Economics - Bachelor of Arts
Overview
Economics is about so much more than just money and wealth – it offers a way of making the best possible use of resources. Study financial markets, governments and policies, growth, environmental issues, inequality, and globalization. Sharpen your critical thinking skills and expand your mind. By the end of your economics degree, you will have a strong grounding in all the economic principles and theories that will help you pursue your occupation or further your education into graduate studies and beyond.
Contact Information
Department of Anthropology, Economics, and Political Science
Room 7-368, City Centre Campus
10700 - 104 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 4S2
T: 780-633-3890
Faculty of Arts and Science, Program Services (Advising)
Room 6-211, City Centre Campus
T: 780-497-4505
E: artsandscience@macewan.ca
The Bachelor of Arts
Faculty of Arts and Science
MacEwan.ca/BA
MacEwan University’s Bachelor of Arts (BA) is designed to provide a liberal arts education that allows students to explore a variety of academic disciplines and acquire a broad knowledge base that will prepare them for employment or future post-secondary studies. The degree is intended to provide students with breadth, depth, and diversity in the areas of humanities, sciences, social sciences, analytical studies, and fine arts as well as courses focused on language and literature. BA students study subjects in major and/or minor disciplines, and they are required to be familiar with the academic and faculty regulations and procedures as published herein.
General Program Information
The BA program requires students to complete 120 credits of non-duplicative coursework. The degree emphasizes both breadth and depth and has been designed for exceptional flexibility and customization. Students can complete a major and a minor, a double major, or a major and two minors.
Arts Disciplines
| Discipline | Major | Minor | Honours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropology | ⦿ | ⦿ | ⦿ |
| Classics | - | ⦿ | - |
| Creative Writing | - | ⦿ | - |
| Economics | ⦿ | ⦿ | ⦿ |
| English | ⦿ | ⦿ | ⦿ |
| French | - | ⦿ | - |
| Gender Studies | - | ⦿ | - |
| History | ⦿ | ⦿ | - |
| Philosophy | ⦿ | ⦿ | - |
| Political Science | ⦿ | ⦿ | ⦿ |
| Psychology | ⦿ | ⦿ | ⦿ |
| Sociology | ⦿ | ⦿ | ⦿ |
| Spanish | - | ⦿ | - |
Science Minors
| Discipline | Minor |
|---|---|
| Biological Sciences | ⦿ |
| Chemistry | ⦿ |
| Computer Science | ⦿ |
| Earth and Planetary Sciences | ⦿ |
| Mathematics | ⦿ |
| Physics | ⦿ |
| Planetary Physics | ⦿ |
| Statistics | ⦿ |
Out of Faculty Minors
| Discipline | Minor |
|---|---|
| Accounting Minor for Arts and Science | ⦿ |
| Arts and Cultural Management | ⦿ |
| Business Law | ⦿ |
| Business Studies | ⦿ |
| Digital Experience Design | ⦿ |
| Finance Minor for Arts and Science | ⦿ |
| Human Resources Minor for Arts and Science | ⦿ |
| Marketing Minor for Arts and Science | ⦿ |
Preparing for Professional Studies
Students intending to enter professional programs at other universities, such as law and education, can take their pre-professional studies in the Faculty of Arts and Science at MacEwan University. For example, there is a selection of courses that may be taken to facilitate the transition to an after-degree education program or, if the student prefers, transfer to a Bachelor of Education program after completion of as many as 60 credits of coursework. Students are advised to consult the admissions requirements for the universities and programs of their choice, and to select their MacEwan University courses accordingly. Completion of pre-professional courses at MacEwan University does not guarantee admission to the subsequent professional program. Each professional program requires a separate application and entry is competitive, not automatic.
