Paul Bowles, Professor Emeritus
Fiona MacPhail, Professor Emerita
Karima Fredj, Associate Professor and Chair
Jalil Safaei, Professor
Komla Avoumatsodo, Assistant Professor
Leandro Freylejer, Assistant Professor
Liam Kelly, Assistant Professor
Website: www.unbc.ca/economics
Economics as a discipline is constructed around the need to identify agents in the economy and analyze their interactions. As such it is based upon deriving generalizations by identifying behavioural rules and examining causal relationships between economic variables. The emphasis on examining causal relationships is a distinguishing feature of economics and forms an important part of its claim to be a social science. As well as addressing these central concerns, the Economics Program recognizes the interaction between the economy and other broader social, political, cultural and technological forces. The Program therefore places special emphasis on courses that analyze institutions, facilitate comparative studies, encourage a historical approach, and recognize the pervasiveness of technological change.
Major in Economics (BA)
Joint Major in Economics and Global and International Studies (BA)
Joint Major in Economics and Political Science (BA)
Joint Major in Economics and Mathematics (BSc)
Minor in Economics
Minor in International Development Studies
Major in Economics
Undergraduate students are required to take 15 Economics courses (45 credit hours). Of these, 10 courses (30 credit hours) are at the upper-division level.
The minimum requirement for completion of a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Economics is 120 credit hours.
Program Requirements
Lower-Division Requirement
100 Level
| Microeconomics | |
| Macroeconomics | |
| Finite Mathematics for Business and Economics | |
| or | Linear Algebra |
| Calculus I | |
| or | Calculus for Non-majors |
One of the following:
| Introduction to Canadian Business | |
| Introduction to Computer Systems and Programming | |
| Introduction to Planning | |
| The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada | |
| Introduction to Global Studies | |
| Contemporary Political Issues |
200 Level
| Statistics for Business and the Social Sciences |
Two of the following:
| Contemporary Economic Issues | |
| Methods of Economic Evaluation | |
| Introduction to Health Economics and Policy | |
| Global Economic Shifts |
One of the following:
| Financial Accounting | |
| Financial Management I | |
| Organizational Behaviour | |
| Introduction to Marketing | |
| Applied Business Computing | |
| Planning Analysis and Techniques | |
| Land and Indigenous Reconciliation Studio | |
| Globalizations | |
| Global Environmental Change | |
| Canadian Government and Politics | |
| Canada in Comparative Perspective | |
| Introduction to Law in Canada |
Upper-Division Requirement
300 and 400 Level
| Intermediate Microeconomic Theory | |
| Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory | |
| Introduction to Econometrics | |
| Applying Economics in the Community | |
| or | Internship |
Eighteen credit hours of upper-division Economics and 6 credit hours of upper-level applied and/or policy-oriented courses from any discipline (including Economics) and approval by the Chair.
*Note: Students wishing to pursue graduate studies in Economics are strongly advised to take (Introduction to Mathematical Economics) and (Advanced Microeconomic Theory).
Elective and Academic Breadth
Electives at any level in any subject sufficient to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including any additional credits necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation on Academic Breadth).
Joint Major in Economics and Global and International Studies (BA)
Joint majors are designed for students interested in a combination of two related fields of study. A Joint Major normally involves a specific set of course requirements selected to provide a solid specialization in each of the two fields. The graduation requirements for a joint major can normally be met in four years of study. The minimum requirement for completion of a Bachelor of Arts with a joint major in Economics and Global and International Studies is 120 credit hours.
Program Requirements
Lower-Division Requirement
| Microeconomics | |
| Macroeconomics | |
| Contemporary Economic Issues | |
| or | Methods of Economic Evaluation |
| or | Introduction to Health Economics and Policy |
| Statistics for Business and the Social Sciences | |
| Global Economic Shifts | |
| Introduction to Global Studies | |
| Globalizations |
Upper-Division Requirement*
| Intermediate Microeconomic Theory | |
| or | Managerial Economics |
| Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory | |
| Origins and Evolution of Our Globalizing World | |
| Global Capstone |
Two of the following:
| International Economic Relations | |
| Economics of Developing Countries | |
| Global Economy and Development | |
| Poverty, Inequality and Development |
Twelve additional credit hours of 300- or 400-level Global and International Studies courses.
Six additional credit hours of 300- or 400-level Economics courses.
*Students must ensure that all prerequisites are fulfilled prior to registering in any courses. Note that is a prerequisite for .
Language and Regional Studies Requirement
One of the following:
| World Regions: Latin America and the Caribbean | |
| Republican Latin America | |
| Contemporary Circumpolar North |
Twelve credit hours of Global and International Studies language courses. At least two courses must be in one language.
Elective and Academic Breadth
Elective credit hours as necessary to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including any additional credits necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation on Academic Breadth).
Joint Major in Economics and Political Science (BA)
The minimum requirement for completion of a Bachelor of Arts with a Joint Major in Economics and Political Science is 120 credit hours.
