The Vancouver School of Economics offers undergraduate programs of study that lead to the degrees of Bachelor of International Economics, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Arts. The School also offers combined programs with Political Science, Philosophy, Mathematics, and Statistics. In addition, the School offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy, and a minor program in economics.
For information on the Bachelor of International Economics, see the Vancouver School of Economics. For information on advanced degrees, see graduate Economics.
Admissions
Admission to the Major/Combined Majors
Students are normally admitted to the Major in Economics or a Combined Major upon attaining Year 2 standing (27 credits), (see Promotion Requirements). Students are normally admitted to the Honours in Economics program upon attaining Year 3 standing. In order to be admitted to any economics program, a student must have completed the prerequisite admissions requirements:
| Admission Requirements1 | Credits |
| One of MATH_V 100, 102, 104, 110, 120, 180, 184, or SCIE_V 0012 | 3 |
| ECON_V 101 and ECON_V 102 | 6 |
| Selected course(s) from list of options3 | 3 |
| One of Arts One, ASTU_V 100, 101, CAP_V 100, ENGL_V 100, WRDS_V 150, 151, 350 or SCIE_V 1134 | 3 |
| Total credits applicable to the program of study | 27 |
1 Admission requirements cannot be taken on a Cr/D/F basis. | |
2 One course in differential calculus | |
3 For a list of specialization courses that satisfy the requirements of economics programs see the Economics admissions page. | |
4 Aside from SCIE_V 113, these courses that satisfy the writing component of the Bachelor of Arts Research and Writing Requirement, see the Faculty of Arts Degree Requirements. |
Combined majors may have additional or different requirements depending on the program:
- Students applying to the B.A. Combined Major in Economics and Mathematics must have one of MATH_V 101, 103, 105, 121, 111, or 131.
- Students applying to the B.A. Combined Major in Economics and Statistics must have one of DSCI_V 100, ECON_V 226, or ECON_V 227.
These courses may be used towards the “selected courses from list of options” in the general requirements.
Students applying to the B.Sc. combined majors in economics should consult the sections below, and apply through Science.
For more information and instructions about admissions to these programs, please visit the Economics admissions page.
Admission to the Major, a Combined Major, or the Honours program in Economics is not automatic, even if the minimum admissions requirements are met. To be admitted, a student must submit a formal application. Because there are a limited number of places, some students who satisfy the minimum admissions requirements may not be admitted.
Additional requirements may exist for students who have completed more than 40 post-secondary credits. See the School’s B.A. Admissions for details.
Selection for admission is based on grades from all credits of post-secondary coursework attempted, with the exception of up to 12 credits that may be excluded from the calculation. For more information, see the School's B.A. admission page.
It takes no fewer than two Winter Sessions to complete a Major, Combined Major or Honours program in Economics once admitted.
Admission to the Honours Program
Students are normally admitted to the Honours program upon completion of 54 credits. Admission is highly selective and is based on a student’s entire academic record. Students interested in the Honours program should complete:
- ECON_V 325, 304, and 306.
- One of MATH_V 101, 104, 121, or SCIE_V 001
- A minimum of 54 credits applicable to their degree.
- A minimum GPA of 80% in non-honours economics courses.
The School advises students interested in Honours to join another economics major after completing 24 credits, then apply to Honours later in their degree. Preference will be given to students who complete the preceding requirements when evaluating students for Honours admission.
Continuation in the Major
Students who are admitted to an economics major must maintain a minimum GPA and make acceptable progress towards completing their degree. To that end, upon completion of 45 credits students must have:
- Completed one of MATH_V 101, 103, 105, 121, SCIE_V 001, or an approved substitute.
- Completed ECON_V 301, or an approved substitute.
- Completed ECON_V 325, or an approved substitute.
- A minimum average GPA in ECON_V courses of 60% or better.
Continuation requirements may not be taken on a Cr/D/F basis.
Students who do not meet these requirements may be required to discontinue their economics major and choose an alternative specialization.
