Monash University: University Handbooks: Postgraduate Handbook 2003: Units indexed by faculty
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Master of Economics (Honours)


General information

Course code: 0027 + Course abbreviation: MEc(Hons) + Normally completed in three semesters of full-time study or six semesters of part- time study

The Master of Commerce (Honours) and Master of Economics (Honours) courses are designed for graduates of the honours programs of the Bachelor of Commerce or the Bachelor of Economics, or of the Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce or Postgraduate Diploma in Economics who have majored in accounting and finance, business law and taxation, econometrics, economics, management, or marketing. The course has been designed to extend the disciplinary competence of candidates and provide them with research training. It involves a combination of both coursework and supervised research. In addition, there are courses offered jointly by all departments.

Applicants for admission to candidature for the Master of Commerce (Honours) or Master of Economics (Honours) research degree must have qualified (a) for either the degree of Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Economics with honours with an average grade of 70 per cent or above in the relevant specialisation; (b) for either the Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce or Postgraduate Diploma in Economics with an average grade of 70 per cent or above in the relevant specialisation; (c) for other degrees considered equivalent to (a) or (b) provided that, in the opinion of the faculty board, the degree concerned is suitable preparation for the candidate's proposed field of study.
No credit for work done previously is available in this masters degree.
Masters candidates may be able to upgrade to doctoral candidature after 12 months provided that satisfactory progress has been made and certain conditions are met. Details of upgrade procedures are available from the manager of the faculty research office.

Course structure

The requirements for each of the departments of Accounting and Finance, Business Law and Taxation, Econometrics and Business Statistics (Clayton), Economics, Management and Marketing are set out below.

Coursework and thesis option

Candidates are required to select four units, as set out in the section on each of the departments. Candidates are required to include in the four units at least two level 5 units from the department in which they wish to enrol. Normally, the coursework component is taken over the first two semesters and students should achieve an average grade of 70 per cent or above before proceeding to the thesis component. In addition, candidates are required to write a thesis on a topic of their own selection. The thesis, of approximately 25,000 words, constitutes 67 per cent of the course and the topic must be related to the department in which the student is specialising. A member of the department will be appointed as supervisor. In some instances, students may have more than one supervisor appointed, and the second supervisor may be from another department.

Major thesis option

Candidates are required to write a thesis on a topic of their own selection. The thesis constitutes 92 per cent of the workload and the topic must be related to the department in which the student is specialising. A member of that department will be appointed as supervisor. In some instances, students may have more than one supervisor, and the second supervisor may be from another department. In addition, candidates will be required to complete satisfactorily one level 5 unit from the department responsible for the supervision of their thesis. Candidates will be required to select a unit related to the topic of their thesis.

Graduate seminar

All candidates are required to attend the graduate seminars organised by the department in which they are enrolled. They will be expected to attend and participate regularly in the seminar series. Students are required to present at least one seminar. Although the graduate seminar is an unweighted unit, students enrol in the graduate seminar in each department in the same way as other units although it does not count as one of the units towards the degree. Students must receive a pass in the seminar unit to satisfy the requirements for the degree.

Department of Accounting and Finance

Course director: Dr Paul Mather

Coursework and thesis

1. Two units from the following:

2. Two units selected from the preceding level 5 graduate units, special units taught by the department, and AFC5000 (Reading unit) or from level 4 graduate units taught by the department or from the graduate units taught by the departments of Econometrics and Business Statistics (Clayton) and Economics.
3. Graduate seminar:

4. Thesis (see above for details).

Major thesis

1. One level 5 graduate unit taught by the department. The unit to be taken should be related to the thesis topic and in special circumstances, the head of the department may approve as the level 5 unit a special unit based on a level 4 graduate unit or an AFC5000 (Reading unit) taught by the department.
2. Graduate seminar:

3. Major thesis (see above for details).

Department of Business Law and Taxation

Coursework and thesis

1. Four units:

2. Minor thesis.

Major thesis

1. One level 5 unit taught by the department. The unit should be related to the thesis topic.
2. Graduate seminar. Students may be required to participate in the departmental seminar program.
3. Major thesis.

Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics

Course director: Professor Keith McLaren

Coursework and thesis

1. Two units:

2. Two units selected from:

3. Graduate seminar:

4. Minor thesis.

Major thesis

1. One level 5 graduate unit taught by the department. In special circumstances, the head of the department may approve a special unit based on a level 4 graduate unit taught by the department or an ETC5000 (Reading unit) as the unit to be taken. The unit must be related to the thesis topic.
2. Graduate seminar:

3. Major thesis.
The attention of students is drawn to the Master of Economics (Honours) by coursework and minor thesis offered jointly with the Department of Economics. Details are set out in the Department of Economics section.

Units
Level 4

See the course structure for the Postgraduate Diploma in Economics.

Level 5

Department of Economics

Course director: Associate Professor Dietrich Fausten

All students entering the graduate program within the Department of Economics are required to have passed the undergraduate unit ETC2410 or ETC3440 (Practical econometrics), or equivalent units, or an examination set by the department at an equivalent level in quantitative economic analysis. Students are not permitted to take ETC3440 (Practical econometrics) as a special unit.

Students may select joint courses offered by the Department of Economics with the departments of Econometrics and Business Statistics (Clayton), and Accounting and Finance, respectively.

Coursework and thesis option

1. Two prescribed units:

2. Two other level 5 units.
3. Graduate seminar:

4. Minor thesis.

Major thesis option

1. One level 5 unit.
2. Graduate seminar:

3. Major thesis.

Level 5 units

Department of Economics and Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics

Coursework and thesis option

1. Two units from the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics, including at least one of:

2. Two 5000-level units from the Department of Economics, including at least one of:

3. Graduate seminar:

or

4. Thesis.

Department of Management

Coursework and thesis

This option is not offered in the Department of Management. Only the major thesis option is available in this department.

Major thesis

1. One 5000-level graduate unit offered by the department. The unit taken should be related to the thesis topic.
2. Graduate seminar - students may be required to participate in the departmental seminar program.
3. Major thesis.

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