Program Requirements
Lower-Division Requirement
| Microeconomics | |
| Macroeconomics | |
| Statistics for Business and the Social Sciences |
Two of the following:
| Contemporary Economic Issues | |
| Methods of Economic Evaluation | |
| Introduction to Health Economics and Policy | |
| Global Economic Shifts |
| Contemporary Political Issues | |
| Canadian Government and Politics | |
| Canada in Comparative Perspective | |
| International Relations | |
| Political Philosophy: Antiquity to Early Modernity |
Upper-Division Requirement
| Intermediate Microeconomic Theory | |
| or | Managerial Economics |
| Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory | |
| Democracy and Democratization | |
| Canadian Politics and Policy | |
| Political Philosophy: Early Modernity to Post-Modernity |
Nine credit hours in Political Science at the 400 level.
Eighteen credit hours in Economics at the 300 or 400 level.
Elective and Academic Breadth
Elective credit hours as necessary to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including any additional credits necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation on Academic Breadth).
Joint Major in Economics and Mathematics (BSc)
The minimum requirement for completion of a Bachelor of Science with a Joint Major in Economics and Mathematics is 121 credit hours.
(Finite Mathematics for Business and Economics) may not be used for credit towards any Mathematics major or joint major.
Note: Students enrolling in any Mathematics courses are required to have completed all prerequisite courses for that course with a C- or better, or have permission to enroll from the Chair of Mathematics.
Program Requirements
Literacy Requirement
One of the following:
| Writing and Communication Skills | |
| Expository Writing |
Economics Requirements
| Microeconomics | |
| Macroeconomics |
Two of the following:
| Contemporary Economic Issues | |
| Methods of Economic Evaluation | |
| Introduction to Health Economics and Policy | |
| Global Economic Shifts |
And:
| Statistics for Business and the Social Sciences | |
| Intermediate Microeconomic Theory | |
| Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory | |
| Introduction to Econometrics | |
| Introduction to Mathematical Economics | |
| Advanced Microeconomic Theory |
Twelve additional credit hours of 300- or 400-level Economics.
Mathematics Requirements
| Calculus I | |
| Calculus II | |
| Multivariable Calculus I | |
| Multivariable Calculus II | |
| Linear Algebra | |
| Foundations of Modern Mathematics | |
| Ordinary Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems | |
| Introduction to Complex Analysis | |
| Survey of Algebra | |
| or | Introductory Mathematical Analysis |
| Probability and Statistics for Scientists and Engineers |
Six additional credit hours of 300- or 400- level Mathematics ( is strongly recommended).
Six additional credit hours of 400-level Mathematics.
Program Requirements
| Computer Programming I |
Elective and Academic Breadth
Elective credit hours as necessary to ensure completion of a minimum of 121 credit hours, including any additional credits necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation on Academic Breadth).
Minor in Economics
The minor in Economics requires the completion of 24 credit hours. Students must complete:
| Microeconomics | |
| Macroeconomics |
Two of the following:
| Contemporary Economic Issues | |
| Statistics for Business and the Social Sciences | |
| Methods of Economic Evaluation | |
| Introduction to Health Economics and Policy | |
| Global Economic Shifts |
Twelve credit hours of 300- or 400- level Economics courses.
A maximum of 4 courses (12 credit hours) used to fulfill program requirements for a major or another minor may also be used to fulfill requirements for a minor in Economics. Alternative courses may be substituted for the above with written permission of the Chair of Economics and Dean.
Minor in International Development Studies
The International Development Studies minor provides students with the opportunity to learn about the lives of the majority of the world’s population. Students have the opportunity to explore the diversity of cultures, political systems, histories, and economic strategies that shape the contemporary context for development. By combining courses from several subject areas and analyzing development as a concept and as a practice at the local, national and international levels, the program provides students with the knowledge and perspectives needed to gain a better understanding of the world in which we all live.
The Minor requires 27 credit hours. 12 credit hours are required in the lower-division and at least 12 credit hours must be from the upper division. In the upper division, courses must be chosen from at least three subject areas.
Lower-Division Required Courses
| Global Economic Shifts | |
| Planet Earth | |
| World History since 1550 |
In addition, students must take 15 credit hours of elective courses from at least three subject areas of which at least 12 credit hours must be from the upper division.
Students must take two or more of the following:
| Economics of Developing Countries | |
| Global Economy and Development | |
| Poverty, Inequality and Development | |
| Critical Development Geographies | |
| International Development |
Other approved courses are:
| Anthropological Perspectives on Inequality | |
| Comparative Study of Indigenous Peoples of the World | |
| International Literatures in English | |
| Comparative Literary Studies | |
| Special Topics in International Literatures in English | |
| Special Topics in Comparative Literary Studies | |
| Indigenous Issues in International Perspective | |
| Political Ecology: Environmental Knowledge and Decision-Making | |
| Health Geography | |
| Tenure, Conflict, and Resource Geography | |
| Geographies of Culture, Rights and Power | |
| The Global Age of Expansion | |
| The Age of Empire | |
| Colonial Latin America | |
| Republican Latin America | |
| Introduction to Global Studies | |
| Human Rights | |
| Gender and International Studies | |
| Pacific Affairs | |
| Democracy and Democratization | |
| Chinese Politics and Society |
Students may count up to 12 credit hours in their Major towards their Minor.
Updated: December 5, 2024