Economics

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc)

Study how people, institutions and nations create and manage scarce resources, make choices by comparing costs and benefits, and act purposefully on those choices.

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Degree

Bachelor

Length

4 years

Faculty/School

Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Why study Economics at UBC Okanagan?

Economics is a social science concerned with choice and trade-offs among competing alternatives given scarce resources. Economics also studies how people interact with each other, how their behaviour reflects the incentives they face, and how they change their behaviour in response to different incentives. Economics has such pervasive influence in our lives that the modern age is often referred to as ‘the age of the economist’.

Majoring in economics will change the way you look at the world, increase your understanding of fundamental human behaviour and improve your reasoning, problem solving and decision-making abilities.

Degree Options

At UBC Okanagan, you can complete a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in economics. The BA program offers major, minor, and honours options. The BSc offers major and honours options.

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Bachelor of Science (BSc)

Sample Courses

These are examples of courses you can enrol in during your studies. To plan your academic journey, please visit undergraduate academic planning.

ECON 101 - Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 102 - Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 112 - Introduction to the Canadian Economy
ECON 122 - Introduction to Economic History and Thought

ECON 260 - Poverty and Inequality
ECON 221 - Introduction to Strategic Thinking
ECON 232 - History of Economic Thought
ECON 257 - Topics in International Economic Policy
ECON 261 - Economics of Developing Countries

ECON 339 - Economics of Technological Change
ECON 390 - Economics of Public Choice
ECON 371 - Economics of the Environment
ECON 332 - Canadian Economy to 1929
ECON 339 - Economics of Technological Change

ECON 452 - Urban Economics
ECON 491 - Advanced Topics in Economics
ECON 427 - Econometrics

Plan your academic journey by exploring the undergraduate academic planning guide designed for Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences students.

Explore customized Program Plans designed to support your journey to graduation and beyond.

Careers and Outcomes

UBC degrees are respected by employers around the globe. Program graduates will have the skills to pursue a career in a variety of fields like,

  • Account manager
  • Actuarial assistant
  • Advertising media planner
  • Benefits administrator
  • Business analyst
  • Claims examiner
  • Collection agent
  • Commodity/property assessor
  • Compensation analyst
  • Construction estimator
  • Credit/loan administrator
  • Economic forecaster
  • Economic development officer
  • Employee benefits officer
  • Energy researcher
  • Financial/budget counsellor
  • Health policy planner
  • Insurance claims adjustors
  • Insurance underwriter trainee
  • Insurance claims adjustors
  • Insurance underwriter trainee
  • Labour economist
  • Labour relations negotiator
  • Land management specialist
  • Lobbyist
  • Legislative aide
  • Market research analyst
  • Media analyst
  • Merchandiser
  • Operations research analyst
  • Policy analyst
  • Public policy analyst
  • Regulatory analyst
  • Research commodity analyst
  • Security analyst
  • Trust administrator

Admission, Fees, Applying

You could soon be studying at one of the world’s top universities. Be sure to review the content below to prepare for attending UBC Okanagan.

Experiential Learning

Expand your horizons while studying abroad, conducting meaningful research, or working in the community with your UBC colleagues.

Learn more about Co-op, Go Global and Undergraduate Research Awards opportunities at Experiential Education.

Discover the Okanagan

A diverse natural region with sandy beaches, beautiful farms, vineyards, orchards and snow-capped mountains, the Okanagan is an inspirational landscape perfect for those seeking leisure or outdoor adventure.

UBC's Okanagan campus borders the dynamic city of Kelowna, a hub of economic development with a population of more than 150,000 people— the fourth fastest-growing population in Canada.