Major Concentration in Economics
New for 2023-24:
ECON 330D1/D2, a six-credit course, has been split in both ECON 332 and ECON 333, i.e. you need to take both courses as they are replacing ECON 330D1/D2. ECON 330D1/D2 will not be offered in the Fall.
Economics Major Concentration (B.A.) (36 credits)
Offered by: Economics (Faculty of Arts)
Degree: Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Arts and Science
Program credit weight: 36
Program Description
The Major Concentration in Economics is a planned sequence of courses designed to permit the student a degree of specialization in economics. It consists of 36 credits in courses approved by the Economics Department. Students wishing to pursue this concentration need to consult the department's rules and regulations at: www.mcgill.ca/economics/undergraduates/majorminor.
All students who wish to begin (or continue) the Major Concentration Economics should see a majors adviser in the Department of Economics in each of their university years. Further information may be obtained from the Department's website, or from any majors adviser; consult the Department website for a list of advisers and their email addresses.
Students who are registering for the first time with the Department should attend the orientation meeting in August (check the website for details) before seeing an adviser.
A student choosing the Major Concentration Economics must take 36 credits in Economics. The Economics courses will normally be taken at ºÚÁÏÉç and will be selected from the courses shown below. Major Concentration in Economics students entering University at the U1 year in September should directly proceed to ·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý230¶Ù1 Microeconomic Theory./·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý230¶Ù2 Microeconomic Theory. without taking ·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý208 Microeconomic Analysis and Applications. and ·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý209 Macroeconomic Analysis and Applications..
Note: Students who wish to switch from the Major Concentration to Honours Economics must complete all the requirements of the Honours program.
Mathematics: Mastery of high school mathematics is required for all economics courses.
Prerequisites: In general, 200-level courses have no prerequisites and 300-level and 400-level courses have ·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý230¶Ù1 Microeconomic Theory./·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý230¶Ù2 Microeconomic Theory. or ·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý250¶Ù1 Introduction to Economic Theory: Honours./·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý250¶Ù2 Introduction to Economic Theory: Honours. (or ECON 208 and ·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý209 Macroeconomic Analysis and Applications., or ²Ñ³Ò°ä¸éÌý293 Managerial Economics. and ·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý295 Macroeconomic Policy.) as prerequisites. In addition, 400-level courses have Calculus 1 (or its equivalent) or a course in mathematical techniques for economic analysis (or its equivalent) as a prerequisite.
Degree Requirements — B.A. students
To be eligible for a B.A. degree, a student must fulfil all Faculty and program requirements as indicated in .
We recommend that students consult an Arts OASIS advisor for degree planning.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Required Courses (18 credits)
All students must take 6 credits of approved statistics courses. Students should refer to the Department's document "Rules on Stats Courses for Economics Students" available at: http://www.mcgill.ca/economics/undergraduates/courses/.
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Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| ECON 227D1 | Economic Statistics. | 3 |
Economic Statistics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Distributions, averages, dispersions, sampling, testing, estimation, correlation, regression, index numbers, trends and seasonals. |
| ECON 227D2 | Economic Statistics. | 3 |
Economic Statistics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. See ECON 227D1 for course description. |
| ECON 230D1 | Microeconomic Theory. | 3 |
Microeconomic Theory. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The introductory course for Economics Major students in microeconomic theory. In depth and critical presentation of the theory of consumer behaviour, theory of production and cost curves, theory of the firm, theory of distribution, welfare economics and the theory of general equilibrium. |
| ECON 230D2 | Microeconomic Theory. | 3 |
Microeconomic Theory. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. See ECON 230D1 for course description. |
| ECON 332 | Macroeconomic
Theory: Majors 1. | 3 |
Macroeconomic
Theory: Majors 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A review of basic economic concepts and tools with an in depth and critical presentation of the fundamental areas of macroeconomic theory. Topics include: the measurement of economic aggregates, economic growth, and the consumption-savings decision and other basic elements of a business cycle. |
| ECON 333 | Macroeconomic Theory - Majors 2. | 3 |
Macroeconomic Theory - Majors 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A review of basic economic concepts and tools with an in depth and critical presentation of the fundamental areas of macroeconomic theory. Topics include: money and banking and business cycles, stabilization policy, and international finance.
|
Complementary Courses (18 credits)
18 credits in Economics selected from other 200- (with numbers above 209), 300-, 400- and 500-level courses. At least 6 of these credits must be in 400- or 500-level courses. No more than 6 credits may be at the 200 level.
