Master of Development Economics (MDE)

The Department of Economics hosts this innovative program of graduate studies in social and economic development. The program is primarily designed for students and young professionals pursuing, or intending to embark on, careers in government, educational and professional institutions, private corporations, or non-governmental organizations.

One year with a bachelor's degree and sufficient preparation in economics (see below).
Those with insufficient background in economics may be admitted to the MDE program with additional course requirements to satisfy the gap in economics preparation, which may extend the degree beyond one year. Alternatively, such students may be given the option of a Qualifying Year or Special Undergraduate Year to prepare them to qualify for admission to the MDE program.

Program Description
Students have three required courses:

• ECON 5000: Development Microeconomics
• ECON 5001: Economic Growth OR ECON 5253: Open Economy Macroeconomics
• ECON 5254: Applied Development Economics

Students can take either 5 electives or 3 electives plus a thesis. A thesis must be approved by a supervisor and the graduate coordinator. One elective must be in economics, but the remainder can be graduate courses in other departments with the permission of the graduate coordinator.

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements can be found in the Graduate Calendar.  Candidates for the one-year MDE program must have a four-year (i.e., 20 credit) BA, BSc or Bcomm degree with an average of at least B+ (upper second class) at Dalhousie standards. All candidates must have at least:

• Introductory micro and macro economics
• Intermediate micro and macro economics
• At least two senior economics field courses
• Statistics
• Calculus