It is recommended that students planning to major in Economics have Grade 12 (formerly OAC) courses in Mathematics, preferably Algebra and Geometry, and Calculus or the equivalent. Students without these courses are encouraged to select MATH 103 and 104 in their first year of study at the University of Waterloo. Three-Year General Economics
Continuation in this academic plan requires a cumulative average of 60% and a cumulative Economics average of 65%.
Eligibility for graduation in the Three-Year General Economics academic plan includes successful fulfilment of the following requirements:
- Appropriate BA Program-level requirements. See "BA Degree Requirements."
- Economics Plan-level requirements:
- at least five academic course units (ten courses) in Economics with a minimum cumulative average of 65%. ECON courses must include:
- four additional ECON courses at the 300-level or above
Four-Year General Economics
Continuation in this academic plan requires a cumulative average of 60% and a cumulative Economics average of 65%.
Eligibility for graduation in the Four-Year General Economics academic plan includes successful fulfilment of the following requirements:
- Appropriate BA Program-level requirements. See "BA Degree Requirements."
- Economics Plan-level requirements:
- at least seven academic course units (14 courses) in Economics with a minimum cumulative average of 65%. ECON courses must include:
- four additional ECON courses at the 300-level or above, of which two courses must be at the 400-level
Honours Academic Plans
Honours Economics
Continuation in this academic plan requires a cumulative average of 60% and a cumulative Economics average of 75%.
Eligibility for graduation in the Honours Economics academic plan includes successful fulfilment of the following requirements:
- Appropriate BA Program-level requirements. See "BA Degree Requirements."
- Economics Plan-level requirements:
- at least nine academic course units (18 courses) in Economics with a minimum cumulative average of 75%. ECON courses must include:
- 101, 102, 201, 202, 211, 221, 301, 302, 321, 401, 402
- five additional ECON courses at the 300-level or above
- Before graduation, all students must demonstrate to the Undergraduate Advisor their proficiency in report and essay writing. This can be accomplished by receiving a passing grade in ECON 472, or by submitting two single-authored term papers, each with a minimum course-weight of 25%, and written in an Economics course. Exemption from ECON 472 does not reduce the overall 18-course requirement.
Recommended Course of Study
Year One
ECON 101 and 102
Eight additional courses
Year Two
ECON 201, 202, 211, 221
Two additional courses in Economics
Four additional courses
Year Three
ECON 301, 302, 321
Three additional courses in Economics
Four additional courses
Year Four
ECON 401, 402 (need not be taken in the order as listed)
Two additional courses in Economics
Six additional courses
Honours Economics (Arts and Business Co-op and Regular)
A student may combine Honours Economics with Honours Arts and Business. The requirements in Economics are identical to the Honours requirements listed above. See Arts and Business for the Arts and Business requirements.
Honours Applied Economics (Co-op)
Continuation in this academic plan requires a cumulative average of 60% and a cumulative Economics average of 75%.
Eligibility for graduation in the Honours Applied Economics (Co-op) academic plan includes successful fulfilment of the following requirements:
- Appropriate BA Program-level requirements, including 21 academic course units. See "BA Degree Requirements."
- Economics Plan-level requirements:
- at least nine academic course units (18 courses) in Economics with a minimum cumulative average of 75%. ECON courses must include:
- 101, 102, 201, 202, 211, 221, 301, 302, 321, 401, 402
- four additional ECON courses at the 300-level or above
- Before graduation, all students must demonstrate to the Undergraduate Advisor their proficiency in report and essay writing. This can be accomplished by receiving a passing grade in ECON 472, or by submitting two single-authored term papers, each with a minimum course-weight of 25%, and written in an Economics course. Exemption from ECON 472 does not reduce the overall 18-course requirement.
