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Programs
Honours Economics
Honours Arts & Science and Honours Economics
Honours Computer Science and Honours Economics
Honours Mathematics and Honours Economics
Combined Honours Economics with other Major
Bachelor of Arts in Economics
Honours Economics with a minor in Business
Honours Economics with a minor in Finance/Accounting
Minor in Economics
Intergrated Business Studies Certificate with a Social Science Degree
Courses by level: Honours Programs
Click on the headings below to read more...
Honours Economics
The BA in Honours Economics program is a four-level program that offers the challenge of more advanced work in economics. To remain in this program, students must maintain a Cumulative Average (CA) of at least 5.0 in Level II, 5.5 in Level III and 6.0 in Level IV.
It is important to plan the final years of your program in advance. MA programs in economics expect students to have a B+ average in levels III and IV. Many but not all M.A. programs in economics expect that students have already taken advanced theory courses at the undergraduate level (Economics 3G03, 4T03 and 4TT3 at McMaster). At McMaster, admission to the regular M.A. in Economics requires these three courses but admission to the M.A. in Economic Policy does not. Economics 3G03 is a prerequisite for Economics 4T03 and Economics 4TT3 and is offered each year in the fall term. The two theory courses are offered in the winter term. Students considering an M.A. in economics are advised to consult with a departmental counsellor.
The honours program also provides excellent preparation for graduate work in business, law, public administration, urban planning and other professional disciplines. For example, students planning a career in business or the public sector often select the honours economics degree followed by the MBA or MPA degree. Such programs typically expect an Honours B.A. but do not require the advanced courses in economic theory. Other requirements for admission vary substantially among programs and universities.
The honours program offers the option of a minor in another subject. Qualified students are able to complete a minor in Finance or a minor in Accounting which are comparable to the concentration in these areas available to students enrolled in Commerce programs. These programs are in addition to the minor in Business. See below for more information about these programs.
Beginning September 2012, McMaster University and Mohawk College plan to launch a Mohawk Business Studies Certificate for Social Sciences students. To receive a Business Studies Certificate from Mohawk College, students will be required to complete 18 units of approved Social Science Business elective. The first three of these courses will be offered in the 2011/2012 academic year. See below for more information about this program.
Students registered in an honours program who decide that they wish to graduate upon completion of level III of the program may normally receive their BA without difficulty.
Honours Arts & Science and Economics
Brief Description:
Students in the Arts & Science Programme may undertake Combined Honours programmes in many disciplines including Economics. Students should consult an academic counsellor in both programmes as early as possible in order to plan an effective academic schedule.
Requirements:
Honours Arts & Science and Economics
Honours Economics and Computer Science
Brief Description:
The undergraduate computer science curriculum at McMaster University places emphasis on the foundations of computer science and the integration of theory and applications while managing a sufficient breadth across the discipline. This program provides the students with a solid foundation in computer science and exposure to the field of economics thereby opening up major opportunities for economist with a programming background.
Requirements:
Honours Economics and Computer Science
Honours Economics and Mathematics
Brief Description:
For the motivated student, the honours economics and mathematics programme gives the benefits of two cultures and two distinct modes of thought: an important aspect in developing critical thinking and in today's job market. For the students who seek to pursue economics at a graduate level, this program provides students with an excellent grasp of the mathematic tools needed for advanced study.
Requirements:
Honours Economics and Mathematics
Combined Honours Economics with another Major
Brief Description:
Economics provides many opportunities to students who wish to pursue a combined degree. Among the more popular second fields of study are political science, labour studies, and sociology but economics can be and has been combined with a wide variety of disciplines including French, Psychology, English, History, and Chemistry.
Requirements:
Consult Both Departments for More Information
B.A in Economics
The BA in Economics program is a three-level program designed to provide a general education, with an emphasis on the skills and knowledge required to understand the economy. Although it is not intended to prepare students for specific careers, the degree continues to be attractive to a wide range of employers.
The program helps to prepare students for their future careers by:
(1) acquainting them with current thinking on matters of public importance, such as inflation, unemployment, the national debt, taxation policy, labour force analysis, social policy reform, international trade policy, natural resource and environmental economics;
(2) training students to think logically and clearly about matters involving choice among alternatives (an important transferable skill); and
(3) preparing students for further study. Post-graduate work in such graduate fields as business, law, and public administration is possible with a B.A. degree but an Honours degree is increasingly presumed. A B.A. degree can also be very effectively combined with many one-year post-degree co-op programmes (such as journalism, human resource management, and logistics, to name just three) at community colleges.
(4) beginning September 2012, McMaster University and Mohawk College plan to launch a Mohawk Business Studies Certificate for Social Sciences students. To receive a Business Studies Certificate from Mohawk College, students will be required to complete 18 units of approved Social Science Business elective. The first three of these courses will be offered in the 2011/2012 academic year. See below for more information about this program.
The economics requirements for this degree consist of Economics 1B03 (Introductory Microeconomics), Economics 1B03 (Introductory Macroeconomics), nine units of compulsory level II courses (Economics 2G03 (Intermediate Microeconomics I), Economics 2H03 (Intermediate Income and Employment Theory I), and Economics 2B03 (Analysis of Economic Data I), and 15 units of other economics courses. Up to six of these 15 units of other economics courses may be selected from our level II economics electives offerings, which may particularly appeal to students interested in policy issues (Economics 2K03, the Economic History of Canada is not included among the restricted level II courses).
