Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics

Bachelor of Arts - Economics Major/Minor

The Economics Major introduces students to the core body of knowledge in the discipline. In addition, students improve their abilities to conduct pricing, cost-benefit and program analysis and decision making. Finally, they learn to analyze the economics of the regulatory process and the reaction of businesses to the regulatory environments. Emphasis is placed on the application of basic economic tools to policy areas.

 Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students are able to:

  1. Discuss the theories and principles of microeconomics including trade and comparative advantage, the functioning of markets, consumer theory, uncertainty and risk, production and costs, market structure under varying competitive conditions, price theory, public good provisions, externalities and other market failures, environmental protection, taxation and welfare economics.
  2. Discuss the theories and principles of macroeconomics including economic fluctuations, growth and development; unemployment; inflation, interest rates, deficits and debt, balance of payments and exchange rates, fiscal, monetary and various other polices using economic growth models, aggregate demand and supply as well as other applicable models.
  3. Collect, analyze and interpret relevant economic information from multiple sources.
  4. Demonstrate how quantitative/statistical methods and software packages can be used to examine economic data.
  5. Describe the role of government and institutions in the economy including taxation, spending, regulation and production.
  6. Integrate ethical concerns including efficiency, fairness, equity and individual freedom in policy development.
  7. Analyze the behaviour of individuals, businesses and industries in market-based systems; social issues; and the challenges of developing economies using different microeconomic and macroeconomic theories and principles.
  8. Assess and revise public policies addressing both market and non-market issues.
  9. Apply economic theories and principles in a professional setting.
 Major requirements

The Economics Major requires the completion of at least 51 credits consisting of 45 credits in economics, 3 credits in mathematics and 3 credits from disciplines within the Faculty of Arts. From the 45 credits in economics, a minimum of 30 credits must be at the upper level (3000 and 4000 levels) of which no less than 6 credits must be at the 4000 level.

Students normally declare a major at the beginning of their third year, but they must meet specific lower level requirements to be admitted.

Lower Level Requirements
MATH 1170
MATH 1140
Calculus for Business and Economics or
Calculus 1
ECON 1900 Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 1950 Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 2320 Economics and Business Statistics 1
ECON 2900 Intermediate Microeconomics 1
ECON 2950 Intermediate Macronomics 1
Arts elective:
ANTH 1210, CMNS 2290, GEOG 1110, GEOG 2110, HIST 1220, PHIL 1110, PHIL 2010, PHIL 2210, POLI 1110, POLI 1210, any second year POLI course, PSYC 1110, SOCI 1110, SPEE 1500, and SPEE 2500 are recommended.
Upper Level Requirements (30 credits)
Core:
ECON 3330 Applied Statistics for Economics
ECON 3900
ECON 3950
Intermediate Microeconomics 2 or
Intermediate Macroeconomics 2
Upper Level Economics Electives
At least eight courses (24 credits) from the following:
ECON 3100 Canadian Financial Markets
ECON 3200 Introduction to Mathematical Economics
ECON 3410 Economics of Climate Change
ECON 3500 Public Finance
ECON 3550 International Economics
ECON 3600 Labour Economics
ECON 3610 The Economics of Gender
ECON 3650 Government and Business
ECON 3670 Economic Analysis of Law
ECON 3690 Community Economic Development
ECON 3700 Benefit-Cost Analysis and the Economics of Project Evaluation
ECON 3710 Environmental Economics
ECON 3730 Forestry Economics
ECON 3740 Land Use Economics
ECON 3840 Economics Analysis of Health Services
ECON 3900 Intermediate Microeconomics 2 or
ECON 3950 Intermediate Macroeconomics 2
ECON 3990 Special Topics in Economics
ECON 4100 International Financial Markets
ECON 4320 Econometrics
ECON 4330 Forecasting in Business and Economics
ECON 4560 International Macroeconomics and Finance
ECON 4660 Industrial Organization
ECON 4720 Sustainable Economic Development
ECON 4960 Directed Studies in Economics
ECON 4990 Special Topics in Economics

Upper level courses in ECON may not be offered every year. Contact an academic advisor to determine what is being scheduled in the coming semesters.

 Minor requirements

For those students wanting only an exposure to economics, an economics minor is available.

The minor in economics requires the completion of at least 30 credits in economics, including ECON 1900 and ECON 1950, and a minimum of 18 credits must be at the upper level (3000 and 4000 level).

Lower Level Requirements
ECON 1900 Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 1950 Principles of Macroeconomics
Upper Level Economics Electives
At least six courses (18 credits) from the following:
ECON 3100 Canadian Financial Markets
ECON 3200 Introduction to Mathematical Economics
ECON 3410 Economics of Climate Change
ECON 3500 Public Finance
ECON 3550 International Economics
ECON 3600 Labour Economics
ECON 3610 The Economics of Gender
ECON 3650 Government and Business
ECON 3670 Economic Analysis of Law
ECON 3690 Community Economic Development
ECON 3700 Benefit-Cost Analysis and the Economics of Project Evaluation
ECON 3710 Environmental Economics
ECON 3730 Forestry Economics
ECON 3740 Land Use Economics
ECON 3840 Economics Analysis of Health Services
ECON 3900 Intermediate Microeconomics 2
ECON 3950 Intermediate Macroeconomics 2
ECON 3990 Special Topics in Economics
ECON 4100 International Financial Markets
ECON 4320 Econometrics
ECON 4330 Forecasting in Business and Economics
ECON 4560 International Macroeconomics and Finance
ECON 4660 Industrial Organization
ECON 4720 Sustainable Economic Development
ECON 4960 Directed Studies in Economics
ECON 4990 Special Topics in Economics

Upper level courses in ECON may not be offered every year. Contact an academic advisor to determine what is being scheduled in the coming semesters.