Bachelor of Economics; Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Advanced Studies
Economics is a dynamic social science concerned with the decision-making of individuals, businesses, and governments as they face trade-offs and respond to incentives. Economic thinking plays a crucial role in crafting innovative solutions to major problems and challenges such as global warming, poverty, development, and recession. The School of Economics has a long and proud history in economics education and research. Graduates of the Bachelor of Economics are equipped with the critical-thinking, data-analysis, and problem-solving skills required for a rewarding career in a diverse range of roles in the public and private sectors.
Course overview
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences offers the three-year (full time) Bachelor of Economics and the four-year (full time) Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Advanced Studies. Additionally, the Bachelor of Economics may be combined with the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Laws.
All Bachelor of Economics students complete a program in Economics comprised of foundational studies in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics and an 'embedded' major in:
Students who meet the entry and progression criteria may elect to complete the Advanced Economics program, which serves as a pathway to Honours in Economics.
Students also complete a second major (mandatory for the Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Advanced Studies) or minor from a broad range of subject areas, including business, STEM, social sciences, and humanities, as well as Open Learning Environment and elective units of study. Additionally, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Advanced Studies complete advanced coursework, including a substantial project.
Degree structure and requirements
For detailed information on degree rules, please refer to the course resolutions.
1. Bachelor of Economics
To qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Economics, a candidate must complete 144 credit points, including:
- a program (72 credit points) in Economics or Advanced Economics;
- a minor (36 credit points) or second major (48 credit points) from the Table A Subject Areas or Table S (excluding Economic Policy);
- for students not enrolled in the Dalyell stream: 6 credit points of Open Learning Environment units from Table O; or
- for students enrolled in the Dalyell stream: 12 credit points from Table D; and
- any additional units from Table A for the Bachelor of Economics, Table S, Table O, or Table D (for students enrolled in the Dalyell stream) needed to achieve the 144 credit points required for the degree.
2. Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Advanced Studies
To qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Advanced Studies, a candidate must complete 192 credit points, including:
- a program (72 credit points) in Economics or Advanced Economics;
- a second major (48 credit points) from the Table A Subject Areas or Table S (excluding Economic Policy);
- for students not enrolled in the Dalyell stream: 6 credit points of Open Learning Environment units from Table O; or
- for students enrolled in the Dalyell stream: 12 credit points from Table D;
- a minimum of 24 credit points of 4000-level advanced coursework units from Table A for the Bachelor of Economics and/or Table S, including a research, community, industry or entrepreneurship project of at least 12 and up to 36 credit points; and
- any additional units from Table A for the Bachelor of Economics, Table S, Table O, or Table D (for students enrolled in the Dalyell stream) needed to achieve the 192 credit points required for the degree.
Mathematics assumed knowledge
Mathematics is an essential tool in the study of economics. Students admitted to a Bachelor of Economics course are assumed to have prior knowledge of mathematics equivalent to a minimum result of Band 4 in the NSW Higher School Certificate course, Mathematics Advanced. Students who do not possess the assumed knowledge are strongly advised to enrol in ECON1003 Quantitative Methods in Economics in their first semester of study. The unit may be counted as an elective towards the requirements of the degree.
Degree planning
The degree plans below are intended as a guide only but indicate the recommended sequence of units of study for a full-time student. A degree planning tool is available to assist enrolled students in mapping out their studies against course requirements. Additional degree planning resources are also available.
| Year | Semester | Units of study | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ECON1001 | ECMT1010 | Second major or minor | Elective |
| 2 | ECON1002 | ECMT1020 | Second major or minor | Elective | |
| 2 | 1 | ECOS2001 or ECOS2902 |
ECMT2150 or ECMT2950 |
Second major or minor | OLE or Dalyell |
| 2 | ECOS2002 or ECOS2901 |
Embedded major or Economics program selective | Second major or minor | Elective or Dalyell | |
| 3 | 1 | Embedded major | Embedded major | Second major or minor | Second major or elective |
| 2 | ECOS3997 or ECMT3997 | Embedded major | Second major or minor | Second major or elective | |
| Year | Semester | Units of Study | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ECON1001 | ECMT1010 | Second major or minor | Elective |
| 2 | ECON1002 | ECMT1020 | Second major or minor |
Elective | |
| 2 | 1 | ECOS2902 | ECOS2903 | Second major or minor |
OLE or Dalyell |
| 2 | ECOS2901 | ECMT2150 or ECMT2950 | Second major or minor |
Elective or Dalyell | |
| 3 | 1 | ECOS3902 | ECOS3903 or ECOS3904 | Second major or minor |
Second major or elective |
| 2 | ECOS3901 | ECOS3997 or ECMT3997 | Second major or minor |
Second major or elective |
|
| Year | Semester | Units of study | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ECON1001 | ECMT1010 | Second major | Elective |
| 2 | ECON1002 | ECMT1020 | Second major | Elective | |
| 2 | 1 | ECOS2001 or ECOS2902 |
ECMT2150 or ECMT2950 |
Second major | OLE or Dalyell |
| 2 | ECOS2002 or ECOS2901 |
Embedded major or Economics program selective | Second major | Elective or Dalyell | |
| 3 | 1 | Embedded major | Embedded major | Second major | Second major |
| 2 | ECOS3997 or ECMT3997 | Embedded major | Second major | Second major | |
| 4 | 1 | Advanced coursework | Project | Advanced coursework or elective | Advanced coursework or elective |
| 2 | Advanced coursework | Project | Advanced coursework or elective | Advanced coursework or elective | |
Programs, majors and minors
The program in Economics/Advanced Economics consists of 72 credit points. A major consists of 48 credit points in a single subject area. A minor consists of 36 credit points in a single subject area. It is not possible to complete a major and a minor in the same subject area.
Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Advanced Studies students complete a program in economics with an embedded major in Econometrics; Economics; Environmental, Agricultural and Resource Economics; or Financial Economics.
Students also complete a second major (mandatory for the Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Advanced Studies) or minor from the Table A Subject Areas or Table S (excluding Economic Policy).
Overlapping core units of study
An overlap in core units of study occurs with certain combinations of majors. For example, the core unit ECON1001 Introductory Microeconomics is common to the Economics and Financial Economics majors. This situation also arises between some School of Economics majors and majors offered by the Business School and Faculty of Science. For example, the 1000-level core units in the Finance major (Business School), BUSS1020 Quantitative Business Analysis and BUSS1040 Economics for Business Decision Making, are equivalent to ECMT1010 Introduction to Economic Statistics and ECON1001 Introductory Microeconomics, respectively. Bachelor of Economics students are required to complete the core units specified for the Bachelor of Economics rather than equivalent units offered by other faculties.
- 1000 level: Up to two overlapping 1000-level core units may count towards the requirements of two majors. To make up the credit points for the overlapping unit(s), students must complete elective units as appropriate.
- 2000 level: An overlapping 2000-level core unit cannot count towards the requirements of two majors. Students are required to substitute the overlapping core unit in one of the majors with a 2000- or 3000-level selective unit from the same major.
Advanced coursework
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Advanced Studies are required to complete a minimum of 24 credit points of Advanced Coursework, which provides an opportunity to broaden and deepen their subject knowledge and conduct a research project. Details of advanced coursework units of study in Economics can be found on the Economics advanced coursework units of study page.
Honours
Honours is an additional year (full time) of study following completion of the Bachelor of Economics. It provides students an opportunity to develop research skills in Economics or Econometrics by undertaking advanced coursework and conducting a supervised but independent research project. The honours year adds greater depth to an undergraduate degree and is a pathway to both employment as a professional economist and postgraduate research study.
Information on the preparation required for admission to Honours can be found on the Bachelor of Economics (Honours) page. Students intending to undertake Honours in Economics or Econometrics should apply for admission to the Bachelor of Economics (Honours) during their final semester of enrolment in the Bachelor of Economics.
Table D - Dalyell stream
The Dalyell stream is a targeted stream for high achievers. Students who participate in the Dalyell stream are known as ‘Dalyell Scholars’ and have access to curricular and extra-curricular activities.
Dalyell Scholars are required to complete 12 credit points of Dalyell stream units. Dalyell stream units emphasise the development of vision, depth of understanding, adaptability, breadth of perspective, societal contribution, and a high level of capability in operating across disciplinary and cultural boundaries. Dalyell Scholars may take Dalyell stream units offered by any faculty.
Additionally, with the permission of the Dalyell Program Director, students have access to enrichment and accelerated units of study that can be completed as electives.
Table O - Open Learning Environment (OLE)
Students are required to complete 6 credit points in units of study from the Open Learning Environment, unless they are enrolled in the Dalyell stream.
Table S - Interdisciplinary Studies (Shared pool)
Students can complete a second major or minor (Bachelor of Economics only) in a wide range of subject areas through the shared pool of majors and minors.
Electives
Students may complete any additional units of study from Table A (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences), Table S (shared pool), Table O (OLE), or Table D (for students enrolled in the Dalyell stream) needed to achieve the credit-point total required for their degree.
Contacts and further information
- School of Economics
- Email: economics.enquiries@sydney.edu.au
