automatically approved. Approval for a graduate course outside of economics depends on its relevance to the Economics MA program and must meet the same standards.

Please note that Academic Regulation C-3.1.3 states that “students must enroll in each term until they complete their program”. This means that, unless you have an approved leave of absence for an eligible reason or are completing a CO-OP work term, you are expected to be enrolled in courses each term.

Below, you will find more detailed information about the recommended course sequence. We have also included clarifications regarding the rules for dropping a course, which may be particularly helpful for students unfamiliar with the Canadian system. Finally, for students who are required to complete prerequisite undergraduate courses, we have provided additional guidance on registration and necessary adjustments to their course sequence.

Comments:

Some students - especially international students who may need additional time to adjust to a new university system - find it preferable to take only the two mandatory courses in their first term and postpone the elective to a later term (Option 2). On the other hand, some students choose to take four courses per term, which allows them to complete the program more quickly (Option 3). However, managing four MA-level courses can be demanding for students who are not well prepared. Those who succeed with this approach typically hold a strong Honours degree in Economics from a reputable university. Finally, students enrolled in the CO-OP program should consult the CO-OP office to ensure they meet the specific course requirements needed to remain eligible for the program.

Admission to the MA program in Economics at uOttawa requires an Honours Bachelor's degree in Economics. View the specific list of courses that students must have completed before starting the program. 

We normally reject applications from students who do not meet this requirement. However, if the admissions committee considers a student’s file to be otherwise strong, we may make an exception and allow them to make up for this gap. In such cases, the missing core undergraduate courses are added to the student’s MA curriculum and must be completed in the first term of the program.

If your offer letter includes additional undergraduate courses, you will need to adjust the recommended course sequence presented above accordingly. For example, suppose you are required to take ECO 3152 – Macroeconomic Theory III and ECO 3153 – Microeconomic Theory III. These two courses must be completed in the first term of your program. This means that in the Fall term, you should first enroll in ECO 3152 and ECO 3153. However, you may also add one or two MA-level courses. It is advisable to postpone ECO 6122 – Microeconomic Theory IV to the second term, as this course assumes knowledge of the material covered in ECO 3153. Therefore, in addition to ECO 3152 and ECO 3153, you could take ECO 5185 – Econometrics I, or an elective, or both.

The MA supervisor is available to discuss possible options for your course sequence if you are required to complete additional undergraduate courses in the first term of the program.

Please note that you need to obtain a passing grade of C+ (65 %) in all the undergraduate courses listed in your offer letter to meet the program requirements.

If your offer letter includes one or more undergraduate courses to be completed in the first term of the program, you must contact the Economics Department office to register for these courses. The University’s system does not allow MA-level students to enroll in undergraduate courses directly; however, the Department office can bypass this restriction and complete the registration on your behalf.

(Last revised - July 2026)