Series as of 2024

About the program
The Master of Science in Economics Program aims to develop graduates with solid foundations in economic theory and strong proficiency with quantitative methods applicable in the fields of environmental and development economics. It seeks to produce graduates who posses unique abilities to carry out scientific investigation in related disciplines where the University of the Philippines Los Baños excels, and address the critical challenges posed by current and intertemporal scarcity of resources.
Why pursue a Master of Science in Economics at UPLB?
Carry out scientific inquiry with modern quantitative methods
Critically evaluate real-world scenarios affected by
intertemporal scarcity of resources
Approach policymaking with a multidisciplinary mindset
Address major concerns in your field of specialization
Make top-level decisions with strong foundations in leadership
Specializations
The specializations offered by the MS Economics program were designed to produce graduates who are relevant and capable of addressing emerging problems of today’s world. Nine units of your coursework will be focused on your chosen field of specialization. You will also be required to produce a master’s thesis in line with your chosen specialization.
Development Economics
Specialize in advanced development economics, international trade, commercial policy, and public economics. This track focuses on the theories and problems of growth with a developmental approach of the experiences in low income and high income countries.
Environmental Economics
Specialize in advanced environmental economics and economic valuation of environmental and natural resource systems. This track focuses on the economic role of the environment at the center of growth and development.
Curriculum
The MS Economics program requires students to earn at least 32 units of graduate work. This consists of 15 units of core courses (ECON 201, ECON 202, ECON 230, ECON 237, ECON 203 or ECON 204); 9 units of specialization courses; 2 units of seminar (ECON 299), a comprehensive exam; and culminate with 6 units of master’s thesis (ECON 300) that is aligned with the student’s chosen specialization.
Development Economics Track
ECON 201. Macroeconomic Theory I (3)
ECON 202. Microeconomic Theory I (3)
ECON 230. Mathematical Economics (3)
ECON 237. Econometrics (3)
ECON 299. Graduate Seminar in Economics (1)
ECON 203. Macroeconomic Theory II
or ECON 204. Microeconomic Theory II (3)
ECON 285. Advanced Development Economics (3)
ECON 241. International Trade and Commercial Policy (3)
ECON 251. Advanced Public Economics (3)
Qualified Elective (3)
ECON 299. Graduate Seminar in Economics (1)
Comprehensive Exam
ECON 300. Master’s Thesis (3)
ECON 300. Master’s Thesis (3)
Environmental Economics Track
ECON 201. Macroeconomic Theory I (3)
ECON 202. Microeconomic Theory I (3)
ECON 230. Mathematical Economics (3)
ECON 237. Econometrics (3)
ECON 299. Graduate Seminar in Economics (1)
ECON 203. Macroeconomic Theory II
or ECON 204. Microeconomic Theory II (3)
ECON 270. Advanced Environmental Economics (3)
ECON 275. Economic Valuation of Environmental and Natural Resource Systems (3)
Qualified Elective (3)
ECON 299. Graduate Seminar in Economics (1)
Comprehensive Exam
ECON 300. Master’s Thesis (3)
ECON 300. Master’s Thesis (3)
List of Qualified Electives
- ECON 231. Economic Dynamics
- ECON 238. Econometric Time Series Analysis
- ECON 239. Economy-wide Modeling
- AECO 248. Economic Analysis and Design of Natural Resource and Environmental Policies
- AECO 250. Agriculture and Economic Development
- AMAT 266. Deterministic Mathematical Decision Models.
- AMAT 267. Probabilistic Mathematical Decision Models
- DM 201. Development Perspective
- DM 220. Public Policy and Program Administration for Development
- STAT 241. Statistical Theory 1
Master of Science in Economics Faculty

MA in Economics
University of the Philippines Diliman
Economic History
Gender Economics
Mathematical Economics

MA in Economics
University of the Philippines Diliman
Development Economics,
Microeconomic Theory
Econometrics

PhD in Economics
University of Reading, UK
Energy Economics
Economics of Climate Change
Development Economics

PhD in Economics
University of Newcastle, AU
Behavioral & Experimental Economics

PhD in Economics
Ateneo De Manila University
Environmental and
Natural Resource Economics

PhD in Economics
Kyoto University, Japan
Human Resource Economics
Economics of Education
Development Economics

PhD in International Development
Nagoya University, JP
Environmental Economics
Livestock Economics
Microeconomic Theory

PhD in Economics
UP Diliman
Institutional Economics
Public Economics
Macroeconomic Theory

MA in Economics
University of the Philippines
Diliman
Public Economics,
International Economics

MS in Economics
University of the Philippines
Los Baños
Environmental and
Natural Resource Economics
Development Economics

MS in Economics
University of the Philippines
Los Baños
Public and Institutional Economics
Energy Economics
Higher Education Management

MA in Economics
University of the Philippines
Diliman
Development Economics
Environmental Economics
Energy Economics

MA in Economics
University of the Philippines Diliman
Environmental and
Natural Resource Economics
Fishery Economics
International Economics

