The Vancouver School of Economics offers programs of study that lead to the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Arts, Bachelor of International Economics, and Bachelor of Arts. The School also collaborates with Canadian Studies, International Relations, Mathematics, Modern European Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Statistics, Urban Studies, Women's and Gender Studies, and Commerce and Business Administration.
For information on the Bachelor of International Economics, see the Vancouver School of Economics. For information on advanced degrees, see graduate Economics.
Admission to Major/Combined Major/Honours Programs
Admission to the Major or a Combined Major or the Honours program in Economics requires a student to have completed at least 54 credits.
Admission to the Major or a Combined Major or the Honours program in Economics is not automatic. To be admitted, a student must submit a formal application. Because there are a limited number of places, some students who satisfy the minimum prerequisites may not be admitted.
Selection for admission is based on a weighted average calculated on the grades from all credits of post-secondary coursework attempted, with the exception of 12 credits that may be excluded from the calculation. Grades from economics and related courses are weighted more heavily in the calculation, and, as prescribed below, must be included in the calculation of the average. Please see the individual programs listed below for more details. It takes no fewer than two Winter Sessions to complete a Major, Combined Major or Honours program in Economics. Students are not admitted to the final 30 credits of a Major or a Combined Major Program.
Students with 75 credits or more may not apply to the Major or Combined Major Program unless they have already declared another major.
Students who are considering a Major, Combined Major, or Honours program in Economics are encouraged to seek advice on their program from school advisors upon completion of their first 54 credits (or, if possible, on completion of their first 30 credits).
Application
A written application for admission to the Major or Honours program should be received by the deadline set by the Vancouver School of Economics, and published on its BA Admissions Page, prior to registering for the final 60 credits, to ensure that the student will be considered for admission. Application forms are available from Economics.
The application form must be accompanied by a copy of the student's permanent record from UBC and official transcripts of the student's record from all other post-secondary educational institutions attended.
Major in Economics
To be admitted to the Major program, a student must have obtained a minimum of 54 credits applicable to the Bachelor of Arts, including:
(i) 6 credits of Principles of Economics (ECON 101 and 102 or approved equivalents).
(ii) 3 credits of first-year differential calculus (MATH 100) and 3 credits of first-year integral calculus (MATH 101) or approved equivalents.
(iii) 3 credits that satisfy the writing component of the Bachelor of Arts Writing and Research Requirement.
(iv) 3 credits of introductory econometrics (ECON 325 or an approved equivalent).
(v) 3 credits of second- or third-year level courses in economics.
Courses taken on a Credit/D/Fail basis cannot be used to satisfy any of these requirements. For a list of approved equivalents, please see https://economics.ubc.ca/approved-equivalents. For a list of courses that satisfy the writing component of the Bachelor of Arts Research and Writing Requirement, please see the Faculty of Arts Degree Requirements.
Economics courses that do not have 6 credits of principles of economics as a prerequisite, or for which unassigned transfer credit may have been granted, may not be included in the 42 credits required for the Economics Majors.
In addition to the above prerequisites and Faculty requirements the program must include:
- ECON 301 (or 304) and 302 (or 305)
- ECON 326
- ECON 490
- 12 additional credits of economics at the 400-level
- at least 6 additional credits in ECON at the 3XX or 4XX-level, bringing the total number of credits completed in Economics to 42, of which at least 30 credits are in 3XX and 4XX-level economics courses
Note: Students who are exempt from specific required courses (e.g. ECON 301, ECON 325, ECON 326) because they have received credit for a non-ECON approved equivalent may have to take additional ECON credits so that they satisfy the Majors requirement of 42 ECON credits, with at least 30 ECON credits at or above the 3XX level.
Students should note the prerequisites for senior courses and plan their programs accordingly. Particular attention should be paid to the prerequisites for ECON 490: ECON 301, 302, 325 and 326 (or their equivalent) must be successfully completed before enrolling in ECON 490. ECON 490 is restricted to Economics Majors and Combined Majors in Economics, in their final academic session.
For guidance on the course selections that enable students to emphasize different interests within Economics (e.g., international, development and history, environment, public policy, etc.), see the School. Students with over 80% average in their first-year economics and mathematics courses are strongly advised to apply for the Honours Program.
