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, and Ph.D. candidates from other departments at Stanford.

How to Add a Master's Degree

The M.A. degree for Ph.D. candidates is not automatic. Ph.D. candidates must file the following forms to add the degree. The Master's Degree Program Proposal form should be sent to Assistant Director of Student Services, sburbank [at] stanford.edu (Stephanie Burbank). This form can be submitted prior to taking courses for the Master's or after they are complete and you just want to add the Master's program. 

The Registrar’s office charges a fee to add this additional degree. 

Requirements

A Master's program consists of at least 45 units of coursework and must satisfy the following criteria. 

A minimum of 45 units
  • A minimum of 45 units of credit beyond what is required for the Bachelor's degree must be taken at Stanford. 
  • 40 of those units must be within the Department of Economics. 
ECON 202 and at least three additional 200-level courses
  • ECON 202 and at least three additional 200-level courses are required. 
  • A grade of B- or better must be achieved in ECON 202.
Demonstrate competence in empirical methodology

Students must demonstrate competence in empirical methodology by achieving a grade of B- or better in each course of one of the following sequences:

  • ECON 270 and 271
  • ECON 102A, 102B, 102C
Two term papers or an additional two 200-level or above courses

Submission of 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.
Course restrictions
  • Any undergraduate courses taken must be numbered 105 or higher. 
  • No seminar courses numbered 300 or above can be counted.
GPA and grading
  • 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.

Additional Notes

  • Once the student has completed the above requirements, they must apply for degree conferral in Axess to receive the degree.
  • Any exceptions to the above requirements must be approved, in advance, by the Director of Graduate Study.
  • If any of your coursework changes, you must submit a finalized program proposal plan with the updated course of study.