Master of Economics of Development
Australian National University, AU
Economy-wide and partial equilibrium modeling

PhD in Agricultural
and Resource Economics
University of California Berkeley, US
Environmental Economics
Environmental Valuation
Behavioral Economics
Applied Econometrics

PhD in Economics
Ateneo De Manila University
Development Economics
Human Resource Economics
Monetary Economics
Admission Requirements
Aspiring students must hold a BA or BS degree with sufficient background in Economics.
Application for the August intake starts on February to March every year. The Masters of Science in Economics program only accepts students during the first semester of each academic year.
Click here to visit the Graduate School website for more information
Summer Program in Economics
The Summer program in Economics (SPE) is a pre-requisite for aspiring MS Economics students. It is a comprehensive four-week program designed to lay the ground work for understanding economic concepts, principles, and models, and equip students with the tools required to proficiently apply economic analysis in both teaching and research domains.
The program is in a fully online format, comprising both asynchronous and synchronous sessions to allow participants to integrate their learning journey into their schedule from anywhere in the world.
The program is composed of four modules tackling the following subject areas:
- Elementary Methods of Mathematics for Economists
- Principles and Applications of Microeconomic Analysis
- Principles and Applications of Macroeconomic Analysis
- Fundamentals of Statistical and Econometric Analysis
Students must obtain a weighted average grade of 2.0 or better to proceed with regular admission. Applicants with academic distinctions are not required to take the program but are encouraged.
Timeline of Admissions

Course Guide
ECON 201. Macroeconomic Theory I (3).
Theories of income and employment determination and the business cycle; theories of inflation and unemployment; the macroeconomy and the fiscal, monetary, and external sectors; open economy macroeconomics; stabilization policies. 3 hrs (class). PR. ECON 101 or COI. (1)
ECON 202. Microeconomic Theory I (3).
Preference and choice; consumer choice and demand; production costs, profits, and supply; competitive markets; market structure; externalities, public goods, and market failure; general equilibrium and welfare. 3 hrs (class). PR. ECON 102 or COI. (1)
ECON 203. Macroeconomic Theory II (3).
Theories of consumption, saving and investment; theories of growth, theories of economic development and accumulation. 3 hrs (class). PR. ECON 201. (2)
ECON 204. Microeconomic Theory II (3).
Information assymetry; hidden action; equilibrium under uncertainty and over time; social choice; axiomatic bargaining; incentive and mechanism design. 3 hrs (class). PR. ECON 202 or COI. (2)
ECON 230. Mathematical Economics (3).
Applications of linear algebra, theory of functions, linear and nonlinear optimization in economic theory. 3 hrs (class). PR. COI. (1)
ECON 231. Economic Dynamics (3).
Dynamic analysis and dynamic optimization with applications in economics. 3 hrs (class).PR. ECON 230. (2)
ECON 237. Econometrics (3).
Single equation and simultaneous equation problems; techniques of estimation, specification, and identification problems in economic analysis. 3 hrs (class). PR. AECO 103, ECON 137, or COI. (1)
ECON 238. Econometric Time Series Analysis. (3).
Theory of difference equations, stationary time-series models, unit root processes, multi-equation time-series models, cointegration and error-correction models. 3 hrs (class). PR. ECON 237. (2)
ECON 239. Economy-Wide Modeling (3).
Macro-economic models and applied general equilibrium models. 3 hrs (class). PR. ECON 201, ECON 202, ECON 230 and ECON 237. (2)
ECON 241. International Trade and Commercial Policy (3).
Causes of trade and effects on resource allocation, economic growth, and income distribution. Selected issues in international commercial trade policies particularly those relating to agricultural commodity trade. 3 hrs (class). PR. ECON 201 and ECON 202. (2)
ECON 251. Public Economics (3).
Market failures; theory of public goods; public choice and incentive mechanisms for good allocation; public sector pricing; incentive effects of taxation; optimal taxation and redistribution. 3 hrs (class). PR. ECON 202 or COI. (2)
ECON 271. Advanced Resource Economics (3).
Applications of economic concepts such as social welfare, externalities, social cost and gains to decision-making associated with optimizing use of natural resources. 3 hrs (class). PR. AECO 240 or COI. (2)
ECON 275. Economic Valuation of Environmental and Natural Resource System (3).
Approaches and techniques for economic measurements and valuation of natural resources and environmental impacts of development. 3 hrs ( class). PR. COI. (2)
ECON 285. Development Economics I (3).
Theories of economic growth and development; background and comparative analyses of growth in developed and developing countries. 3 hrs (class). PR. ECON 201 or COI. (2)
ECON 291. Special Topics (1-3).
May be taken twice provided that total number of units to be credited to the student’s program will not exceed 4 units. PR. COI.
ECON 299. Graduate Seminar in Economics (1).
PR. COI. (1,2). May be taken twice for a maximum of 2 units.
ECON 300. Master’s Thesis (6). (1,2,S)