"I loved my time at McMaster. ... The faculty at the Economics Department were genuinely interested and cared about me and my research interests and ambitions."

What do you like most about your program?? 

I loved my time at McMaster. I truly felt like a part of a community, at both the Economics Department and McMaster more generally. The faculty at the Economics Department were genuinely interested and cared about me and my research interests and ambitions. Without their support, as well as the friendships that I made with other students, I would not have had such a wonderful and successful experience at McMaster.

What do you find beneficial about your program?? 

• Ability to work closely with faculty
• Variety of courses
• Excellent preparation – in terms of course work as well as job application and interview tips – for the academic job market and other careers
• Many opportunities to work as an RA and TA and collaborate with faculty and other researchers

In your opinion, what is the value of an Economics degree?

A degree in economics gives you so many options, in both the public and private sectors. The Economics Department does a truly amazing job of providing students with information about their job opportunities and how best to prepare for the job market.

What advice would you give to a current student interested in career options?

Talk to your professors! They have a wealth of knowledge and would love to help.

What advice would you give a future student interested in the department or programs? 

McMaster is a great environment to learn. If you are interested in pursuing a degree at the Department of Economics, reach out to current or former students as well as faculty for more information.

What I like most about the Economic Policy program at McMaster University is how well it prepares you to enter the job market.

What do you like most about your program? 

What I like most about the Economic Policy program at McMaster University is how well it prepares you to enter the job market. You still go over important micro/macroeconomic models and maximization problems, but most of the focus is teaching you skills that you will implement in your future career. The professors in the program are very knowledgeable and always willing to put in some extra time to help you out with your studies and career. One of my professors (Professor Sweetman) even helped me update my resume and regularly sent me job opportunities that he thought would fit my skillset.

What do you find beneficial about your program? 

There are many benefits to taking the Masters in Economic Policy program, the first one is the length it takes to complete your degree. You gain so much important knowledge in a short amount of time and in just 12 short months you are a master’s graduate; the opportunity cost is definitely worth it. Being around like-minded people with similar goals is also very beneficial. I have learned almost as much from my peers and their various backgrounds as I did from the policy program.

In your opinion, what is the value of a Economics degree?

In today’s climate, an Economics degree is invaluable. It can lead you to so many different career paths in the public or private fields: economist, financial/data analyst, researcher, accountant, consultant, etc. Furthermore, it can help you understand and analyze everyday policy changes that are occurring in your city/province/country. Having a basic understanding of Economics can help you develop better spending habits, gain important knowledge and skills that employers want, and enable you to contribute to the greater good of society.

What advice would you give to a current student interested in career options? 

You have to be passionate about what you’re doing if you want to make it your career. Go out of your way to get involved on campus, go to your department events and get to know your professors. Seek internship opportunities early on, the more work experience you can get early on in your degree the better equipped you will be when you’re on the job hunt after graduating. Find a balance with your social life, burnout is a real problem! If you can find a healthy balance between your social life and your schooling/work, you’re going to be set up well for a good future.

What advice would you give a future student interested in the department or programs? 

Ask lots of questions! You will quickly learn that people love talking about the things they are passionate about. Ask about what the student life on campus is like, what you can do with this type of degree, how many students typically get jobs after graduating. Don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions that you think are important, this is YOUR future and you deserve to have the best opportunities.

"An economics degree provides students with not only a unique perspective but the analytical skills necessary to succeed in the workforce."

What do you like most about your program? 

I love that the MAEP has such a strong focus on public policy as opposed to the MA which is much more theory-based. The required courses and electives all have a focus on the implications for public policy and they provide answers to interesting policy questions. The MAEP also has a small cohort – everybody in the program knows each other, we all take mostly the same classes, and we are all pretty close and get together outside of classes.

What do you find beneficial about your program? 

The required MAEP courses provide the tools and techniques to analyze public policy using the economic theory learned in undergraduate economics. These courses along with econometrics provide the statistical tools to analyze and derive insights from data. I love the interesting selection of economics elective available in the fall and winter terms. These electives allow students to gain a deeper understanding of different strands of economics beyond micro and macro.

In your opinion, what is the value of an Economics degree? 

An economics degree provides students with not only a unique perspective but the analytical skills necessary to succeed in the workforce.  Econ teaches you how to better understand what is happening in the world and in the media as it relates to the economy, government spending and finance. An economics degree provides the flexibility and the skills to work for the public sector, the private sector or continue in academia.

What advice would you give to a current student interested in career options? 

Apply to any and all jobs that align with your skills, interest and education. The worst thing you can do is not apply to a job you think you are underqualified for. Practice extrapolating and expanding on your skills and experiences. Continually update your resume and LinkedIn so when you apply to jobs you have the most recent skills and experience information.

What advice would you give a future student interested in the department or programs? 

Stay organized – write down your assignments, due dates and other deadlines at the beginning of the term so you always know what’s coming. Find a study method that works for you and stick with it but be flexible in the approach. Adapt your study style based on the style of the course (microeconomics vs. econometrics). Keep track of your assignment grades so you know where you stand heading into final exam season.

The program is focused more on application and not just theory. It exposes students to what they will meet in the labour market, a vital tool for success.

What do you like most about your program?

The program is focused more on application and not just theory. It exposes students to what they will meet in the labor market, a vital tool for success.

What do you find beneficial about your program? 

It is a discipline that offers broad opportunities, ranging from the public to the private sector.

In your opinion, what is the value of a Economics degree? 

The value of an Economics degree can not be quantified because its value runs in the long run and for some generations to come. Aside from its financial benefits, it has a positive externality to society that can not be fully quantified.

What advice would you give to a current student interested in career options? 

When you have a dream, chase it, follow it like it with passion because someday you will look back and be proud of what you will have achieved.

What advice would you give a future student interested in the department or programs? 

McMaster is home for all and not just a school. It has an enabling environment that integrates students and lecturers and forms a bond beyond the classrooms. If you need a family and an enabling environment, McMaster is the right home.

"My advisors played a crucial role in my success in the program...They coached me on how to compete globally, and I owe them my deepest gratitude."

What do you like most about your program?

My advisors played a crucial role in my success in the program. They paid close attention to my overall well-being, including research and financial support. They coached me on how to compete globally, and I owe them my deepest gratitude.

In your opinion, what is the value of an Economics Degree?

One of the key values of an Economics degree is the increased job opportunities it provides.

What advice would you give to a current student interested in career options?

Have a mindset of competing globally. Keep your advisors regularly updated on the progress of your work.

What advice would you give a future student interested in the department or programs?

Identify a potential supervisor among the faculty members before entering the program.