Degree Requirements
Breadth Requirements
All Bachelor of Arts degrees require Breadth Requirements. Courses can satisfy both the breadth requirements and requirements for the major(s), minor(s), Honours, or options.
| Breadth Element | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Literacy | ENGL 102 and 3 credits in university English (not including ENGL 111, ENGL 108, or ENGL 211), and 6 credits in a single language other than English or 6 credits in world literature (COMP 102 and COMP 103) | 12 |
| Humanities | CLAS, HIST, HUMN, or PHIL | 6 |
| Sciences | ASTR, BICM, BIOL, BOTN, CHEM, CMPT, EASC, GENE, PHYS, PSYC, SCIE, or ZOOL | 6 |
| Social Sciences | ANTH, ECON, POLS, PSYC, or SOCI | 6 |
| Analytical Studies | LING 101, MATH, PHIL 125, or STAT | 3 |
| Fine Arts | AGAD, ARTE, CRWR, DESN, DRMA, MUSC, THAR, THPR, CLAS 252, CLAS 352, CLAS 353, or CLAS 356 | 3 |
Bachelor of Arts Degree
| Program Element | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Major | The Arts major will range from 42 to 60 credits with a minimum 36 credits taken at the senior-level. | 42-60 |
| Secondary Major or Minor(s) | Students have the option of completing a second Arts major, or one or two minors. Minor courses must be completed at the senior-level. | 18-60 |
| Options | Students can complete up to 15 credits in out-of-faculty options, with no more than 3 credits in physical activity (PACT) courses. | Up to 60 |
| Total Degree Credits Including Breadth | 120 |
Bachelor of Arts Honours
| Program Element | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Honour Requirements | Honours requirements are determined by each discipline. | 63 |
| Option Courses, Non-Compulsory Honours Courses, and/or a Minor | Students have the option of completing a minor from outside of the Honours discipline. Some disciplines may require a minor. | 57 |
| Total Degree Credits | 120 |
The minimum passing grade for a course at MacEwan University is a D unless otherwise noted next to the appropriate course in the program of study. In the Faculty of Arts and Science, students typically require a minimum grade of C- to use a course as a prerequisite. Please check course descriptions for more information.
Economics Requirements
Economics Major
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics program requires students to complete 120 credits of non-duplicative coursework. In addition to the Economics Major, students will complete one of the following:
- one minor,
- two minors, or
- a secondary Arts major
Students are required to complete option courses as well as the major(s) and minor(s). All BA degrees require Breadth Requirements. Courses can satisfy both the breadth requirements and requirements for the major(s), minor(s), or options.
The Economics Major is 42 to 60 non-duplicative economics credits with a minimum 36 credits at the senior-level. Students must complete a minimum of six ECON credits at the 400-level; ECON 401 and ECON 497 do not satisfy this requirement.
STAT 151 or STAT 161 are required for this major. Students with credit for MATH 114 are not required to complete ECON 289.
Bachelor of Arts - Economics Major
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Specific Major Requirements | ||
| ECON 101 | Introduction to Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 102 | Introduction to Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 281 | Intermediate Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 282 | Intermediate Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 289 | Introduction to Mathematical Economics | 3 |
| ECON 299 | Quantitative Methods in Economics | 3 |
| ECON 399 | Introductory Econometrics | 3 |
| ECON 497 | Economic Analysis: A Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| Choose 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Economics at Work: Reasoning and Writing in Economics | ||
| Contemporary Canadian Economic Issues | ||
| Microeconomic Theory | ||
| Macroeconomic Theory | ||
| General Major Requirements | ||
| Choose 12 to 30 credits from senior-level ECON with a minimum of 6 credits at the 400-level. | 12-30 | |
| Secondary Major or Minor(s) | ||
| Students have the option of completing a second Arts major, or one or two minors. Minor courses must be completed at the senior-level. | 18-60 | |
| Options | ||
| Students can complete up to 15 credits in out-of-faculty options, with no more than 3 credits in physical activity (PACT) courses. | 0-60 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Economics Honours
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) Economics Honours degree program requires students to complete 120 credits of non-duplicative coursework. The Economics Honours program is comprised of 63 to 72 credits. Student must complete a minimum of 12 ECON credits at the 400-level including ECON 499.
