Economics puts the pieces together.  It studies the interaction of the decision making of households, businesses and the whole of society.  It examines how we respond to incentives (the things that influence decision–making) and how our conflicting choices are reconciled.  Economics contributes to our understanding of policy design and business strategy.  Economics provides the ‘big picture’.

The courses available within the Bachelor of Economics will allow you to understand just how the economy works, and will provide you with training that will help you shape its future.  You will study microeconomics (microeconomic issues include the management of the environment and depleting natural resources) and macroeconomics (this relates the growth and stability of the whole economic system) as well as econometrics (the maths and statistics of economics) and a range of other topics.

Economists often describe economics as a ‘way of thinking’.  Studying Economics at the University of Adelaide will develop your capacity to break down issues into questions which can be resolved, guide you in the collection of data and information, and introduce you to techniques for managing that data.  These are skills critical to many careers, and very important to good decision making government and in business.  The teaching program also stresses the value of working in teams and developing your skills in communication, both oral and written.

The Bachelor of Economics program includes compulsory courses designed to give you a solid understanding of economics, plus a selection of optional courses. The compulsory courses make up half of the program and include economic principles, applied economics and econometrics. The other half of the program consists of optional or elective courses. You can choose from further economics courses (for example international economics, international trade, environmental economics, managerial economics, development economics) or courses from other disciplines including finance, international studies, management, politics, marketing, geography, history, languages, mathematics, computer science or science. Subject to quota restrictions economics students may take courses offered by the Business School, leading to professional accounting qualifications. Doing the Bachelor of Economics will give you the opportunity to pursue one or more areas of interest outside of economics.

The optional Honours (fourth) year involves the writing of a research report or thesis together with advanced coursework in macroeconomics, microeconomics and econometrics.

The Bachelor of Economics program gives you the flexibility to specialise in an area of economics, for example focussing on international economics or environmental economics.  In addition, because only about half of the B.Ec is made up of compulsory courses, it is possible to enhance that economics specialisation by taking courses with the same focus but from other disciplines (e.g. from politics or from environmental studies) or you can focus on something different such as philosophy or accounting.  The B.Ec with a focus on accounting is accredited by the two major Australian professional accounting bodies: CPA Australia and the Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA).

This program provides a great foundation for a wide range of careers. Recent graduates have been employed by trading and merchant banks, stockbrokers, insurance companies, accounting firms, financial planners, infrastructure and utility companies, manufacturers and distributors and a wide range of federal and state government organisations. Other employment opportunities include journalism, teaching, foreign affairs and international consulting.

Completion of an Honours degree opens up more options for specialist positions in economics, including in government and business

Visit the Graduate Attributes page on the Faculty of the Professions website and browse to 'Bachelor of Economics' under Undergraduate Programs > School of Economics.

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