Applications
Students must apply to the Major, Combined Major or Honours program by written application, which must be received by the deadline set by the Vancouver School of Economics. The application form is available on the School's B.A. admission page along with the current deadline.
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.
Courses
In economics, the number of the course (e.g., 100, 200, etc.) is intended to represent the level of analytical sophistication requirement, not necessarily the year level.
Electives and Substitutes
Economics Electives in economics programs are ECON_V courses that count towards the major’s credit requirements but are not specifically required for the program. We encourage students to choose electives which collectively create a “focus” or theme for their degree. You can consult with a School advisor for advice on forming a theme based on your interests.
Economics recognizes a number of courses as approved substitutes for certain requirements of a program or admission. In particular, there are a number of substitutes for statistical courses like ECON_V 325, such as STAT_V 200. You can find a current list here.
Students who substitute an ECON_V course for a course from another discipline (e.g., STAT_V) should ensure they still meet the total credit requirements of their economics program. This usually requires taking an additional ECON_V course at the same, or higher, level. For details see the VSE website.
Senior Research Seminar
All B.A. and B.Sc. economics students are required to complete a senior research seminar as part of their program of study. For honours students, this is ECON_V 499. For majors students, this is ECON_V 490. ECON_V 490 is restricted to students in Majors and Combined Majors in Economics in their final academic session.
Students should note the prerequisites for senior courses and plan their programs accordingly. In particular, pay attention to the prerequisites for ECON_V 490: all of ECON_V 301, 302, 325 and 326 (or equivalent) must be completed before enrolling in ECON_V 490.
Programs
All programs in economics are divided into upper-level and lower-level requirements. These requirements can be completed at any time prior to graduation, subject to the admissions requirements described above.
Major in Economics
To be granted a major in economics, students must be admitted to the program and complete the following major requirements. In addition, students must also complete the degree requirements for their Bachelor’s degree.
| Lower-Level Requirements | Credits |
| ECON_V 101 and 102 | 6 |
| ECON_V credits numbered 200 or above | 3 |
| ECON_V 325 | 3 |
| Upper-Level Requirements | |
| ECON_V 301 or 304 | 3 |
| ECON_V 302 or 305 | 3 |
| ECON_V 326 | 3 |
| ECON_V 490 | 3 |
| ECON_V Electives numbered 300 or above | 6 |
| ECON_V Electives numbered 400 or above1 | 12 |
| Total ECON_V credits numbered 300 or above2 | 30 |
| Total ECON_V credits3 | 42 |
1 ECON_V 457 will not count towards 400-level electives | |
2 Economics courses that (i) have been granted unassigned first-year transfer credit (e.g., ECON 1st), or (ii) have been taken on a Credit/D/Fail basis, may not be included in the 42 credits required for a program in Economics. | |
3 There is a list of substitutable courses that meet certain admissions and program requirements. For more information, refer to the Electives and Substitutes section above. | |
Combined Major in Economics and Political Science
Students Entering Prior to 2025
Admission to the program is subject to the admission requirements, restrictions and application process that pertains currently to the Majors in Economics and Political Science. Students should apply to Economics for admission to the combined major. In addition to degree requirements, the program has Economics and Political Science requirements.
| Economics Lower-Level Requirements | Credits |
| As for the Major in Economics | See above |
| Economics Upper-Level Requirements (Years 3 and 4) | |
| ECON_V 301 or 304 | 3 |
| ECON_V 302 or 305 | 3 |
| ECON_V 326 | 3 |
| ECON_V 490 | 3 |
| ECON_V Electives numbered 300 or above | 3 |
| ECON_V Electives numbered 400 or above | 3 |
| ECON_V at any level | 3 |
| Total ECON_V credits numbered 300 or above | 21 |
| Total ECON_V credits | 33 |
| Political Science Requirements | |
| POLI_V 100 | 3 |
| POLI_V 101 | 3 |
| POLI_V 240 | 3 |
| POLI_V 350 or 352 | 3 |
| POLI_V 220 or 260 | 3 |
| POLI_V Electives numbered 300 or above | 15 |
Students Entering After 2025
Admission to the program is subject to the admission requirements, restrictions and application process that pertains currently to the Majors in Economics and Political Science. Students should declare a Major in Political Science either before or at the same time as they apply to economics. Students should apply to Economics for admission to the Combined Major.
