Bachelor of Arts Economics
The BA in Economics is a thorough 3-year program providing students with a comprehensive education, focusing on essential skills and knowledge crucial for understanding the economy. While not specifically tailored for particular careers, it holds broad appeal for a diverse array of employers.
Functioning as a launchpad for future careers, the program acquaints students with contemporary perspectives on public issues such as inflation, unemployment, national debt, taxation policy, and environmental economics. It enhances logical and clear thinking skills—critical transferable skills—and readies students for advanced studies. Although a BA degree enables post-graduate work in fields like business, law, and public administration, there’s a growing preference for an Honours degree.
Moreover, a BA degree seamlessly integrates with one-year post-degree co-op programs, like journalism, human resource management, and logistics. The collaborative Mohawk Business Studies Certificate, introduced in 2012, offers a distinctive opportunity for Social Sciences students.
Graduates have excelled in various roles, from lawyers and government/business managers to policy researchers, economic analysts, and financial planners. To boost employment prospects, students can diversify their program with non-economics electives, such as computer science or expository writing courses, expanding their skill set for increased market flexibility.
Program Details
Typical Entry Term
Fall (September)
Program Options
Full-time or Part-time
Program Length
Three years (full-time)
Program Format
Course-based
Expandable List
Students start in the Social Sciences Level 1 program or Economics 1 program and apply to the Bachelor of Arts Economics at the end of their first year. Completion of any Level I program with a Grade Point Average of at least 3.5 and an average of at least 4.0 in ECON 1B03 and 1BB3.
The Academic Calendar lists course requirements and minimum grade requirements for entry to and continuance in the Bachelor of Arts Economics.
Sample Courses By Year (Not All Required)
Level I Courses
- ECON 1B0: Introductory Microeconomics
- ECON 1ME3: Introduction to Mathematical Economics
- ECON 1BB3: Introductory Macroeconomics
Level II Courses
- ECON 2N03: Public Policy Toward Business
- ECON 2P03: Economics of Professional Sports
- ECON 2Q03: Economics of Bad Behaviour
Level III Courses
- ECON 3G03: Introduction to Advanced Economic Theory
- ECON 3EE3: Econometrics I
- ECON 3E03: Applied Econometrics
Bachelor of Arts Economics graduates enjoy success beyond the classroom
References: Ontario University Graduate Survey, 2021
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Minors View Minors
Add a minor to your studies to differentiate yourself in the workplace.
Questions about the Bachelor of Arts Economics?
Contact Us
Economics Undergraduate Administrative Assistant
Enrolment, course permissions, general inquiries
Email: econug@mcmaster.ca
Academic Advising Office
Goals, program changes, academic support
Email: socscfac@mcmaster.ca
Phone: (905) 525-9140 ext. 23772
Office Location
Department of Economics
Kenneth Taylor Hall (KTH), 426
1280 Main Street West Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4M4
Office Hours
Monday to Friday
9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Closed for lunch 12:00 PM–1:00 PM