Overview
When you are trying to decide whether to blow your budget and go skiing or stay at home and study, you’re using basic principles of economics.
Economics is about choice, and is at the heart of decision-making.
Economics can be applied to business, finance, administration, law, local and national government, and, in fact, to most aspects of everyday life. It is not just a subject: it is a way of thinking, and it provides a logical way of looking at a variety of issues of importance to human well-being.
Some of these include unemployment, economic growth, inflation, exchange rates, interest rates, international trade, taxes, market power, pricing, poverty, and distribution of income and resource allocation in areas such as education, health, business, and the environment. At Otago, you’ll learn how economics shapes society.
Economics at Otago can be studied as a major within the BCom, BA, BASc or BSc degrees, or as part of the PPE Programme (Philosophy, Politics, Economics).
Note that there are some differences in the requirements of each of these degrees – see the degree entries for details.
A major or minor in Economics would complement study in most other subjects in Arts, Commerce and Science.
Career opportunities
Graduates work in large industrial and commercial firms and many different branches of the public sector, including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Health, Business, Innovation and Employment, the Reserve Bank, Treasury, Statistics New Zealand, the Department of Internal Affairs, local government and planning authorities, and banks and financial institutions.
Some graduates work with health providers, research bureaux and management consultancies, while others have careers in universities, other tertiary institutions and secondary schools.
Contact details
Email economics@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/economics
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
- Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)
- Bachelor of Science (BSc)
- Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons))
- Bachelor of Commerce with Honours (BCom(Hons))
- Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons))
- Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce (PGDipCom)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci)
- Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis))
- Master of Commerce (MCom)
- Master of Economics (MEcon)
- Master of Science (MSc)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Papers
See the full list of Economics (ECON) papers .
Programme Requirements
Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Economics
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | BSNS 113 Economic Principles and Policy ECON 112 Principles of Macroeconomics | 18 18 |
| 200-level | ECON 201 Microeconomics, or ECON 271 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory ECON 202 Macroeconomics One further 200-level ECON paper | 18 18 18 |
| 300-level | Four 300-level ECON papers | 72 |
| Plus | 198 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts | 198 |
| Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) in Economics
| Papers |
|---|
|
Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Economics
| Papers |
|---|
Prerequisites: |
Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)) in Economics
| Thesis |
|---|
Note: Students who have not completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA(Hons)) in Economics or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Economics must complete the required papers for the BA(Hons) in Economics prior to undertaking the thesis. |
Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) majoring in Economics
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | BSNS 113 Economic Principles and Policy ECON 112 Principles of Macroeconomics BSNS 111 Business and Society, BSNS 112 Interpreting Business Data, BSNS 114 Financial Decision Making, BSNS 115 Accounting and Information Systems – must normally be taken in first year of study | 18 18 72 |
| 200-level | ECON 201 Microeconomics, or ECON 271 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory ECON 202 Macroeconomics One further 200-level ECON paper | 18 18 18 |
| 300-level | Four 300-level ECON papers | 72 |
| Plus | 126 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above.Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Commerce. | 126 |
Every programme must include BSNS 111-115. At least three of these papers must be passed before enrolling in any 200-level Commerce paper, and all must be passed before enrolling in any 300-level Commerce paper. For single-degree BCom students, all five must be attempted in the first year of study or equivalent. STAT 110 or STAT 115 will be accepted as an alternative to BSNS 112 as a required paper or as part of the major subject requirements or as a prerequisite when: | ||
| Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Commerce with Honours (BCom(Hons)) in Economics
| Papers |
|---|
|
Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce (PGDipCom) in Economics
| Papers |
|---|
Prerequisites: |
Master of Commerce (MCom) in Economics
| Thesis |
|---|
Note: The MCom in Economics can be pursued by a combination of papers and thesis, or by thesis only. Students who have a good Bachelor's degree (or equivalent qualification) will complete the MCom by papers and thesis (at least two years' full-time study). The first year consists of a selection of papers worth 144 points, leading to a Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce (PGDipCom). Students who have a good Honours degree or a PGDipCom (or equivalent qualification) can complete an MCom by thesis only (minimum one year). |
Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Economics
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | BSNS 113 Economic Principles and Policy ECON 112 Principles of Macroeconomics MATH 160 Mathematics 1 STAT 110 Statistical Methods | 18 18 18 18 |
| 200-level | ECON 202 Macroeconomics ECON 210 Introduction to Econometrics ECON 271 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory | 18 18 18 |
| 300-level | Four 300-level ECON papers | 72 |
| Plus | 162 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science | 162 |
| Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) in Economics
| Papers |
|---|
Prerequisites: |
Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) in Economics
| Papers |
|---|
|
Master of Science (MSc) in Economics
| Papers and Thesis |
|---|
Minor Subject Requirements
Economics as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BAppSc, BCom, BHealSc, or BASc degree
Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), or Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) degree
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | BSNS 113 Economic Principles and Policy ECON 112 Principles of Macroeconomics | 18 18 |
| 200-level | Two 200-level ECON papers, including at least one of: | 36 |
| 300-level | One 300-level ECON paper | 18 |
| Total | 90 |