Students already enrolled in a Major in Economics may change their specialization to the Combined Major with an application. They must request this change via the School. Students enrolled in a Political Science Major who wish to change their specialization to the Combined Major must apply for the Combined Major through the standard Economics admissions process.
In addition to degree requirements, the program has Economics and Political Science requirements. For information about the different focuses for the Political Science part of the combined major, see Political Science.
| Economics Lower-Level Requirements | Credits | ||
| As for the Major in Economics | See above | ||
| Economics Upper-Level Requirements (Years 3 and 4) | |||
| ECON_V 301 or 304 | 3 | ||
| ECON_V 302 or 305 | 3 | ||
| ECON_V 326 | 3 | ||
| ECON_V 490 | 3 | ||
| ECON_V Electives numbered 300 or above | 3 | ||
| ECON_V Electives numbered 400 or above1 | 3 | ||
| ECON_V at any level | 3 | ||
| Total ECON_V credits numbered 300 or above | 21 | ||
| Total ECON_V credits | 33 | ||
| Political Science Lower-Level Requirements | Credits | Political Science Lower-Level Requirements (Politics, Policy and Administration) | Credits |
| POLI_V 100 | 3 | POLI_V 100 | 3 |
| POLI_V 101 | 3 | POLI_V 101 | 3 |
| POLI_V 240 (or 340) 2 | 3 | POLI_V 220 | 3 |
| Any POLI_V course numbered 299 or below | 3 | Any POLI_V course numbered 299 or below | 3 |
| Total POLI_V Credits numbered 299 or below | 12 | Total POLI Credits numbered 299 or below | 12 |
| Political Science Upper-Level Requirements | Political Science Upper-Level Requirements (Politics, Policy and Administration) | ||
| POLI _V 350 or POLI_V 352 | 3 | POLI_V 302 | 3 |
| Total POLI_V Credits numbered 300 or above | 18 | POLI_V 350 | 3 |
| Total credits from the PPA approved list3 | 6 | ||
| Total POLI credits numbered 300 or above | 18 | ||
1 ECON_V 457 will not count towards 400-level electives | |||
2 Students who have not completed POLI_V 240 may substitute three credits from POLI_V 340-349 for POLI_V 240, although they are still required to complete a total of 12 POLI_V credits at the 100- and 200-level. | |||
3 For the PPA approved list, see Political Science. | |||
Combined Major in Economics and Philosophy
Admission to the program is subject to the admission requirements, restrictions, and application processes that pertain currently to the Majors in Economics and Philosophy. In addition to degree requirements, the program has Economics, Philosophy, and joint requirements. Students should apply only to Economics for admission to the combined major.
Students already enrolled in a Major in Economics may change their specialization to the Combined Major with an application. They must request this change via the School. Students enrolled in a Philosophy major who wish to change their specialization to the Combined Major must apply for the Combined Major through the standard Economics admissions process.
| Economics Lower-Level Requirements | Credits |
| As for the Major in Economics | See above |
| Economics Upper-Level Requirements | |
| ECON_V 301 or 304 | 3 |
| ECON_V 302 or 305 | 3 |
| ECON_V 326 | 3 |
| ECON_V 490 | 3 |
| ECON_V Electives numbered 300 or above1 | 6 |
| Total ECON_V credits numbered 300 or above | 21 |
| Total ECON_V credits | 33 |
| Philosophy Requirements | |
| PHIL_V 220, 222, 230, 321, or 330 | 3 |
| One of PHIL_V 240 or 340 | 3 |
| One of PHIL_V 314, 315, 338, 360, 369, 461 | 3 |
| One of PHIL_V 431, 432, 469, 491 | 3 |
| PHIL_V Electives numbered 300 or above | 12 |
| Total PHIL_V credits | 24 |
| Joint Requirements2 | |
| ECON_V 318/PHIL_V 362 | 3 |
| ECON_V 319/PHIL_V 363 | 3 |
1 ECON_V 457 will not count towards 400-level electives | |
2 Students may elect to take joint requirements under either the PHIL_V or ECON_V course code. Credits may be applied to the economics or philosophy elective credit requirements. | |
B.A. Combined Major in Economics and Mathematics
Students interested in the Combined Major must be accepted to the specialization by both the Department of Mathematics and the School of Economics. For the B.Sc. Combined Major in Mathematics and Economics, see the listing under the Faculty of Science. In addition to degree requirements, the program has Economics, and Mathematics requirements. Students should apply only to Economics for admission to the B.A. Combined Major.
