STAFFING IN THE DEPARTMENT

The Department has 17 full-time and several part-time academic staff members and 4 administrative officers. For a list of members of the Department and a brief description of their research interests, see website at:
http://www.mona.uwi.edu/economics/lecturer.php


OBJECTIVE

The main objective of the M.Sc. degree at Mona is to produce graduates who are internationally competitive in research skills, with a deeper understanding of economic theory and its main sub-disciplines, and sensitivity to the economic issues of the Caribbean. Graduates are prepared to function effectively in both the public and private sectors.
PERIOD OF STUDY/ACADEMIC YEAR

Semester 1 begins in the last week of August and ends December.Semester 2 begins January and ends in May. Full-time students are expected to complete the programme in two years (4 semesters) with a normal workload is three courses per semester. Usually, a part-time student is expected to complete the programme in three years.


PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Coordinator: Dr. Maire Freckleton .

The M.Sc. Economics programme provides students with advanced training in core areas, while also enabling them to specialize according to their interests. The subject area of economics has expanded rapidly in recent years and our M.Sc. programme deals with exciting and topical issues. Students are prepared for interesting and well-paid careers as economists, statisticians and bankers in, public and private sectors and other financial institutions.

The structure of the Department’s M.Sc. programme and a brief description of the individual courses are outlined below.

The degree requirement consists of twelve (12) full-semester courses carrying three credits each. Four (4) courses will constitute the core of the programme which all students will be required to take. In addition, each student will be required to major in two (2) fields, and take any other four (4) electives. A field consists of two (2) sequenced courses.

Core Requirements

ECON6008 (EC61A) – Microeconomic Theory I
ECON6024 (EC62A) – Macroeconomic Theory I
ECON6026 (EC63A) – Economic Development I
ECON6030 (EC65A) – Econometrics I

All courses (including departmental requirements) must be passed with a grade ‘B’ or better. A Student's name will be removed from the register after failing five (5) courses or if the same course is failed twice.
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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Please click here to see the respective course descriptions
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS

Students reading for higher degrees are an important and valuable asset to the University. Continuing efforts are being made to increase the size and sources of funds available for graduate students. The University currently offers twelve (12) awards annually for graduate study and research purposes and administers awards on behalf of donors e.g. PCJ and Starr Foundation Fellowship.

The Department of Economics is in a position to offer several departmental awards to students registered for full-time study. These will be financed by both departmental and non-departmental sources. Recipients of these awards are required to perform duties such as invigilating, grading examinations and conducting tutorials and research.

In addition, the Department administers awards on behalf of the Bank of Jamaica (The G. Arthur Brown Scholarship) and The De La Rue Group plc (The Thomas De La Rue Scholarship and De La Rue Currency Scholarship). Consult the Department for details.

ORIENTATION

For all new M.Sc. students, the first week of the academic year is Orientation Week. We have organized one day of activities to welcome new students and to make their transition into graduate school as smooth as possible.

The activities include, academic and registration counseling, career focus information, documentation techniques, instructional techniques workshop and other issues relating to any challenges they are likely to encounter as a first-year graduate student. It is therefore imperative that students make every effort to attend.
GRADUATE SEMINAR SERIES

The Department hosts a weekly seminar series where faculty, graduate students and private and public sector leaders are invited to make presentations on current research work. The primary objective of the series is to expose students to a wide range of issues and ideas surrounding the changing economy and the world of work. This exercise is mandatory for all graduate students.

SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

An important component of the M.Sc. programmes is the summer internship exercise in which students are placed in public or private sector institutions in the Caribbean as researchers. The programme runs for 6 – 8 weeks during which time the advantage to the student is exposure to, and the experience of, the real world of decision-making.

The M.Sc. Economics Internship programme has proven very successful with the overwhelming support and participation of central banks, ministries of finance, private insurance companies, and various statutory bodies of the governments in the Caribbean.