STAT 151 or STAT 161, and MATH 114 are required for the Economics Honours program. It is recommended that students complete ECON 281, ECON 282, and STAT 151 before they declare Economics Honours. Students should be aware that if they do not complete ECON 289, they will be required to complete either MATH 120 or MATH 125 with a minimum grade of C-.
For consideration of admittance/acceptance into Economics Honours, students must present the following:
- Completion of a minimum of 45 university-level credits applicable to the program of study, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
- 24 of the 45 credits must have been completed in the last 12 months
- A minimum of six ECON credits completed at the senior-level
- A minimum GPA of 3.3 across all senior-level ECON courses
Students accepted and enrolled in the Economics Honours program must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. As well, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.3 across all senior-level ECON courses for each 12 consecutive months following acceptance into the Honours program. Failure to do so will result in the student's program status reverting to a BA Economics Major.
Students have the option of completing a minor within the requirements of the Economics Honours program. Minors are comprised of 18 senior-level credits. All BA degrees, including Honours, require Breadth Requirements. Courses can be used to satisfy both the breadth requirements and requirements for Honours, minor(s), or options.
Bachelor of Art - Economics Honours
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Specific Honours Requirements | ||
| ECON 101 | Introduction to Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 102 | Introduction to Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 281 | Intermediate Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 282 | Intermediate Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 299 | Quantitative Methods in Economics | 3 |
| ECON 384 | Microeconomic Theory | 3 |
| ECON 385 | Macroeconomic Theory | 3 |
| ECON 389 | Mathematical Economics | 3 |
| ECON 399 | Introductory Econometrics | 3 |
| ECON 499 | Honours Thesis | 3 |
| General Honours Requirements | ||
| Choose 33 to 42 credits from senior-level ECON, with a minimum of 9 credits at the 400-level, in consultation with the economics Honours advisor. | 33-42 | |
| Option Courses and/or a Minor | ||
| Students can complete up to 15 credits in out-of-faculty options, with no more than 3 credits in physical activity (PACT) courses. | 48-57 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Economics Minor
The Economics Minor requires 18 senior-level ECON credits. A minimum of six credits must be completed at the 300- or 400-level; ECON 401 does not satisfy this requirement. Junior-level ECON 101 and ECON 102 are required.
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Specific Minor Requirements | ||
| ECON 281 | Intermediate Microeconomics | 3 |
| Choose 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Economics at Work: Reasoning and Writing in Economics | ||
| Contemporary Canadian Economic Issues | ||
| General Minor Requirements | ||
| Choose 12 credits from senior-level ECON | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Degree Regulations
Students are strongly encouraged to seek advice from the academic advisors about academic planning for completing degree requirements at MacEwan University.
Academic Residency - Credit Requirements
In addition to the academic residency requirements of the University, Bachelor of Arts students also must complete at MacEwan University:
- A minimum of 24 credits at the senior-level in the major discipline, with 12 of those senior credits completed at the 300- or 400-level. All 400-level requirements are to be completed at MacEwan University.
- If applicable, a minimum of nine credits at the senior-level in a minor, with at least three of those credits at the 300- or 400- level.
Breadth Requirements
Courses taken to fulfil major, minor, or option requirements can also be used to satisfy breadth requirements.
Declaration of a Major and a Minor
Students are advised to declare a primary major and a minor, or a primary major and secondary major, or a primary major and two minors by the time they have completed 45 credits. Majors are selected from Arts disciplines and consist of 42 to 60 junior- and senior-level credits. With the exception of those students in an Honours program, a maximum of 60 credits may be completed from any one discipline for credit towards the degree. A major and minor cannot be in the same discipline and students may not declare more than one out-of-faculty minor. Students can re-declare their major(s) and/or minor(s) if required.
For students completing multiple majors or minors, the Faculty cannot guarantee a schedule of classes that will permit the student to complete their degree in eight consecutive fall and winter semesters. Furthermore, depending on the courses in which a student enrols, meeting the requirements of a double major may require the completion of more than 120 credits for graduation. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with a program advisor in the Program Services Office in the Faculty of Arts and Science and a discipline advisor in their major and minor disciplines prior to declaration.
