Bachelor of Economics BEc

Important information
General
Course objectives
Course structure

The Bachelor of Economics degree provides for a compulsory study of economics at first and second-year level, and a compulsory study of statistics at first year. The degree requires students to undertake a three-year specialisation in one of the areas of economics, econometrics or economic history. A second three-year major sequence may be taken in these disciplines, or in accounting and finance or business management, or a discipline from another faculty. Such disciplines include languages, mathematics, computing, business systems, the social sciences, sciences and humanities.

The course structure of the degree is shown in chart 6 in the section `Charts of degree structures'.

Course objectives

On completion of the Bachelor of Economics degree students should:

have acquired substantial knowledge of the economic principles, the quantitative and computing methods, and the logical processes necessary for analysing the forces that affect the behaviour of households, business enterprises, governments and the economy as a whole;
have developed an ability to apply their theoretical training effectively to the solution of practical problems in a wide range of decision-making environments and careers in business, the public sector, and the professions;
be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in their areas of expertise;
have a clear understanding of the workings of the Australian economy, of its institutional arrangements, and of its interactions with the world economy;
have had the opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge and motivation necessary for postgraduate study and research;
have developed specialised skills and knowledge in one or more of the disciplines taught within the faculty (including economics, econometrics, accounting and finance, economic history and management), combined with the opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge in out-of-faculty disciplines (such as languages, computing or the sciences);
have a continuing commitment to and capacity for independent critical thought and further learning.

Course structure

To complete the requirements of the Bachelor of Economics degree, students must complete a total of twenty-four subjects or subjects to the value of 144 credit points, of which eight subjects should normally be taken at each of the three levels of the course. All first, second and third-year subjects offered by the faculty of Business and Economics have a credit value of six points. Full-time students are expected to progress at the rate of eight subjects or forty-eight credit points per year. The minimum completion time is three years of full-time study or eight years part-time. First-year students may not normally take a second-year subject until at least four first-year subjects have been successfully completed. It should be noted that subjects in the later years of the course have prerequisites and corequisites. In addition, students are normally expected to take subjects in a yearly sequence even if there are no prerequisite subjects specified.

First year

1 The compulsory subjects of ECO1000 (Economics), ECO1010 (Economics), ECM1020 (Business and economic statistics) and ECM1031/2 (Business and economic statistics).

2 Two first-year subjects drawn from one of the departments of Economics, Accounting and Finance, Business Management (Clayton) (but not both Accounting and Finance and Business Management) or another faculty.

3 Two further first-year subjects drawn from any one or two disciplines taught by the departments of Economics, Accounting and Finance, Business Management (Clayton) or by another faculty.

Approval for selection of subjects in first year must be obtained from the dean of the faculty or the dean's nominee. Students are cautioned in the selection of subjects from two different disciplines in point 3 above, as this may not be sufficient for progress into the second year of these disciplines, where prerequisites exist.

Second year

1 The compulsory subjects of ECO2000 (Intermediate microeconomics) and ECO2010 (Intermediate macroeconomics).

2 Two second-year subjects drawn from one of the departments of Economics, Econometrics (Clayton) or Business Management (Clayton).

3 Two second-year subjects drawn from one of the departments of Economics, Econometrics (Clayton), Accounting and Finance, Business Management (Clayton) or from another faculty.

4 Two other second-year subjects, not necessarily from the same discipline, subject to the constraint that not more than six subjects taken in second year be from economics, nor more than four subjects from econometrics. Students may choose to substitute two first-year subjects for these two second-year subjects. These subjects may be from any faculty.

Third year

1 Three third-year subjects drawn from one of the departments of Economics or Econometrics (Clayton).

2 Two third-year subjects drawn from one of the departments of Economics, Econometrics (Clayton), Accounting and Finance, Business Management (Clayton) or from another faculty.

3 Any other three third-year subjects from any discipline from any faculty; up to two second-year subjects may be substituted for up to two third-year subjects.

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