Students may broaden employment possibilities by including several non-economics courses in their program as electives. For example, a computer science course or an expository writing course may be appealing to some students.
Requirements:
B.A. in Economics
Honours Economics with a Minor in Finance or Accounting
Beginning in the 2004-2005 academic year, the School of Business also will offer minors in Finance and in Accounting. These minors will permit students outside of Business to complete a concentration in two areas from the School of Business which may be of particular interest to students in Economics. To be eligible to register for these courses, students must complete Economics 1B03 and Economics 1BB3 (or Economics 1A06) with a B- or better. Both minors require that students take an introductory accounting course (Commerce 2AA3). The minors in Accounting and in Finance permit students to take level IV courses as well as level II and III courses. It is this concentration in one of these areas which may make these minors particularly attractive. For more information, students should see the School of Business section of the Undergraduate Calendar.
Requirements:
Honours B.A. Economics with a Minor in Finance
Honours B.A. Economics with a minor in Accounting
Honours Economics with a Minor in Business
The School of Business has offered a minor in Business which is open to students in Honours programmes who complete Economics 1B03 and Economics 1BB3 (or Economcs 1A06) with a B- or better. To complete this minor, students have to complete six of ten courses. The courses include level II and level III courses in accounting, finance, organizational behaviour, marketing, human resources, information systems. The minor generally provides an overview of areas in Business. For more information, students should see the School of Business section of the Undergraduate Calendar.
Requirements:
Honours B.A. Economics with a Minor in Business
Minor in Economics
Students enrolled in a four- or five-level program in another subject may pursue a minor in economics. To complete the minor, all students must take Economics 1B03 and 1BB3. Beyond these initial six units, the minor consists of 18 other units of economics courses. Of these 18 units, up to six units may be satisfied by selecting courses from Economics 2A03, 2C03, 2D03, 2E03, 2F03, 2I03, 2J03, 2N03, 2P03, and 2T03 (see Section 5 below for further information on these courses). The remaining units may be selected from Economics 2B03, 2G03 (or 2X03), 2GG3, 2H03, 2HH3, 2K03, or any level III and level IV economics courses for which students have the prerequisites. COMMERCE 2FA3 may be substituted for ECON 2I03. COMMERCE 2QA3 and any other anti-requisite statistics course may be substituted for ECON 2B03.
During the final year of their program, students complete a Graduation Information Card. Students "declare" a minor by indicating the courses used to complete the minor on this card.
Intergrated Business Studies Certificate with a Social Science Degree
Beginning September 2012, McMaster University and Mohawk College plan to launch a Mohawk Business Studies Certificate for Social Sciences students. To receive a Business Studies Certificate from Mohawk College, students will be required to complete 18 units of approved Social Science Business elective. The first three of these courses will be offered in the 2011/2012 academic year. For more information about this program see IBSC
Courses by level: Honours Programs
Note: This table is meant to be a helpful guide but it is not a rigid schedule which must be adhered to in all instances. Throughout this table, "recommended" refers to the level at which students should normally complete required courses. Please read the notes at the bottom of the table for clarification.
Level |
Honours Economics |
Combined
|
|---|
| I |
Required
|
Econ 1B03 and 1BB3. Math 1K03 (if no Grade 12 Advanced
Functions) |
|---|
|
Recommended
|
Math 1F03 or 1M03. Stat 1L03 (if no Grade 12 Data Management or OAC Finite Math)
6 Units from Faculty of Humanities or Department of Religious Studies |
Same as Honours, except for the additional requirements of Econ-Math and Econ-CompSci
|
| II |
Required
|
Econ 2G03, Econ 2GG3, Econ 2H03 and Econ 2HH3. Math 1F03 or 1M03. Stat 1L03
|
|---|
|
Recommended
|
Econ 2B03
|
Combined Honours students may substitute an equivalent course in the other program
|
| III |
Required
|
Econ 3F03 (but often take in Fall Level IV)
|
Combined Honours students may substitute an equivalent course in the other program if both are in Social Sciences
|
|---|
|
Recommended
|
Econ 3U03
|
Combined Honours students may substitute an equivalent course in the other program
|
| IV; |
Required
|
Econ 4A03 (Honours Seminar)
|
Combined Honours students may substitute an equivalent course in the other program if both are in Social Sciences
|
|---|
|
Recommend
|
Those contemplating graduate study in economics are advised to consult a counsellor in the department.
|
|
Units in Economics beyond Level I.
|
Minimum: 48
Maximum: 60 |
Minimum: 39
Maximum: 54 |
|---|
- Those students wishing to proceed to graduate study in economics are strongly advised to take 3G03, 4T03 and 4TT3. Ideally students should plan to take 3G03 in Level III along with one of 4T03 or 4TT3 and then the remaining theory course in Level IV. In practice, many students take all three courses in Level IV.
- Students wishing to pursue an M.A. in Economic Policy, a Masters in Business Economics, a Masters in Business Administration, a Masters in Public Administration, Law School, or graduate studies in other fields may find the courses mentioned above useful, but are not required for admissions for most graduate programs, including business, law and public administration.