Graduation Grade Point Average
As part of the Graduation Grade Point Average regulation above, Bachelor of Arts students must obtain an overall GGPA of 2.0 or higher, with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on all courses credited toward the major(s) and a minimum GPA of 2.0 on all courses credited toward the minor(s).
Graduation Requirements
Graduation requirements are governed by the date on which students declare their major(s) and minor(s). Students who declare their major(s) and minor(s) up to and including February 15 are bound by the requirements of the current academic year. Those students who declare after February 15 are bound by the programs of study and degree requirements of the upcoming academic year as published in the MacEwan University Academic Calendar.
Junior- and Senior-Level Courses
Courses numbered from 100 to 199 are considered junior-level and courses numbered from 200 to 499 are considered senior-level.
Major or Minor 300- and 400-Level Requirements
The 300- and 400-level requirements in the major or minor cannot consist solely of project, field placement, and/or individual study courses.
Maximum Independent Courses
The maximum number of credits for independent work (project, field placement, and/or individual study courses), excluding the Honours Thesis, is 15 credits. Specific disciplines may have further restrictions.
Maximum Junior-Level Courses
A maximum of 48 credits at the 100-level are permitted in completion of the BA degree. Additional courses at the 100-level will be declared extra to the 120 credits required to complete the BA degree and will not be counted toward fulfilment of graduation requirements.
Minimum Arts Courses
Students are required to complete successfully a minimum of 72 credits from Arts courses.
Minimum Passing Grade
A minimum grade of D is required for all Arts degree courses unless otherwise noted next to the appropriate course in the program of study.
Minimum Transfer Grade for Credit
A minimum grade of D is required on any transfer credit granted for the program. Arts and Science courses require a minimum grade of C- when the course is used as a prerequisite. Transfer credit decisions made by the university are final and cannot be appealed.
Out-of-Faculty Options Requirements
Degree options may include a maximum of 15 credits from courses offered by a Faculty or School other than Arts and Science except for those students completing an out-of-faculty minor or those who have met the minor requirements with a diploma. These students must complete their degree options from courses offered within the Faculty of Arts and Science. Fine arts courses taken to fulfil breadth requirements do not count towards the allocation of out-of-faculty credit.
Progression of Studies
Students are responsible for ensuring they meet the prerequisite and/or co-requisite requirements as noted on all courses that may fulfil Bachelor of Arts or Arts Honours program requirements.
Honours Regulations
Overall Requirements
The Honours program of study consists of 63 to 84 credits as determined by the discipline. Students in the Honours program may choose to complete a minor outside of the Honours discipline. Some disciplines may require a minor.
Course Load
Students accepted into an Honours program must complete 24-credits in each twelve consecutive months they are in the program. Exceptions to this rule may occur with the approval of the Honours discipline advisor.
Grade Point Average Requirement
Students accepted and enrolled in the Arts Honours program must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. As well, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.3 across a set of courses designated by each discipline for each twelve consecutive months following acceptance into the Honours program. Failure to do so will result in the student’s program status reverting to a BA with a major in the previous honours discipline.
Graduation Grade Point Average
In order to graduate, students must obtain an overall GGPA of 3.0 or higher, with a minimum GPA of 3.3 across a set of courses designated by each discipline.
Additional Degree Regulations - Subsequent Baccalaureate
In addition to meeting the degree regulations listed above, students who already hold a baccalaureate degree must satisfy policies pertaining to subsequent baccalaureate credentials.
Economics Courses
ECON 101
Introduction to Microeconomics
3 Credits
This course will provide an introductory investigation to supply and demand analysis; the theory of production, costs, and price determination under competitive and non-competitive market conditions. Emphasis is given to the Canadian Economy.
ECON 102
Introduction to Macroeconomics
3 Credits
Following a brief introduction to the discipline of economics, this course provides an introductory investigation of national income determinations, monetary and banking systems, and fiscal and monetary policies. Contemporary problems of unemployment, inflation, economic growth, exchange rates and international trade are analyzed. Emphasis is given to Canadian issues.
