A Bachelor of Economics (BEc or BEcon) is an academic degree awarded to students who have completed undergraduate studies in economics.
Specialized economics degrees are also offered as a "tagged" BA (Econ), BS (Econ) / BSc (Econ), BCom (Econ), and BSocSc (Econ), or variants such as the "Bachelor of Economic Science".[1]
These degrees typically
[2][3][4][5][6][7]
encompass a broad range of topics in the field of economics, including microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, economic history, and international economics. The program aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of economic theories, principles, and models, as well as their application in analyzing real-world economic issues.
The curriculum is then (substantially) more theoretical and mathematical than the major in economics available generally (BBA, general BCom or BA).
Graduates often pursue careers in economic analysis, policy development, finance, and business consulting, or continue their studies in graduate programs.
Structureedit
The BEcon and the specialized degrees [8][9][10] each have their own structure, differing by university.
Generally, though, the curriculum is built around a core of theory, to which is added courses in the various branches, and areas of application; [11] see next section.
In the US, a structured "program"
is often offered within the College of Arts and Sciences.
[12][13][11][14][15]
In the Commonwealth, specialized BCom-Economics degrees are often offered through the commerce faculty.
[16][17][18][19][20][21]
The program is often available as a social science degree.
[22][23]
Several universities offer a separate 1 year Honours degree, [24] and the program then comprises "3 years plus 1"; often Honours (or Honors in the US) is included in the four year structure. [14] An Honours research-thesis will be required.
Under both specialized and general programs, economics is often combined with a second major in finance or management,
[25][26][27][9][21][7]
or with other social sciences;
[22][23][28]
in the US, economics is often combined with a quantitative subject such as math or computer science.[29]
The interdisciplinary "PPE" integrates philosophy and politics with economics.
Some business schools offer a joint program with the economics department;
[30][31]
similarly, joint-majors are commonly offered with the mathematics department.
[32][33][34][35][36]
Some universities allow that the degree as a whole may be further specialized;
either in one of the applied areas,
or, more common, in one of the major branches, often development economics,[37]
econometrics / mathematical economics,
[38][39][40]
political economy,[41]
agricultural economics,[42]
or business economics.[43]
Others allow this specialization at the Honours degree level.
Some universities offer a "Bachelor of Applied Economics"
[44]
or similar,
[45]
which will be career-focused.
Degrees in Financial Economics,
[46][47][8][48]
integrate finance into the economics program, as opposed to via a second major.
Co-requisite courses from outside of economics are invariably a program requirement.
Common to all business programs are introductory or business statistics, and "quantitative techniques", comprising basic calculus, interest calculations, and sometimes matrix operations;
the social science programs often include these, and may also require sociology and psychology.
Some knowledge of accountancy or management may be assumed in the "applied courses"; credits in these are usually inherent in the business degree.
Most specialized programs require further "Mathematics for Economists",
[55]
essentially a (detailed) survey of the topics mentioned above re US students;
[56]
see Business mathematics § Undergraduate.
Statistics is similarly extended,[57][18] often within the math course, as underpin to the econometrics coursework.
The specialized BSc programs are often more math intensive than the BA programs.[10]
Similarly, the Honors track will have additional math requirements.[14]
^"Bachelor of Economic Science". wits.ac.za. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
^"Concentrations". The Wharton School, The University of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on 2020-12-12. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
^"Undergraduate - FBE - HKU". ug.hkubs.hku.hk. Archived from the original on 2022-10-02. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
^Queensland, The University of. "Bachelor of Economics - Study - The University of Queensland". Study. Archived from the original on 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
^"Bachelor of Economics | UDEM". www.udem.edu.mx. Archived from the original on 2022-04-15. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
^"北京大学经济学院本科项目". Peking University School of Economics. Archived from the original on 2021-11-24. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
^Major in Business, Economics, and Society and Major in International Political Economy, Colorado College
^Wendy A. Stock (2017). Trends in Economics and Other Undergraduate Majors Archived 2020-02-20 at the Wayback Machine. American Economic Review, vol. 107, no. 5, May 2017 (pp. 644-49)
Frank Werner and Yuri Sotsko (2006). Mathematics of Economics and Business
Bruno Belevan, et al. (2020). Optimal, Integral, Likely: Optimization, Integral Calculus, and Probability for Students of Commerce and the Social Sciences
^See for example these sequences.
UQ: i Archived 2020-06-12 at the Wayback Machine, ii Archived 2020-06-12 at the Wayback Machine, iii Archived 2020-06-12 at the Wayback Machine;
UCT: i[permanent dead link], ii[permanent dead link], iii Archived 2020-09-24 at the Wayback Machine. The final in both cases is at masters level and includes analysis.
Some universities - UJ, for example - title the sequence "Quantitative Economics".