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Study Economics at Otago

Apply for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) through the Dunedin campus in 2020

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Apply for the Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) through the Dunedin campus in 2020

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Apply for the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) through the Dunedin campus in 2020

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Apply for the Bachelor of Commerce with Honours (BCom(Hons)) through the Dunedin campus in 2020

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Apply for the Bachelor of Science (BSc) through the Dunedin campus in 2020

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Apply for the Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) through the Dunedin campus in 2020

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Apply for the Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) through the Dunedin campus in 2020

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Apply for the Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad) through the Dunedin campus in 2020

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Apply for the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) through the Dunedin campus in 2020

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Apply for the Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce (PGDipCom) through the Dunedin campus in 2020

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Apply for the Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) through the Dunedin campus in 2020

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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.

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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.

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Contact details

Email economics@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/economics

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Qualifications

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Papers

See the full list of Economics (ECON) papers .

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Programme Requirements

Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Economics

Level Papers Points
100-level

BSNS 113  Economic Principles and Policy

ECON 112  Principles of Economics 2

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

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Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) in Economics

Papers

  • ECON 480  Dissertation

  • Four of the following, including at least one of ECON 410 and 411, and at least one of ECON 412 and 413:
    • ECON 402  Growth, Institutions and Development
    • ECON 403  Monetary Economics
    • ECON 404  International Economics
    • ECON 405  The Economics of Natural Resources and Public Choice
    • ECON 406  Labour and Population Economics
    • ECON 407  Special Topics in Advanced Economics
    • ECON 410  Advanced Microeconomic Theory
    • ECON 411  Advanced Macroeconomic Theory
    • ECON 412  Macroeconomics
    • ECON 413  Microeconomics

    Prerequisites:
    ECON 375  Econometrics
    ECON 377  Mathematical Economics
    two further 300-level ECON paper
    one further 300-level paper

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Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Economics

Papers

Prerequisites:
ECON 375  Econometrics
ECON 377  Mathematical Economics

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Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)) in Economics

Thesis

  • Thesis: ECON 5

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.

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Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) majoring in Economics

Level Papers Points
100-level

BSNS 113  Economic Principles and Policy

ECON 112  Principles of Economics 2

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:
(a) the paper has been passed before the student has enrolled for a BCom degree; or
(b) a student is enrolling for both a BCom and another degree for which STAT 110 or STAT 115 is required.
Total   360

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Bachelor of Commerce with Honours (BCom(Hons)) in Economics

Papers
  • ECON 480  Dissertation

  • Four of the following papers, including at least one of ECON 410 and ECON 411, and at least one of ECON 412 and ECON 413:
    • ECON 402  Growth, Institutions and Development
    • ECON 403  Monetary Economics
    • ECON 404  International Economics
    • ECON 405  The Economics of Natural Resources and Public Choice
    • ECON 406  Labour and Population Economics
    • ECON 407  Special Topic in Advanced Economics
    • ECON 410  Advanced Microeconomic Theory
    • ECON 411  Advanced Macroeconomic Theory
    • ECON 412  Macroeconometrics
    • ECON 413  Microeconometrics

    Prerequisites:
    ECON 375  Econometrics
    ECON 377  Mathematical Economics
    two further 300-level ECON papers
    18 further 300-level points

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Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce (PGDipCom) in Economics

Papers

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Master of Commerce (MCom) in Economics

Thesis

  • Thesis: ECON 5

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).

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Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Economics

Level Papers Points
100-level

BSNS 113  Economic Principles and Policy

ECON 112  Principles of Economics 2

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

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Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) in Economics

Papers

Prerequisites:
ECON 375  Econometrics
ECON 377 Mathematical Economics
Two further 300-level ECON papers
18 further 300-level points

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Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) in Economics

Papers

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Master of Science (MSc) in Economics

Papers and Thesis

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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 Economics 2

18

18
200-level

Two 200-level ECON papers, including at least one of:
ECON 201 Microeconomics
ECON 202 Macroeconomics
ECON 271 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory

 36
300-level One 300-level ECON paper

18
Total   90

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