The Major concentration in Economics is a 36-credit program. A Major concentration student in Economics is required to complete 6 credits in Microeconomic Theory (ECON 230D), 6 credits in Macroeconomic Theory (ECON 332, 333) and 6 credits in Economic Statistics (ECON 227D). Microeconomics focuses on the study of the behaviour of individual economic agents and how the interaction of individuals results in market outcomes. Macroeconomics focuses on economy-wide issues such as unemployment rates, money supply and inflation, as well as public policies to influence such macroeconomic aggregates. Statistical tools developed in ECON 227D enable a student to conduct and evaluate theories and empirical studies.
In addition to the above, a Major concentration student must complete 18 complementary credits in economics from among the broad variety of courses offered in economics. These courses must have the number 210 or higher. No more than 6 credits can be at the 200 level and at least 6 credits must be at the 400 or 500 levels. Though there are some restrictions limiting the choices (e.g. ECON 295 and 399 not eligible for program credit) students are largely free to select from among the Department's economics courses to meet their Major concentration requirements. Courses are available in a wide variety of areas, such as econometrics, economic history, economic development, environmental economics, industrial organization, international trade and finance, labour economics, money and banking, public finance, etc. Students should consult the Major Concentration handout for full details.
Minor Concentrations in Economics
Economics Minor Concentration (B.A.) (18 credits)
Offered by: Economics (Faculty of Arts)
Degree: Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Arts and Science
Program credit weight: 18
Program Description
The Minor Concentration in Economics provides a moderate level of specialization in Economics for students who usually are pursuing Major Concentrations or Honours Programs in other fields of study. It does, however, provide an option to switch to or add a Major Concentration in Economics. There is a special Minor for Management students.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Complementary Courses (18 credits)
18 credits, of which 6 credits must be from Group A and 12 credits from Group B.
Group A
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Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| ECON 208 | Microeconomic Analysis and Applications. | 3 |
Microeconomic Analysis and Applications. Terms offered: Summer 2025 A university-level introduction to demand and supply, consumer behaviour, production theory, market structures and income distribution theory. |
| ECON 209 | Macroeconomic Analysis and Applications. | 3 |
Macroeconomic Analysis and Applications. Terms offered: Summer 2025 A university-level introduction to national income determination, money and banking, inflation, unemployment and economic policy. |
| ECON 230D1 | Microeconomic Theory. | 3 |
Microeconomic Theory. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The introductory course for Economics Major students in microeconomic theory. In depth and critical presentation of the theory of consumer behaviour, theory of production and cost curves, theory of the firm, theory of distribution, welfare economics and the theory of general equilibrium. |
| ECON 230D2 | Microeconomic Theory. | 3 |
Microeconomic Theory. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. See ECON 230D1 for course description. |
Group B
Economics courses with course numbers above ·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý208 Microeconomic Analysis and Applications. (excluding ·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý295 Macroeconomic Policy.), at least 6 credits of which must be at the 300, 400 or 500 level.
Program Notes:
Only one of ·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý208 Microeconomic Analysis and Applications. or ·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý230¶Ù1 Microeconomic Theory./·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý230¶Ù2 Microeconomic Theory. or ·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý250¶Ù1 Introduction to Economic Theory: Honours./·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý250¶Ù2 Introduction to Economic Theory: Honours. can be credited to the Economics Minor. Only one of ·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý209 Macroeconomic Analysis and Applications. or the 6 credit combination of (·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý332 Macroeconomic
Theory: Majors 1. and ·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý333 Macroeconomic Theory - Majors 2.) or (·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý353 Macroeconomics - Honours 1
. and ·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý354 Macroeconomics - Honours 2. can be credited to the Economics Minor. The combination of ·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý230¶Ù1 Microeconomic Theory./·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý230¶Ù2 Microeconomic Theory. and ·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý209 Macroeconomic Analysis and Applications. is allowed.
Special Minor in Economics for Management Students
Information on this Minor Concentration and its special restrictions is in the Desautels Faculty of Management website at Students should consult with the advisers in both the Faculty of Management and the Department of Economics for advice on this minor concentration.
The Minor concentrations in Economics are offered to students whose primary interests are in a discipline other than economics, but who nevertheless wish to pursue some specialization in economics. The Minor concentration in Economics consists of 18 credits. The requirements vary depending on the minor concentration chosen. Students should consult the Minor Concentrations handout for full details.