Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Arts

Course overview

The Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Arts is a four-year (full time) combined degree.

Students complete a program in Economics comprised of foundational studies in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics and an 'embedded' major in:

• Econometrics
• Economics
• Environmental, Agricultural and Resource Economics; or
• Financial Economics

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 major in the social sciences or humanities and a minor from a broad range of subject areas, including business, STEM, social sciences, and humanities. Additionally, students complete Open Learning Environment and elective units of study.

Degree structure and requirements

For detailed information on degree rules, please refer to the course resolutions.

Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Arts

To qualify for the award of the combined Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Arts, a candidate must complete 192 credit points, including:

• a program (72 credit points) in Economics or Advanced Economics;
• 6 credit points of degree core units;
• a major (48 credit points) from the Table A Subject Areas (excluding Econometrics; Economic Policy; Economics; Environmental, Agricultural and Resource Economics; and Financial Economics);
• a minor (36 credit points) from Table S;
• 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, 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 plan below is intended as a guide only but indicates 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.

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 Arts 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 major from the Table A Subject Areas (excluding Econometrics; Economic Policy; Economics; Environmental, Agricultural and Resource Economics; and Financial Economics) and a minor from Table S.

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 Economics program

The Advanced Economics program is primarily designed to prepare students to undertake an honours (fourth) year in Economics but is available to all eligible students, regardless of whether they intend to complete the honours year. The objective of the program is to equip students for the diverse range of careers which value research skills in economics – for understanding economic and social phenomena, analysing economic data, and exploring alternative choices in addressing key challenges. The program emphasises the greater mathematical and statistical rigour needed by researchers to analyse economic phenomena using advanced economic theory and applied data analysis techniques. This preparation broadens the range of issues that can be studied and enables deeper economic analysis and contributions to economic thought.

The structure of the Advanced Economics program does not allow a choice of units of study, with the exception of a choice between applied micro- and macroeconometrics in Year 3. The embedded major is Economics.

Admission and progression

All Bachelor of Economics (and associated combined degree) students may elect to undertake the Advanced Economics program; however, to progress through the program, students must achieve a specified minimum result in most units of study.

Completion of the Advanced Economics program does not guarantee admission to the honours (fourth) year in Economics. Admission criteria for the honours year can be found on the Economics and Econometrics subject area pages. Completion of the Advanced Economics program is not a requirement for admission to the honours year in Econometrics; however, students intending to undertake honours in Econometrics should complete at least the advanced Year 2 units in micro- and macroeconomics.

Honours

Honours is an additional year (full time) of study following completion of a three-year bachelor’s degree. It provides students an opportunity to develop research skills in their undergraduate major by undertaking advanced coursework and conducting a supervised but independent research project. An honours year adds greater depth to an undergraduate degree and is a pathway to both highly sought-after graduate programs in the public and private sectors, and postgraduate research study.

Students intending to undertake Honours should apply for admission to the relevant appended honours degree during their final semester of enrolment in the Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Arts:

• Arts majors: Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
• Economics or Econometrics: Bachelor of Economics (Honours). Information on the preparation required for admission to Honours can be found on the Bachelor of Economics (Honours) page.

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 are required to complete a minor from 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 192 credit points required for the degree.

Contacts and further information

- School of Economics
- Email: economics.enquiries@sydney.edu.au