IGNOU's Master of Arts in Economics (MEC) programme gives students the chance to pursue Economics at a more advanced level. Along with the core courses taught by other universities, it also covers topics in the emerging fields of economics, such as insurance, finance, and public policy, that are likely to be beneficial given the current liberalization and globalization of the economy. Further, IGNOU's Master of Arts in Economics (MEC) course gives students the opportunity for interdisciplinary studies such as Public Policy and E-Governance.
IGNOU's MEC courses are available in both English and Hindi. Students applying for admission into the programme must select a medium of study.
Several of the University's programs, including MEC, use the credit system. IGNOU's credit system for MEC equates one credit to 30 hours of student study (reading and understanding print materials, listening to audio-based materials, watching video-based materials, attending counselling, teleconferencing, and writing assignments). Students must complete 66 credits to earn the MA (Economics) degree.
There are 66 Credits across 11 Courses in the Programme. There are nine mandatory courses and two optional courses. During the first year, five courses are compulsory. Second-year students must complete four compulsory courses and two optional ones.
Below is the list of courses taught in IGNOU's Master of Art in Economics (MEC):
S.No. | Course Code | Course Title | Course Type | Credits | Blocks |
First Year Courses |
1. | MEC-101 | Microeconomic Analysis | Compulsory | 6 | 7 |
2. | MEC-102 | Microeconomic Analysis | Compulsory | 6 | 7 |
3. | MEC-103 | Quantitative Methods for Economic Analysis | Compulsory | 6 | 6 |
4. | MEC-104 | Economic Growth and Development | Compulsory | 6 | 6 |
5. | MEC-105 | Indian Economic Policy | Compulsory | 6 | 6 |
Second Year Courses |
6. | MEC-006 | Public Economics | Compulsory | 6 | 5 |
7. | MEC-007 | International Trade and Finance | Compulsory | 6 | 6 |
8. | MEC-108 | Economics of Social Sector and Environment | Compulsory | 6 | 6 |
9. | MEC-109 | Research Methods in Economy | Compulsory | 6 | 5 |
10. | MECE-001 | Economic Methods | Optional | 6 | 5 |
11. | MECE-003 | Actuarial Economics: Theory and Practice | Optional | 6 | 7 |
12. | MECE-004 | Financial Institutes and Markets | Optional | 6 | 5 |
13. | MECP-101 | Project Work | Optional | 6 | Project Guide |
14. | MGSE-009 | Gender Issues in Work Employment and Productivity | Optional | 4 | 3 |
15. | MWG-011 | Women in the Economy | Optional | 8 | 6 |
16. | MEDSE-046 | Development Issues and Prospectives | Optional | 6 | 5 |
MECE-001: Econometric Methods and MECE-003: Actuarial Economics: Theory and Practice are both quite mathematically oriented. MWG-11: Women in the Economy, and MGSE-009: Gender Issues in Work, Employment, and Productivity will need to be taken together.
Note: Students can also access the Student Handbook and Prospectus through the university's website, http://www.ignou.ac.in/.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is not comprehensive and should not be taken as such. Accordingly, this article may not list some courses. Students should contact the university if they have any questions about a course.