Master's Program

We do not offer a stand-alone MA degree. A master’s option is only available as an add-on degree for currently enrolled Econ Ph.D. candidates, or Ph.D. candidates from other departments at Stanford.

Add a Master's Degree

The MA degree for Ph.D. candidates is not automatic. Ph.D. candidates must file the following forms in order to add the degree:

The Registrar’s office charges a fee to add an additional degree. A grade point average of ‘B’ must be maintained for all master’s level work. All courses must be taken for a letter grade.

Requirements

A master’s program must satisfy these criteria:

Completing, at Stanford, at least 45 units of credit beyond those required for the bachelor’s degree, of which at least 40 units must be in the Department of Economics. Students must complete ECON 202 and at least three other 200-level courses. They must receive a grade of ‘B-’ or better in ECON 202. Undergraduate courses must be numbered 105 or higher. No seminar courses numbered 300 or above can be counted.
Demonstrating competence in empirical methodology by receiving a grade of ‘B-’ or better in both ECON 270 and 271, or by receiving a grade of ‘B-’ or above in each of ECON 102A, B, and C.
Submitting two term papers (or a thesis of sufficient quality). At least one of these papers must be deemed to represent graduate-level work. Normally, this means that it is written in connection with a 200-level course. A maximum of five units of credit can be earned for a thesis (Econ 400 or comparable MA thesis or dissertation course in another department) toward the 45-unit degree requirement.
A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 must be maintained for all master’s level work. All courses must be taken for a letter grade.
Once the student has completed the above requirements, they must apply for degree conferral in Axess in order to receive the degree.

Any exceptions to the above requirements must be approved in advance by the Director of Graduate Study.