Carleton students looking to continue their studies in economics or ethics and public affairs can now do so right here on campus.
Carleton announced it will be offering two new academic programs, a post-baccalaureate diploma program in economics, and a graduate studies program in ethics and public affairs.
Economics professor Christopher Worswick said the economics program is designed for students who have an undergraduate degree.
He said the program will give students eight months of high-level training in subjects such as applied mathematics, microeconomics, and macroeconomics.
The program will “basically bring [a student’s] skill set up to what the typical honour student has in economics at Carleton,” Worswick said.
The program in economics will provide a “relatively straightforward way to switch from one discipline to another quickly, so that you’re ready to do graduate work in a different discipline.”
Worswick also said the economics diploma will act as an alternative to the qualifying year program.
The qualifying year program allows students to take eight fourth-year courses in economics so they are prepared to start their masters the following year, according to Worswick.
“The problem was if the students completed it but didn’t get the B-plus or higher average . . . they really finished the year without any credential,” he said.
Worswick said the diploma in economics will give students a chance to earn a formal credential.
Carleton is also introducing a new graduate program in ethics and public affairs.
Philosophy professor Jay Drydyk said there are two levels to the program: a PhD and a three-credit diploma for graduate students in another program.
For the PhD, students would research a particular policy issue and consider the ethical issues involved.
“In the policy world you need some social science, but increasingly there are ethical questions. Basically this is the only program in the world that combines those two kinds of skills and methodologies at the PhD level,” he said.
Drydyk noted there are many people who work on policy issues and applied ethics at Carleton.
“What this program does is it allows those two groups of people to start working together,” he said.
Students that graduate from the program will have skills in both policy and ethics according to Drydyk.
“That’s really unusual and extraordinary.”
The program is currently pending approval, according to Carleton’s website.
