Economics: Master's Programme, 120 credits

Validation

This programme syllabus was validated by the Faculty Board at Södertörn University on 2013-02-14 according to the stipulations in the Higher Education Ordinance. This programme syllabus was revised by the Faculty Board at Södertörn University on 2023-08-30.

Entry requirements

Bachelor's degree including 90 credits in Economics as the main field of study, English 6, Mathematics C or equivalent qualifications

Programme outcomes

On completion of the course, the student is able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• explain advanced theories and methods within a wide spectrum of applications
• independently use a variety of social science methods

Competence and skills

• independently develop and delineate a research problem and creatively conduct independent studies that contribute towards the development of knowledge
• convey knowledge to an academic audience as well as to society at large
• participate in academic discourse within the discipline and contribute with qualified and creative viewpoints
• apply the economic perspective to other professional fields, nationally as well as internationally
• perform qualified tasks in the role of professional economist
• conduct advanced econometric/statistical analysis
• carry out standard studies based on methods from other disciplines within the social sciences

Judgement and approach

• critically assess empirical and theoretical claims
• understand how theoretical perspectives and methods impact on academic studies
• assess weaknesses and strengths of alternative methods used in social sciences.

Applicability

The Master’s programme provides the student with the qualifications required for positions within the financial sector, central government, academia and other public sectors, as well as in private firms outside the financial sector, such as consultancies.

The Master’s programme in economics prepares the student for doctoral studies and provides a sound basis for a professional career outside the academic world.

Qualification

Title of qualification:

Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) in Economics

Masterexamen i huvudområdet nationalekonomi

Qualification stipulation:

To attain a Master’s degree the student must have completed courses corresponding to 120 credits of which at least 60 credits must be from courses at an increasingly advanced level in the main field of study. The student must have written a dissertation corresponding to at least 30 credits.

Programme design

During the first and second semesters, students take courses in economics, three of which are compulsory: Mathematics for Economics at Master Level, Advanced Microeconomics, Advanced Macroeconomics, and five elective courses. The third semester is a mobility semester, so students can then study courses in other disciplines and at other universities in Sweden or abroad. The fourth semester is dedicated to the Master’s dissertation in economics and provides the student with the opportunity to deepen and apply their subject knowledge. The Master’s dissertation also serves as a test of generic knowledge such as project planning, information retrieval, written and oral presentation techniques.

Compulsory courses

• Advanced Microeconomics, (7.5 credits)
• Advanced Macroeconomics, (7.5 credits)
• Mathematics for Economics at Master Level, (7.5 credits)
• Elective courses totalling 67.5 credits, of which at least 37.5 credits must be in Economics
• Master Dissertation in Economics, 30 credits

A student on a study programme is guaranteed a place on the compulsory courses or on the specializations/courses within the programme. (For entry requirements, see, Other Stipulations.)

Optional courses

Optional courses for semesters 1 and 2:

• Advanced Econometrics: Endogeneity and Panel Data (7.5 credits)
• Advanced Econometrics: Time Series Data (7.5 credits)
• Advanced Financial Economics (7.5 credits)
• Advanced Industrial Organisation: Regulation and Competition Policy (7.5 credits)
• Advanced International Trade Theory (7.5 credits)
• Advanced Macroeconomics, (7.5 credits)
• Advanced Microeconomics, (7.5 credits)
• Comparative Socio‑Economic Systems (7.5 credits)
• Environmental Economics and Sustainable Development (7.5 credits)
• International Macroeconomics (7.5 credits)
• Mathematics for Economics at Master Level, (7.5 credits)
• Qualitative Research Methods, (7.5 credits)

The range of optional courses varies between semesters. Information on which optional courses are offered in the next semester is published well before the end of the semester.

Optional courses in semester three:

In the third semester, the student may choose courses inside or outside the programme’s main focus. The student has a guaranteed place on Master’s courses offered at the School of Social Sciences, but not necessarily on their first choice of course. The student may also choose to apply for other courses either at another academic school or at another university, in Sweden or abroad.

To ensure that the scope of the courses taken elsewhere fulfils the programme requirements, they must be approved in advance by the programme coordinator.

A student is guaranteed a place on a range of courses equivalent to a full workload. There is no guarantee that a student is offered a place on his/her first choice of course. For entry requirements, see course syllabus.

Degree project

Master Dissertation (30 credits)

Credit transfer for prior studies

A student has the right to have prior learning assessed for accreditation within the study programme.

Other stipulations

Revision of the programme syllabus 2023-08-30 concerns the correction of the course name of a prerequisite upper secondary school course, from English B to English 6, in the entry requirements. The revision has been carried out by University administration according to decision on correction of entry requirements regarding language skills acquired in upper secondary school (dnr 2906-2.1.1-2023).

For entry requirements for courses within a study programme, see course syllabus.