Graduate School Track
Graduate studies in Economics require a strong background in economic theory, econometrics, and mathematics. Therefore, students who intend to pursue graduate studies in Economics are strongly advised to take ECON 303 or ECON 306, ECON 307, ECON 421, ECON 425, MATH 200, and MATH 221.
Combined Major in Economics and Political Science
Admission to the program is subject to the admission requirements, restrictions and application process that pertain currently to the Majors in Economics and Political Science. In addition to degree requirements, the program has Economics and Political Science requirements.
Economics Requirements
In addition to the admission requirements for the Economics Major, students must take ECON 301 (or 304), 302 (or 305), 326, 490, 3 ECON credits at the 300-level or higher, and 3 ECON credits at the 400-level.
Note: Students who are exempt from specific required ECON courses (e.g. ECON 301, ECON 325, ECON 326) because they have received credit for a non-ECON approved equivalent may take additional ECON 3xx or 4xx level courses so that they satisfy the Combined Major requirement of 30 ECON credits.
Political Science Requirements
Students take a 15-credit core plus 15 credits of electives at the 300-/400-level. The 15-credit core consists of POLI 100, 101, 240, and 350 (or 352), plus 3 credits chosen from POLI 220 or 260.
Combined Major in Economics and Philosophy
Admission to the program is subject to the admission requirements, restrictions, and application process that pertain currently to the Major in Economics. In addition to faculty requirements, the program has Economics, Philosophy, and joint requirements.
Economics Requirements
In addition to the admission requirements for the Major in Economics, students must complete:
- ECON 301 (or 304).
- ECON 302 (or 305).
- ECON 326.
- 6 ECON credits at the 300-level or higher.
- ECON 490.
Note: Students who are exempt from specific required courses (e.g., ECON 301, ECON 325, ECON 326) because they have received credit for a non-ECON approved equivalent may take additional ECON 300 or 400 level courses so that they satisfy the Combined Major requirement of 30 ECON credits.
Philosophy Requirements
Students take an 18-credit core plus 12 credits of electives at the 300-/400-level. The 18-credit core consists of PHIL 220 or 222 or 321, 230, 330, one of 240 or 340, one of PHIL 314, 315, 338, 360, 369, 461, and one research seminar from among the following: 431, 432, 469 and 491. Students may use any 300-/400-level philosophy courses to fulfill their elective requirements excluding PHIL 400 and 401.
Joint Requirements
Students must complete both ECON 318/PHIL 362 and ECON 319/PHIL 363 (6 credits). They may elect to take these under either the Philosophy or Economics course code. Credits obtained for ECON 318/PHIL 362 and ECON 319/PHIL 363 may be applied towards fulfilling the Economics or Philosophy elective credits requirements.
B.A. Combined Major in Economics and Mathematics
Admission to the program is subject to the admission requirements, restrictions and application processes that pertain currently to the Major in Economics. For the B.Sc. Combined Major in Mathematics and Economics, see the listing under the Faculty of Science.
First and Second Years
In addition to the admission requirements for the Economics Major, students must take MATH 200 (or 2261), 215, 2201, 221 (or 223).Students that have not taken ECON 101 and 102 in their first two years may replace them with the approved equivalents ECON 310 and 311.1Students obtaining 68% or higher in MATH 226 may replace MATH 220 with 3 credits of electives.
Third and Fourth Years
In addition to degree requirements, students must take the following courses:
- ECON 301, 302, 326, 490
- 3 additional credits of economics numbered 300 or higher.
- 3 additional credits of economics numbered 400 or higher.
- 18 credits of mathematics numbered 300 or higher: suitable electives include MATH 302, 303, 3202, 321, 402, 403, 418, 419, and 443
2 MATH 320 would be valuable for graduate study.
Note: Students who are exempt from specific required ECON courses (e.g. ECON 301, ECON 325, ECON 326) because they have received credit for a non-ECON approved equivalent may take additional ECON 3xx or 4xx level courses so that they satisfy the Combined Major requirement of 30 ECON credits.
