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BA - Economics as a major

If you’re fascinated by the history and creative activities of humankind and how this shapes societies and our future, then a Bachelor of Arts (BA) is for you. Our graduates are in demand for their flexible skills, practical outlook and depth of understanding they bring to their roles.

Studying Economics will help you develop the analytical skills needed to be an effective problem solver of real-life issues. You'll learn how to apply your skills to issues ranging from employment and housing, to public health, transport and environmental pollution.


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Key information

Years: 3
Points: 360
Start Dates: Trimester A (March) and Trimester B (July)
Estimated Fees* (Domestic): $6,591 - $7,608 per year
Estimated Fees* (International): $29,425 - $38,305 per year
Entry Requirements: Undergraduate International
Area of Study:
*Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees.

Career opportunities

  • Business analyst
  • Financial analyst
  • Policy analyst / adviser
  • Government economist (eg. Treasury)
  • Management consultant
  • Research economist
  • Economics teacher / lecturer
  • International trade advisor

Degree Planner

Degree planner — Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics

* If you taking the BA with a double major, choose the higher level paper indicated in the box.

Year 1

100 Level
One from List A: Academic Foundations

100 Level
Field of the degree

100 Level
Field of the degree

100 Level
Elective

100 Level
Elective

Year 2

100 or 200 Level
One from List B: Cultural Perspectives

200 Level
Field of the degree

100 or 200 * Level
Elective

200 Level
Elective

200 Level
Elective

Year 3

Any 300 Level
ECONS paper (listed below)

Any 300 Level
ECONS paper (listed below)

Any 300 Level
ECONS paper (listed below)

200 or 300 * Level
Elective

200 or 300 * Level
Elective

200 or 300 * Level
Elective

  • Major
  • Compulsory
  • Elective
This information is provisional and subject to change.

Paper details

300 LEVEL ECONOMICS PAPERS:
  • ECONS303 Applied Quantitative Research Methods
  • ECONS304 International Economic Issues
  • ECONS305 Entrepreneurial Discovery and Innovation
  • ECONS306 Economics and Strategic Interaction
  • ECONS307 Economies of Land, Water and Environment
WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING (WIL) PAPERS:

Economists help people, government and businesses to make better-informed decisions about using natural, human and financial resources to meet their future goals. Studying economics will develop the analytical skills needed for solving real-life issues ranging from employment and housing, to public health, transport and environmental pollution.

Economics is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Business (BBus), Bachelor of Climate Change (BCC), Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours (BMS(Hons))[1] and Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc). Economics may also be included as a second major or minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.

To complete Economics as a single major for the BA, BBus, BCC, BMS(Hons) and BSocSc students must gain 135 points from papers listed for Economics, including 105 points above 100 level, and 60 points above 200 level. Students must complete ECONS101, ECONS102, BUSAN205, ECONS200, ECONS202, ECONS301, and 45 points at 300-level from the papers listed for the subject. BBus and BMS(Hons) students may count one of WSAFE396 or WSAFE399 in place of 15 points from the 45 point option list.

To complete Economics as part of a double major for the BA, BBus, BCC, BMS(Hons), BSocSc, or other undergraduate degree, students must gain 120 points from papers listed for Economics, including 90 points above 100 level, and 45 points above 200 level. Students must complete ECONS101, ECONS102, BUSAN205, ECONS200, ECONS202, ECONS301, and 30 points at 300-level from the papers listed for the subject.

To complete a minor in Economics, students must complete 60 points from the papers listed for the Economics major, including at least 30 points above 100 level. Students must complete ECONS101.

NOTES:

[1] There will be no new enrolments into the BMS(Hons) from 2024. Students who commenced a BMS(Hons) in 2023 or prior should contact the Waikato Management School for programme advice.

100 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
ECONS101Economics for Business and Management15.024A (Hamilton), 24A (Hamilton Waikato College), 24A (Secondary School - Unistart), 24A (Tauranga), 24B (Hamilton), 24B (Hamilton Waikato College), 24VA (National Economics University, Vietnam) & 24X (Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou China)
This paper offers insights into the behaviour of consumers, firms and the government within the economy, giving students skills in analysing and predicting the actions of individuals and businesses.
ECONS102Economics and Society15.024B (Hamilton)
This paper introduces selected economic models, with a focus on developing and applying critical thinking skills to a range of business and social issues and to economic policies.

200 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
BUSAN205Data Analytics with Business Applications15.024A (Hamilton), 24B (Hamilton), 24B (Tauranga), 24VA (National Economics University, Vietnam) & 24X (Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou China)
This paper introduces various data analytical methods and illustrates their business and economics applications, showing how to use data to communicate more convincingly and to produce better-informed business decisions.
ECONS200Understanding the Global Economy15.024A (Hamilton) & 24X (Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou China)
This paper focuses on developing understanding of contemporary global issues, including economic well-being, sustainable growth, emerging economies, world trade and globalisation.
ECONS202Microeconomics and Business Economics15.024B (Hamilton) & 24X (Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou China)
This paper formally develops the economic theory of business and consumption decisions.

