BSc or BA (120 credit hour) Combined Honours in Economics and another subject
Students who wish to study Economics in conjunction with another subject may wish to pursue a Combined Honours degree program. The other subject may be any discipline from the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Computer Science, or the College of Sustainability. Economics may be the primary subject (defined as the subject with the larger number of honours credits), or the secondary subject.
Students planning to enroll in a Combined Honours program should consult with academic advisors from both programs early in their studies. In addition, students must have their program of study approved by Academic Advisors in both subject areas. Students must complete an Honours Qualifying Examination in one of the two subject areas, a requirement normally completed in the primary subject area. For Economics, this requirement is satisfied through ECON 4201.03/ECON 4202.03: Honours Thesis.
Students are required to complete a minimum of 33 credit hours in Economics courses above the 1000 level if Economics is their primary subject, and a minimum of 30 credit hours in Economics courses above the 1000 level if Economics is their secondary subject.
Combined Honours students interested in eventually pursuing a Masters in Economics, are advised to choose the BSc option (with Economics as the primary subject) in order to acquire the needed analytical skills. To contrast, the BA Combined Honours program or BSc or BA (with Economics as a secondary subject) provides a broad background in Economics and another subject which is excellent preparation for a wide variety of other post-graduate programs.
Admission to Combined Honours
Students must apply for admission to Combined Honours programs. Students considering Combined Honours in Economics should consult with an Economics Undergraduate Advisor early in their studies.
To be admitted to the BSc Combined Honours program (Economics as primary subject), students must
- Have at least a B+ average (GPA of 3.3 or above) in Economics courses at the 2000 level and above, with no grade lower than a C
- Have completed ECON 2200.03: Intermediate Microeconomics, ECON 2201.03: Intermediate Macroeconomics, ECON 3338.03: Econometrics I, and ECON 3700.03: Mathematics for Economists
- It is highly recommended that BSc students complete ECON 3339.03: Econometrics II prior to applying to Combined Honours
- Have completed the Dalhousie writing requirement with a grade of B or higher
- Submit the Economics Department honours application by the end of their third year of studies
To be admitted to the BA Combined Honours program (Economics as primary subject) or BA/BSc Combined Honours program (Economics as secondary subject) students must
- Have at least a B+ average (GPA of 3.3 or above) in Economics courses at the 2000 level and above, with no grade lower than a C
- Have completed ECON 2200.03: Intermediate Microeconomics, ECON 2201.03: Intermediate Macroeconomics, ECON 3338.03: Econometrics I
- Have completed the Dalhousie writing requirement with a grade of B or higher
- Submit the Economics Department honours application by the end of their third year of studies
Departmental requirements
All students must fulfill the requirements outlined in the Academic Regulations and College of Arts and Science Degree Requirements sections. Students are advised that a number of requirements differ for the BA and BSc degrees. In addition, students in a Combined Honours program in Economics and another subject must complete the following:
BSc Combined Honours Requirements:
Economics as primary subject
1000 level
2000 level and higher
Additional Requirement
Economics as secondary subject
1000 level
2000 level and higher
- ECON 2200.03: Intermediate Microeconomics/ECON 2201.03: Intermediate Macroeconomics
- ECON 3338.03: Econometrics I
- One of ECON 2233.03: Canadian Economic History, ECON 2239.03: The European Economy Since 1900, ECON 3310.03: Economic Growth in Historical Perspective, or ECON 3349.03: History of Economic Thought
- An additional 18 credit hours in Economics at or above the 2000-level, 12 of which must be at or above the 3000-level if (ECON 3310.03 or ECON 3349.03) is chosen or 15 of which must be at or above the 3000-level if (ECON 2233.03 or ECON 2239.03) is chosen.
Additional Requirement
BA Combined Honours Requirements:
Economics as primary subject
1000 level
2000 level and higher
- ECON 2200.03: Intermediate Microeconomics/ECON 2201.03: Intermediate Macroeconomics
- ECON 3338.03: Econometrics I
- One of ECON 2233.03: Canadian Economic History, ECON 2239.03: The European Economy Since 1900, ECON 3310.03: Economic Growth in Historical Perspective, or ECON 3349.03: History of Economic Thought
- ECON 4201.03: Honours Thesis I/ ECON 4202.03: Honours Thesis II
- An additional 15 advanced credit hours in Economics of which 12 credit hours must be at the 3000-level or higher
Additional Requirement
Economics as secondary subject
- Same requirements as for BSc. Combined Honours with Economics as a secondary subject