B.A. Combined Major in Economics and Statistics
Admission to the program is subject to the admission restrictions and application process that pertain currently to the Major in Economics. For the B.Sc., see the B.Sc. Combined Major in Statistics and Economics.
| Lower-level Requirements | |
|---|---|
| ECON 101, 102 | 6 |
| MATH 104 (or one of 100, 102, 110, 120, 180, 184) | 3 |
| DSCI 100 | 3 |
| MATH 105 (or one of 101, 103, 121) | 3 |
| MATH 200 or 226 | 3 |
| MATH 220 | 3 |
| MATH 221 or 223 | 3 |
| ECON 325 or STAT 2001 | 3 |
| Economics course numbered 2xx and above | 3 |
| Upper-level Requirements | |
| ECON 301 or 304 | 3 |
| ECON 302 or 305 | 3 |
| Either (a) ECON 326 and STAT 301 or (b) ECON 398 and STAT 306 | 6 |
| ECON 490 | 3 |
| Economics courses numbered 300 and above | 3 |
| Economics courses numbered 400 and above | 3 |
| MATH 303 or 307 | 3 |
| STAT 302 or MATH 302 | 3 |
| STAT 305 | 3 |
| STAT 404 or 443 | 3 |
| Statistics courses numbered 300 or above | 3 |
| Statistics courses numbered 400 or above | 3 |
| 1 If STAT 200 is selected, an additional ECON course numbered 300 or higher must be taken. Similarly, if ECON 325 is selected, an additional STAT course numbered 200 or higher must be taken. These additional courses may be taken in any year of the program. | |
Honours in Economics
To be admitted to the Honours program, a student must have obtained a minimum of 54 credits applicable to the Bachelor of Arts, with a minimum of 75% or better on all credits attempted, and must have obtained:
(i) 6 credits of Principles of Economics (ECON 101 and 102 or approved equivalents).
(ii) 6 credits of first-year calculus (MATH 100 and MATH 101 or approved equivalents).
(iii) 3 credits that satisfy the writing component of the Faculty of Arts Writing and Research Requirement (ASTU 150, CAP, Arts One, English 100 or an approved equivalent).
(iv) 3 credits of introductory econometrics (ECON 325 or an approved equivalent).
(v) 3 credits of second- or third-year-level courses in economics.
The student should have at least a 75% average in the best 12 credits of economics courses. Courses taken on a Credit/D/Fail basis cannot be used to satisfy any of these requirements. For a list of approved equivalents, please see economics.ubc.ca/substitutable-courses. For a list of courses that satisfy the writing component of the Bachelor of Arts Research and Writing Requirement, please see the Faculty of Arts Degree Requirements.Students considering an Honours program in Economics should consult the School's Honours advisor on completion of their first 54 credits (or, if possible, on completion of their first 30 credits).In addition to the prerequisites the program must include:
- ECON 326
- ECON 304 and 305
- ECON 306 and 307 with at least a 68% average
- another 12 credits in economics courses at the 400-level
- another 12 credits in economics courses at the 300- or 400-level
- ECON 495 and 499
Graduate studies in economics require a strong background in economic theory, econometrics, and mathematics. Students who intend to pursue graduate studies in economics are strongly advised to take ECON 421, ECON 425, MATH 200, and MATH 221.Graduation with an Honours Degree in Economics requires:
- A cumulative average of at least 78% in ECON courses numbered 300 and above
- No more than two ECON courses (6 credits) at the ECON 3xx/4xx with a grade below 68%.
Students who do not meet the Honours graduation requirements will be allowed to remain in the Economics Majors Program (BA), but will be required to discontinue the Honours Program.Note: Students who are exempt from specific required courses (e.g. ECON 325, ECON 326) because they have received credit for non-ECON approved equivalents list may have to take an equal number of additional ECON 3xx or 4xx level credits to satisfy the minimum requirement of 60 ECON credits.
Minor in Economics
Students who are enrolled in a major program other than Economics, and who obtain at least 30 credits and no more than 42 credits in economics, with at least 18 of these credits in courses numbered 300 or above, qualify to graduate with a Minor in Economics.No Principles of Economics courses (ECON 310, 311, or equivalent) can be included in the requirement of 18 credits in courses numbered 300 or above. Economics courses that (i) do not have 6 credits of Principles of Economics as a prerequisite, or (ii)have been granted unassigned transfer credit, or (iii) have been taken on a Credit/D/Fail basis, may not be included in the 30 credits required for a Minor in Economics.
Courses for Students not Specializing in Economics
ECON 310 and ECON 311 are designed for upper-year students who want a survey course in economics but who do not want to specialize in the field.Non-specialists should also note that most 300-level courses have as prerequisites no more than 6 credits of principles of economics.Please see the undergraduate timetable, available from the School, for updated information on courses to be offered each session.