ECON 212
Economic Aspects of the European Union
3 Credits
This course focuses on the study of economic policies in the European Union (EU). Though the ideas of trade liberalization and economic integration are as old as economics itself, the ongoing process of integrating Europe is one of the most exciting experiences in human history. The European experience of economic, political, legal, and social integration is a unique opportunity to learn how these processes work and what their dangers are. This course concerns the economic foundations of the Union, as well as current issues.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 101 and ECON 102.
ECON 213
Introduction to Economics of Developing Countries
3 Credits
This course is a survey of case studies from developing countries that focuses on the major approaches to, and problems of, economic development. It emphasizes issues relating to the concept and history of development; development strategies; poverty; population growth; trade, growth, macroeconomic management and globalization; role of institutions in development; linkages between environment and development; savings and investment; and foreign aid.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 102.
ECON 281
Intermediate Microeconomics
3 Credits
Microeconomics aims at explaining phenomena such as changes in relative prices, but it is much more than that: it provides methods for making educated decisions in our day-to-day lives. To that end, it uses a set of principles, a reasoning framework, and a few mathematical models expressed in functions, equations, and graphs. Knowledge of algebra at a high-school level is strongly recommended.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 101.
ECON 282
Intermediate Macroeconomics
3 Credits
Students explore topics such as models of price, interest rate, output, and employment determination; the impact of fiscal, monetary, and supply shocks; open economy macroeconomics with fixed and flexible exchange rates, and prices as well as international capital mobility.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in ECON 101 and ECON 102.
ECON 289
Introduction to Mathematical Economics
3 Credits
This course introduces students to mathematical framework for economic analysis. It examines the fundamental techniques of functions, matrix algebra, differentiation and integration in relation to their application to the concepts to economic analysis. Note: This course can be used to fulfill the arts credit requirements of the Bachelor of Arts and the science credit requirement of the Bachelor of Science.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in ECON 101.
ECON 290
Economics at Work: Reasoning and Writing in Economics
3 Credits
Students review the tools of economic reasoning and use them to analyze a variety of micro- or macro-economic issues from an individual's perspective. Instruction emphasizes high student engagement both in class and with home assignments. Reading and writing economics materials are both means and ends of this course.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in 6 ECON credits.
ECON 299
Quantitative Methods in Economics
3 Credits
An introduction to the use of mathematical and statistical methods in economics. Economic problems serve as exercises and examples of how such methods can be used. Note: This course is designed for students in the Economics major. Students in a program other than the Economics major require the consent of the department prior to registration. Note: This course can be used to fulfill the arts credit requirements of the Bachelor of Arts and the science credit requirement of the Bachelor of Science.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in ECON 101, ECON 289 or MATH 114, and in one of STAT 151 or STAT 161.
ECON 319
Contemporary Canadian Economic Issues
3 Credits
This course examines contemporary Canadian economic issues in relation to macroeconomic performance, monetary and fiscal policies, trade liberalization, environmental management and policies, industrial policies, social policies and regional development. The debates and policies related to contemporary economic aspects of these issues are discussed.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 101 and ECON 102.
ECON 323
International Economics
3 Credits
This course examines the principles underlying the international economy in both trade and finance. Emphasis is placed on the determination of trade patterns, comparative advantage, trade and tariffs, and the macroeconomic effects of exchange rate changes. Note: Students who have taken ECON 421 or ECON 422 for credit cannot receive credit for this course.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 101.
ECON 335
Urban Economics
3 Credits
This course explores how economic forces: influence development of cities in spatial, social, and economic dimensions; cause cities to grow or shrink; affect urban problems such as poverty, crime, and congestion; make urban housing markets work; and shape taxation and spending policies to promote urban sustainability.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 101.
ECON 341
Money and Banking
3 Credits
This course analyzes the role of money and credit in the exchange process. Topics include the savings - investment process, commercial banking, financial intermediaries, financial markets, central banking, and regulations of financial institutions.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in ECON 102.
ECON 350
Economics of Public Expenditure
3 Credits
This course analyzes public expenditure policies and other issues involved in the provision of public services. The key topics include public goods, externalities, public choice, fiscal federalism, healthcare, education, and public pensions.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in ECON 101.