| Year 1 Requirements | Credits |
| ECON_V 101, 1021 | 6 |
| One of MATH_V 100, 102, 104, 110, 120, 180, 184 | 3 |
| One of MATH_V 101, 103, 105, 121 | 3 |
| CPSC_V 110, or 103 and 107 | 3 |
| 100-level PHYS_V, or any of ECON_V, STAT_V, PHIL_V, DSCI_V, or MATH_V | 3 |
| SCIE_V 113 or a course meeting the Arts Writing Requirements5 | 3 |
| Total credits towards degree | 27 |
| Year 2 Requirements | |
| MATH_V 200 or 2262 | 3 |
| MATH_V 215 | 3 |
| MATH_V 2202 | 3 |
| MATH_V 221 or 223 | 3 |
| ECON_V 325 | 3 |
| ECON_V 301 or 304 | 3 |
| Economics Upper-Level Requirements | |
| ECON_V 302 or 305 | 3 |
| ECON_V 326 | 3 |
| ECON_V 490 | 3 |
| ECON_V Electives numbered 300 or above | 3 |
| ECON_V Electives numbered 400 or above3 | 3 |
| Total ECON_V credits numbered 300 or above | 18 |
| Total ECON_V credits | 33 |
| Mathematics Upper-Level Requirements | |
| MATH_V credits numbered 300 or higher4 | 18 |
1 Students that have not taken ECON_V 101 and 102 in their first two years may replace them with the approved equivalents ECON_V 310 and 311. MATH_V 100 and 101, in the admission requirements, are considered part of the Combined Major in Economics and Mathematics. | |
2 Students obtaining 68% or higher in MATH_V 226 may replace MATH_V 220 with 3 credits of electives. | |
3 ECON_V 457 will not count towards 400-level electives | |
4 Suitable electives include MATH_V 302, 303, 320, 321, 402, 403, 418, 419, and 443. MATH_V 320 would be valuable for graduate study. | |
| 5 For a list of courses that satisfy the Arts Writing Requirement, see the Faculty of Arts Degree requirements. |
B.A. Combined Major in Economics and Statistics
Students interested in the Combined Major must be accepted to the specialization by both the Department of Statistics and the School of Economics. For the B.Sc., Combined Major in Statistics and Economics, see the B.Sc. Combined Major in Statistics and Economics. In addition to degree requirements, the program has Economics, and Statistics requirements. Students should apply only to Economics for admission to the B.A. Combined Major.