Recommended Course of Study
| Yr. | Fall
Sept. - Dec. | Winter
Jan. - April | Spring
May - Aug. |
|---|
| 1 |
ECON 101, four electives |
ECON 102, four electives
Enrol in Honours Applied Economics in February /March |
|
| 2 |
Term 2A
ECON 201, 221, four electives |
First Work Term |
Term 2B
ECON 202, 211, 321, three electives |
| 3 |
Second Work Term |
Term 3A
ECON 301, 302, ECON course at 300-level or above, two electives |
Third Work Term |
| 4 |
Term 3B*
ECON 401, 421, ECON course at 300-level or above, two electives |
Fourth Work Term |
Term 4A
ECON 402, two ECON courses at 300-level or above, two electives |
| 5 |
Fifth Work Term |
Term 4B
ECON 403, ECON course at 300-level or above, two electives |
|
* If ECON 421 is not selected in Term 3B, ECON 403 should be taken in Term 4B.
Joint Honours Economics
A Joint Honours academic plan with Economics may be taken in combination with any other Arts discipline in which an Honours academic plan is offered or with many Honours majors in other Faculties. See the department for the most recent list of approved combinations.
Continuation in this academic plan requires a cumulative average of 60% and a cumulative Economics average of 75%.
Eligibility for graduation in the Joint Honours Economics academic plan includes successful fulfilment of the following requirements:
- Appropriate Program-level requirements for the Home Faculty, including at least 21 academic course units. If the Home Faculty is Arts, see "BA Degree Requirements."
- Economics Plan-level requirements:
- at least seven academic course units (14 courses) in Economics with a minimum cumulative average of 75%. ECON course must include:
- Before graduation, all students must demonstrate to the Undergraduate Advisor their proficiency in report and essay writing. This can be accomplished by receiving a passing grade in ECON 472, or by submitting two single-authored term papers, each with a minimum course-weight of 25%, and written in an Economics course. Exemption from ECON 472 does not reduce the overall course requirement.
- Plan-level requirements for the second Major.
Notes For Joint Honours Academic Plans
- Economics and Geography
If majoring in Geography through Arts, the degree requirements of the Faculty of Arts must be met; if majoring in Geography through Environmental Studies, the degree requirements for the Faculty of Environmental Studies must be met. Students must take ECON 221 or ENVS 178 or ENVS 278. - Economics and Mathematics
By the end of the second year students must decide to pursue Joint Honours Economics and Mathematics through the Faculty of Arts or Joint Honours Mathematics and Economics through the Faculty of Mathematics. The academic plan must then be approved by the Department of Economics and the appropriate department in the Faculty of Mathematics. - Economics and Political Science
ECON 310 must be taken as part of the required 14 courses in Economics. - Economics and Sociology
Students may take either ECON 221 or SOC 280. - Biotechnology and Economics
A Biotechnology and Economics academic plan is available through the Science Faculty. The requirements are outlined under Co-operative Honours Science academic plans.
Specializations In Economics
Students majoring in Honours Economics or Four-Year General Economics can pursue a specialization in a number of areas including Econometrics, International Economics, Public Policy, Environmental Economics, Political Economy/Economic History and Finance. Students may select only one area of specialization. Each area of specialization requires four Economics courses which represent part of the total 18 Economics courses required for Honours Economics or part of the total 14 Economics courses required for Four-Year General Economics.
Econometrics Specialization
Required courses: ECON 403, 421, 422
At least one of ECON 311, or 405
International Economics Specialization
Required courses: ECON 332, 334, 436
At least one of ECON 333, 335, or 445
Public Policy Specialization
Required courses: ECON 341, 342, 361
At least one of ECON 344, 351, or 363
Environmental Economics Specialization
Required courses: ECON 355, 357, 361
At least one of ECON 333, 335, or 341
Political Economy/Economic History Specialization
Required courses: ECON 310, 365, 410
At least one of ECON 265, 363, or 461
Finance Specialization
Required courses ECON 371, 372, 304
At least one of ECON 332, 404, or 405
Minor in Economics
Students can obtain a Minor in Economics while majoring in an Honours or a Four-Year General academic plan in Arts or an Honours academic plan in another faculty. A total of five academic course units (ten courses) in Economics must be taken with a minimum cumulative average in these courses of 65%. Economics courses must include:
- ECON 101, 102, 201 and 202
- ECON 211 or 221*
* Other courses may be substituted for ECON 221 at the approval of the Department of Economics.