ECON 353
Taxation Policy and Structure
3 Credits
This course introduces students to the basic structure of a tax system and various tax policy issues. Particular attention is paid to the Canadian tax structure and its role in attaining certain goals of society. The key concepts in this course include tax incidence, economic effects of taxes, and tax policy design.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 101.
ECON 355
Economics of Project Evaluation
3 Credits
This course covers the use of cost-benefit analysis and other economic methods in evaluating private and public investment projects with examples from transportation, river basin management, electrical generation, and oil and gas.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 101.
ECON 357
Topics in Applied Economics
3 Credits
This course focuses on the economic aspects and related policy issues of selected areas such as; health and health care, labour, sports, and law. Topics vary and are announced prior to registration. Consult with faculty members in Economics for details regarding current offerings.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 101.
ECON 365
Resource Economics
3 Credits
This course examines the issues involved in the production of exhaustible and renewable natural resources, including exploration, extraction, and taxation; scarcity and pricing; and contemporary Canadian resource policy issues.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 101.
ECON 366
Energy Economics
3 Credits
This course examines the economics of producing and consuming energy, pricing, role in economic growth, energy sources and markets, the role of government, regulation and other energy policy issues.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 101.
ECON 369
Economics of the Environment
3 Credits
This course examines economic growth and the deterioration of the environment, types and causes of environmental deterioration, theory, policy, and measurement relating to environmental deterioration, and current Canadian environmental topics.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 101.
ECON 373
Industrial Organization
3 Credits
This course presents a survey of the theories of behaviour and performance of firms under different market structures, game-theoretical concepts applied to the study of strategic behaviour in the market, case studies, and Canadian antitrust policy and practice.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 281 and either MATH 114 or ECON 289.
ECON 384
Microeconomic Theory
3 Credits
This course examines extensions and applications of microeconomic topics such as inter-temporal choice, uncertainty, game theory, externalities, public goods, asymmetric information, and general equilibrium. Recommended to students who wish to deepen their understanding in microeconomic theory and analytical skills in using microeconomic models.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 281 and either MATH 114 or ECON 289.
ECON 385
Macroeconomic Theory
3 Credits
Building on Intermediate Macroeconomics, students examine government budget constraint and public debt, neoclassical growth theories, money supply, and theories of aggregate consumption, investment, and money demand.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in ECON 281 and ECON 282.
ECON 389
Mathematical Economics
3 Credits
This course focuses on mathematical techniques used to set and solve economic problems. Topics include principles and applications of total and partial differentiation, comparative static analysis, constrained and unconstrained optimization, linear inequalities, convexity, programming, other mathematical theories of interest in modern economics. Note:This course can be used to fulfill the arts credit requirements of the Bachelor of Arts and the science credit requirement of the Bachelor of Science.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in ECON 281, ECON 282, and in either ECON 289 or both MATH 114 and MATH 120.
ECON 398
Independent Study
3 Credits
This course permits an intermediate level student to work with an instructor to explore specific economic topics in a certain field of economics through directed reading and research using primary and secondary sources.
Prerequisites: Consent of the department.
ECON 399
Introductory Econometrics
3 Credits
This course provides an elementary treatment of major topics in econometrics with emphasis on applied regression methods, econometric model building and applications, introduction to, and practice of empirical research methods; identifying topics, collecting data, and writing a research report. Note: This course can be used to fulfill the arts credit requirements of the Bachelor of Arts and the science credit requirement of the Bachelor of Science.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in ECON 299.
ECON 401
Field Placement
3 Credits
In this course, the students are assigned to a public, private, or non-profit organization where they apply their knowledge and skills in research, evaluation, management or analytical aspects of a project. Note: This course does not fulfill the 400-level requirement for the major and minor.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 299 and consent of the department.
ECON 414
Development Economics
3 Credits
This course focuses on economic models of growth and development in developing countries. Topics include poverty and inequality, population dynamics, the role of agriculture, industry, saving and investment, fiscal and macro policies, international trade and globalization in structural transformation of developing countries as well as the various approaches to development planning.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 281 and ECON 282.