| Year 1 Requirements | Credits |
| ECON_V 101 and 102 | 6 |
| One of MATH_V 100, 102, 104, 110, 120, 180, 184 | 3 |
| One of DSCI_V 100, ECON_V 226, ECON_V 227 | 3 |
| SCIE_V 113 or a course meeting the Arts Writing Requirement3 | 3 |
| Total credits towards degree | 27 |
| Economics and Statistics Lower-level Requirements (Year 1 and 2) | |
| One of MATH_V 101, 103, 105, 121 | 3 |
| One of DSCI_V 100, ECON_V 226, ECON_V 227 | 3 |
| ECON_V 325 or STAT_V 2001 | 3 |
| MATH_V 200 or 226 | 3 |
| ECON_V 301 or 304 | 3 |
| MATH_V 220 | 3 |
| MATH_V 221 or 223 | 3 |
| ECON_V Electives numbered 200 or above | 3 |
| Economics and Statistics Upper-level Requirements (Years 3 and 4) | |
| ECON_V 302 or 305 | 3 |
| Either (a) ECON_V 326 and STAT_V 301 or (b) ECON_V 398 and STAT_V 306 | 6 |
| ECON_V 490 | 3 |
| ECON_V Electives numbered 300 and above | 3 |
| ECON_V Electives numbered 400 and above2 | 3 |
| Total ECON_V credits numbered 300 or above | 18 |
| Total ECON_V credits | 33 |
| MATH_V 303 or 307 | 3 |
| STAT_V 302 or MATH_V 302 | 3 |
| STAT_V 305 | 3 |
| STAT_V 404 or 443 | 3 |
| STAT_V Electives numbered 300 or above | 3 |
| STAT_V Electives numbered 400 or above | 3 |
1 If STAT_V 200 is completed, an additional ECON_V course numbered 300 or higher must be taken. Similarly, if ECON_V 325 is completed, an additional STAT_V course numbered 200 or higher must be taken. These additional courses may be taken in any year of the program. | |
2 ECON_V 457 will not count towards 400-level electives | |
3 For a list of courses that satisfy the Arts Writing Requirement, see the Faculty of Arts Degree requirements. | |
Honours in Economics
To be granted an honours in economics, students must be admitted to the program and complete the following honours requirements. In addition, students must also complete their degree requirements, and meet the continuation and grade requirements.
| Lower-Level Requirements (Years 1 and 2) | Credits |
| As for the Major in Economics | See above |
| A minimum of 75% on all credits attempted | |
| A minimum of 78% in the best 12 credits of Economics attempted | |
| Upper-Level Requirements (Years 3 and 4) | |
| ECON_V 304 | 3 |
| ECON_V 305 | 3 |
| ECON_V 306 and 307 with a 68% average | 6 |
| ECON_V 326 | 3 |
| ECON_V 495 | 3 |
| ECON_V 499 | 6 |
| ECON Electives numbered 300 or above3 | 12 |
| ECON Electives numbered 400 or above3 | 12 |
| Total ECON credits numbered 300 or above1,2,3 | 51 |
| Total ECON credits1,2 | 60 |
| Grade Requirements | |
| A cumulative average of at least 78% in ECON courses numbered 300 or above | |
| No more than 6 credits in ECON courses numbered 300 or above with a grade less than 68% | |
1 Students should note the total ECON credit requirements for the Honours degree differ from the Major in Economics; this is important for students who substitute certain required courses, as described above. | |
2 Economics courses that (i) have been granted unassigned first-year transfer credit (e.g., ECON 1st), or (ii) have been taken on a Credit/D/Fail basis, may not be included in the 60 credits required for an Honours program in Economics. | |
3 Up to 12 credits of specific CPSC_V courses may be counted towards Honours electives, with permission of the Honours advisor. ECON_V 457 will not count towards 400-level electives | |
Honours Graduation and Continuation Requirements
Continuation in the Honours Economics Program requires that students achieve an average of 78% or higher in ECON_V courses numbered 300 and above in each Winter Session under evaluation.
Students who do not meet this continuation requirement will be required to discontinue from the Honours Program and will be offered admission to the Major in Economics Program instead.
Students who complete all requirements for the Honours program with the exception of the grade criteria above will be allowed to graduate with a Major in Economics. In such cases, successful completion of ECON_V 499 will be accepted as satisfying the ECON_V 490 requirement towards the Major in Economics program.
Minor in Economics
Students who are enrolled in a major program other than Economics and who:
(i) obtain at least 30 credits and no more than 42 credits in Economics (ECON_V), and
(ii) obtain at least 18 of these credits in courses numbered 300 or above, excepting upper-year principles of Economics (e.g. ECON_V 310, 311, or equivalent), qualify to graduate with a Minor in Economics.
Economics courses that (i) have been granted unassigned first-year transfer credit (e.g., ECON 1st), or (ii) have been taken on a Credit/D/Fail basis, may not be included in the 30 credits required for a Minor in Economics.