Section 5

Economics Programs at a Glance

5.1 BA Major in Economics
5.2 BA Honours in Economics
5.3 BA in Economics and Society (NO LONGER OFFERED)
5.4 Concentration in Applied Energy Economics
5.5 Cooperative Education Program
5.6 Joint Programs

Consider taking a program and courses that you find interesting. If your choice is economics then there are a number of different degree options. The Department of Economics offers four different routes to a BA degree. These include a Major degree in economics, an Honours degree in economics, and co-operative education versions of both the Major and Honours degrees.

5.1 BA Major in Economics

The BA Major in Economics is widely recognized and fairly standardized around the world. It offers the greatest flexibility in terms of program choices —students admitted to this program can later apply for admission to the Honours program, the Economics and Society program, the concentration in Applied Energy Economics, the Cooperative Education Program and various joint programs with other Departments and Faculties. The Major degree is recommended for students with career aspirations in the business, public, or non-profit sectors. The degree provides a rigorous, yet accessible, grounding in economics. The requirements for a Major are less stringent than for an Honours degree and this extra flexibility allows Majors to pursue a wider variety of courses in other disciplines.

5.2 BA Honours in Economics

Those interested in a career as a professional economist or who plan to pursue graduate studies in economics should enroll in the BA Honours stream. Completion of an honours degree opens the option of doing a Masters Degree in economics, usually with only one more year of university. The grade point average, number of economics courses, quantitative and theory requirements are higher than for a BA in Economics. The Honours program should be seriously considered by all economics students who excel in their first two years of study, namely those with an overall GPA of 3.3 or better.

5.3 BA in Economics and Society

This program is no longer available for incoming students.

5.4 Concentration in Applied Energy Economics

The Concentration in Applied Energy Economics is designed to provide students with considerable expertise and experience in energy economics.  Further details of the program are available at http://econ.ucalgary.ca/undergraduate/applied-energy-program

5.5 Cooperative Education Program

The cooperative education versions of the Major and Honours degrees in economics are recommended for students who are interested in integrating their academic program with degree-related work experience. The cooperative education option typically requires an extra year to complete since, in addition to the normal course requirements, students must complete three work terms.

5.6 Joint Programs

There are a number of double Major and joint degree programs available to economics students. The following programs are likely of particular interest to economics students: the joint BA-BComm degree offered by the Faculty of Arts and the Haskayne School of
Business; the BA with a Minor in Management and Society; the joint BA-BSc(Eng) degree offered by the Faculty of Arts and the Schulich School of Engineering; or a double Major with Actuarial Science, Mathematics or Philosophy.