ECON 421
International Trade
3 Credits
The course focuses on: nature and relevance of international trade; early trade doctrines; the theory of comparative advantage; classical and modern approaches and empirical evidence for them; new approaches to the pure theory of international trade; economic growth and international trade; market imperfections and trade; commercial policy; economic integration; and the gains from trade.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 281, and in either MATH 114 or ECON 289.
ECON 422
International Payments
3 Credits
This course examines these macroeconomic topics: the types of international transactions, macroeconomics in an open economy, exchange rates, balance of payments adjustments, and issues within the international monetary system.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 281, ECON 282 and in either MATH 114 or ECON 289.
ECON 441
Monetary Theory and Policy
3 Credits
In this course, students examine formal modeling of money and recent developments in monetary economics, including inflation tax and the optimum quantity of money. Key topics include term structure of interest rates, money and economic activity, rules versus discretion in monetary policy, and the role of financial deregulation.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 281, ECON 282 and in either MATH 114 or ECON 289.
ECON 442
Economics of Financial Markets
3 Credits
The central topics covered in this course include the measurements of risk, hedging and speculation, market microstructure, asset pricing and market equilibrium.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 281, in either STAT 151 or STAT 161, and in either MATH 114 or ECON 289.
ECON 467
Environmental and Natural Resource Policy
3 Credits
The course focuses on the relationships between economic activities, environment and ecosystem; designing, implementing, managing and evaluating domestic, regional and global policy issues related to environmental, renewable and non-renewable resources. The course also discusses Canadian environmental problems and critically analyzes the policies used to address those problems.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 281, either MATH 114 or ECON 289, and one of ECON 365, ECON 366, or ECON 369.
ECON 481
Advanced Microeconomic Theory
3 Credits
This honours level course is an advanced microeconomics study of producer and consumer theory, general equilibrium and welfare economics, and selected topics.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 384 and ECON 389 or consent of the department.
ECON 482
Advanced Macroeconomic Theory
3 Credits
This course explores modern macroeconomic theory including theories of business cycles and growth, microfoundations of macro models, government budget constraints, expectations formation, the open economy and representative agent optimizing models.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 384 and ECON 385.
ECON 489
Advanced Mathematical Economics
3 Credits
This course focuses on dynamic models in economics. Topics include economic models based on first- and second-order differential equations, calculus of variations (the Euler sufficient condition), and optimal control theory (the maximum principle); instructors may include other topics, such as difference equations and discrete time optimization. Examples may come from macroeconomics, microeconomics, game theory, resource economics, energy, and other subjects in economics.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in ECON 389, or both MATH 115 and 6 credits ECON, or consent of the department.
ECON 495
Applied Econometrics
3 Credits
This course covers topics that are beyond the scope of ECON 399, such as panel data models, instrumental variables, limited dependent variables, and simultaneous equations. The learning method is substantially based on computer lab work. The theory behind each econometric method studied in this course is provided only as much as necessary for the sound understanding of the respective method.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ECON 399.
ECON 497
Economic Analysis: A Capstone Seminar
3 Credits
Students use their understanding of economic theory and quantitative knowledge to investigate in depth an economic issue. In a structured environment, they learn how to analyze economic problems, find solutions and write reports. They also practice how to formally discuss critique and evaluate other economic reports and publications.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in ECON 281, ECON 282, and ECON 399.
Co-requisites: ECON 399 May be taken as Co-requisite with consent of the department.
ECON 498
Advanced Independent Study
3 Credits
This course permits a senior-level student to work with an instructor to explore a specific economic topic in depth through directed reading and research using primary and secondary sources.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in ECON 281 and ECON 282 and ECON 299 and consent of the department.
ECON 499
Honours Thesis
3 Credits
Under the direction of a faculty supervisor registered students conduct a research project culminating in a written Honours Thesis with oral defense. This course is restricted to students in the Honours Economics Program and may only be taken in their final year of the program.