Economics Degree Requirements

Academic Year 
2023-24 

What you need to do to graduate school in Economics.

Note: ECON 101 and 102 are prerequisites for all other courses unless otherwise stated. Students lacking other prerequisites may request department approval to enroll in a course. 

 For more information on the Economics programs, or to ask a question, you can contact the interim chair of the department, Dr. Patrick Withey, at @email or phone: (902) 867-3661. 

Minor Program

1. ECON 101, 102, 201, 202; 
2. 12 credits ECON 

Students who take a minor in economics typically combine the minor with a major in English, history, philosophy, political science, or sociology, or with the BBA degree. 

BA Major Program

See Chapter 4 of the academic calendar for information on the degree pattern, declarations of major, advanced major and honours, advancement and graduation requirements. 

1. ECON 101, 102, 201, 202; 
2. 24 credits ECON with 18 at the 300 or 400 level; 
3. 3 credits MATH or STAT; Other subjects and electives should be chosen in consultation with the department chair. 

BA Advanced Major Program

1. ECON 101, 102, 201, 202, 301, 302, 493; 
2. 6 credits of MATH or STAT; 3 credits must be calculus; 
3. 15 credits ECON with 9 at the 300 or 400 level. 
4. Registration in at least one 300 or 400-level ECON course in the winter term of the final year. 

A senior paper must be written in this course. At least 25% of the grade calculated for the winter term of the course must derive from this paper. Other subjects and electives should be chosen in consultation with the department chair. Students interested in graduate work in economics are advised to apply for the honours program or take equivalent courses in the mathematical or quantitative area. 

BA Major or Advanced Major in Economics with a Minor in Business Administration

Candidates for a major or advanced major in economics may take a minor in business administration by fulfilling the normal requirements for the major or the advanced major degree and completing 24 credits in BSAD. The student will normally complete BSAD 101, 102; 12 credits from 221, 223, 231, 241, 261, 281 and six credits of BSAD electives. 

BA Honours Program

1. ECON 101, 102, 201, 202, 301, 302, 371, 372, 493, 494; 30 credits ECON electives with at least 18 credits at the 300 or 400 level; 
2. A thesis supervised by a department member; 
3. 6 credits of calculus. Students planning to pursue graduate work in economics are encouraged to take additional MATH courses. 

BA Honours with a Subsidiary Subject

An honours degree in economics may be completed with a subsidiary subject. Candidates must follow the degree regulations established by the university and the requirements established by both departments; see the academic calendar and the relevant department chairs. Honours degrees with a subsidiary subject are offered in a wide range of disciplines. 

The Department of Economics offers the following programs: 

• BA Honours in Economics and Aquatic Resources 
• BA Honours in Economics and Political Science 
• BA Honours in Economics and History 
• BA Honours in Economics and Mathematics, Statistics & Computer Science 

When economics is the primary subject, not the subsidiary subject, students are required to complete: 

1. ECON 101, 102, 201, 202, 301, 302, 371, 372, 493, 494; 
2. 18 credits of ECON electives with at least 12 credits at the 300 or 400 level; 
3. A thesis supervised by a department member; 
4. 6 credits of calculus. 

When economics is the subsidiary subject, students are required to complete: 

1. ECON 101, 102, 201, 202, 301, 302; 
2. Normally 18 credits ECON electives with at least 6 credits at the 300 or 400 level; 
3. ECON electives may include ECON 493 with the approval of the department chair; 
4. A course in quantitative methods (ECON 371; 372; STAT 101, 224, 231) is strongly recommended.

Honours in Economics with a Subsidiary in Mathematics and Computer Science

Students must include ECON 401, 402, 471 as ECON electives. 

Honours in Mathematics and Computer Science with a Subsidiary in Economics

ECON 401, 402, 471 are recommended as ECON electives. Depending on the nature of the individual thesis, joint supervision by an economist and a mathematician may be appropriate. 

BBA Joint Honours

In conjunction with the Department of Business Administration, the Department of Economics offers a joint honours program in business and economics. See the Academic Calendar for degree regulations. 

B.Sc. Advanced Major in Economics

See degree regulations in the academic calendar.
Degree requirements are: 

1. ECON 101, 102, 201, 202, 301, 302, 371, 372, 493; 
2. 15 credits ECON electives, including 6 at the 300 or 400 level; 
3. A minimum of 12 credits in MATH including STAT 231 and 6 credits of calculus. 
4. The 18 credits of approved electives are normally taken in math or science subjects; 
5. PHIL 213 is recommended. 

B.Sc. Honours in Economics

See degree regulations in the academic calendar.

Degree requirements are: 

1. ECON 101, 102, 201, 202, 301, 302, 371, 372, 401, 402, 471, 493, 494 and 21 credits ECON electives with at least 9 credits at the 300 or 400 level; 
2. A thesis supervised by a department member; 
3. A minimum of 12 credits in MATH, including 6 credits of calculus. 
4. The 18 credits of approved electives are normally taken in math or science subjects; 
5. PHIL 213 is recommended. 

B.Sc. Joint Honours

The Department of Economics offers a joint honours program in economics and several science disciplines. See section 7.1 of the Academic Calendar for degree regulations and eligible disciplines.  

Co-operative Education Programs in Economics

The optional academic program allows students the opportunity to gain 12 months of professional, paid work experience in a range of opportunities in the industry, government and not-for-profit across Canada. Students can gain technical and professional experience in research, policy and education to reinforce classroom-based instruction and increase students’ networks and employability. COOP 405 (3 credits) can be used as an ECON elective or as an open or approved elective. For further information on work term sequencing options and professional development training topics see section 9.13. 

Information for Economics Graduate School

Econphd.net: This website was started by Christian Roessler while he was an Economics Ph.D. student at the University of Melbourne. This website contains departmental rankings that may be useful in your choice, as well as links to some graduate school notes. 

University of Leicester: This website contains an up-to-date ranking of economic departments performed by P. Kalaitzidakis, T. P. Mamuneas and T. Stengos and is supported by the European Economics Association.