300 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
ECONS301Economic Growth and Wellbeing15.024A (Hamilton)
This paper covers the main macroeconomic models. There is analysis of the design and impact of macroeconomic policy, including implication for economic growth and wellbeing.
ECONS303Applied Quantitative Research Methods15.024A (Hamilton) & 24X (Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou China)
This paper provides essential quantitative skills for analysing empirical data, evaluating causal effects of actual or proposed interventions and predicting economic and financial outcomes. It will also help to prepare students for graduate studies in economics.
ECONS304International Economics Issues15.024A (Hamilton)
This paper covers in-depth analysis of the global economic environment, including international trade, access to markets and cross-border movement of factors of production including capital and labour.
ECONS305Entrepreneurial Discovery and Innovation15.024B (Hamilton)
This paper utilises economic theory and methods to analyse entrepreneurial opportunity, behaviour and risk management to sustain business dynamism and innovative economies.
ECONS306Economics and Strategic Interaction15.024B (Hamilton)
The aim of this paper is to provide an introduction to strategic thinking and analysis through the basic techniques of game theory, and to illustrate the range of its applications to almost all fields of social science via wide array of examples and participation in experiment demonstrations.
ECONS307Economics of Land, Water and Environment15.024B (Hamilton)
This paper provides students with a detailed understanding of the role of economic analysis in solving real world environmental problems including pollution, sustainable development, resource scarcity, and climate change.
WSAFE396Management Internship15.024A (Hamilton), 24A (Tauranga), 24B (Hamilton), 24B (Tauranga), 24C (Hamilton), 24C (Tauranga) & 24X (Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou China)
The Management Internship provides students with the opportunity to apply their management discipline-based knowledge to an authentic project within an organisation.
WSAFE399Report of an Investigation15.024A (Hamilton), 24A (Tauranga), 24B (Hamilton), 24B (Tauranga), 24C (Hamilton) & 24C (Tauranga)
This paper offers students the opportunity to complete a directed investigation of an approved topic relevant to an organisation or industry and in an area related to their management discipline of study.

500 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
ECONS501Macroeconomic Analysis15.024A (Hamilton)
This paper covers selected aspects of macroeconomic theory, policy and evidence. Most of the topics are centred directly or indirectly on a stylised production function. They include economic growth, business cycles, employment, inflation, price-setting behaviour, macroeconomic policy and the development of macroeconomic analysis.
ECONS506Economics for Business15.024A (Hamilton) & 24G (Hamilton)
An analysis of the economics of business including producers, consumers, markets and the role of the State. This paper is designed for MPAcct and MAppFin students who may not have studied economics at undergraduate level.
ECONS507Quantitative Methods for Business Analysis15.024A (Hamilton) & 24G (Hamilton)
This paper provides students with a thorough grounding in the applied quantitative techniques required for professional practice in business, finance and economics. The main emphasis is on recognising which techniques are appropriate for particular types of problems, using the techniques and interpreting the results.
ECONS520Microeconomic Analysis - Theory15.024B (Hamilton)
This course covers Masters-level training in microeconomic theory. The first half of the course will focus on consumer and producer theories. The second half of the course will focus on strategic thinking and analysis in Economics through the techniques of game theory. We will also critically examine some selected papers in applied...
ECONS524Topics in Economic Policy Analysis15.024A (Hamilton)
This paper focuses on selected topics in the economics of policy analysis.
ECONS528Econometric Topics: Macroeconomics and Finance15.024A (Hamilton)
This paper provides students with theoretical and practical skills in econometrics that should enable them to carry out a wide range of applied analyses involving macroeconomics and finance. The prime focus of this paper is on the application of time-series econometrics. The topics covered include econometric estimation and testing...
ECONS529Microeconometrics15.024B (Hamilton)
This paper develops skills in cross-sectional and panel data pertaining to individuals, households and firms including research design and evaluation of causal effects (using randomised control trials and natural experiment, propensity score matching and regression adjustment, instrumental variables, regression discontinuity, synth...
ECONS533Topics in Trade and Development15.024B (Hamilton)
This paper focuses on selected topics in trade and development. These will include aspects of trade policy and evidence in the world economy and current issues in development microeconomics.
ECONS543Applied Econometrics15.024B (Hamilton)
A postgraduate paper in econometrics for students who have not included an advanced paper in econometrics in their undergraduate degree.
ECONS552Global Trade Modelling15.024B (Hamilton)
This paper introduces and applies general equilibrium modelling, particularly to international trade issues. Students will have the opportunity to use real-world data and a sophisticated global model in their assignments.
ECONS590Directed Study30.024X (Hamilton)
Selected topics may be available. Please discuss these with the Graduate Convenor.
ECONS591Economics Dissertation30.024X (Hamilton)
A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.
ECONS592Economics Dissertation60.024X (Hamilton)
A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.
ECONS593Economics Thesis90.024X (Hamilton)
An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.
ECONS594Economics Thesis120.024X (Hamilton)
An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.
MNMGT582Research Methods in Management Studies for Economics and Finance15.024A (Hamilton)
This paper introduces students to research paradigms commonly used in research in economics and finance. It develops skills in the critical evaluation of research literature, the identification of research problems, and the preparation of research proposals. Students completing the paper will develop a proposal for research in the...

800 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
ECONS800Economics MPhil Thesis120.024X (Hamilton)
No description available.

900 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
ECONS900Economics PhD Thesis120.024I (Hamilton), 24I (Tauranga), 24J (Hamilton), 24K (Hamilton), 24X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga)
No description available.

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Economics as a 1st Major (Bachelor's degree)

Economics as a 2nd Major or Minor (Bachelor's degree)

Graduate qualifications

Postgraduate qualifications


Contacts

Management Student Centre (MSC)

Location: MSB.1.50, Hillcrest Road, Waikato Management School, University of Waikato, Hamilton
Phone: +64 838 4303
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.management.ac.nz/msc

Opening hours: 8.45am - 4.45pm Monday to Friday

One of the best times to pop into MSC is Open Advice Day, held every Wednesday from 10am to 2pm.