Universities / Western University
Economics at Western, five ways
Western degrees are 20 courses, and a typical one-term course is 0.5 courses. Western counts full-year courses as 1.0 and one-term courses as 0.5; an Honours degree is 20.0. Every figure below is given in Western's own courses so it matches the calendar, and as a percent of the degree so it can be compared with other schools.
Where the courses go
Select a program to load it into the comparison below. Unit counts assume the most common course choice where there are options; categories are The Visible Hand's grouping, not the university's.
Side by side
Pick any two programs. Select a course to see what it covers and which programs require it.
Select any course above to see its title, what it covers, and which programs require it.
The differences in one table
| Attribute | Honours Specialization in Economics | Honours Specialization in Global Economics | Honours Specialization in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (Economics) | Major in Economics | Major in Financial Economics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Degree | BA (Honours) | BA (Honours) | BA (Honours) | BA or BA (Honours) | BA or BA (Honours) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Science | Faculty of Social Science | Faculty of Social Science | Faculty of Social Science | Faculty of Social Science |
| Total courses | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| How you get in | After first year, with a 70% average and no mark below 60% in 3.0 principal courses, including 70% (no mark below 60%) across ECON 1021/1022, first-year calculus, Calculus 1501 and Mathematics 1600. Calculus 1501 and Math 1600 may be finished by the end of second year in the module. | After first year, with a 70% average and no mark below 60% in 3.0 principal courses, including 70% (no mark below 60%) across ECON 1021/1022 and first-year calculus. | Limited enrolment. After first year, with a 75% average and no mark below 70% across ECON 1021/1022, Political Science 1020E and 1.0 first-year Philosophy (plus 2.0 more first-year courses), and first-year calculus at 60% or better. Students can be admitted with calculus and 2.0 of the 3.0 principal courses, finishing the last 1.0 within 12 months. | After first year, with a 70% average and no mark below 60% across ECON 1021/1022 and first-year calculus. | After first year, with a 70% average and no mark below 60% across ECON 1021/1022 and first-year calculus. |
| GPA to continue | — | — | — | — | — |
| GPA to graduate | — To graduate with Honours: 70% module average (68% may be allowed by the Dean on the department’s recommendation) with no module course below 60%, and a 65% overall average | — To graduate with Honours: 70% module average (68% may be allowed by the Dean on the department’s recommendation) with no module course below 60%, and a 65% overall average | — To graduate with Honours: 70% module average (68% may be allowed by the Dean on the department’s recommendation) with no module course below 60%, and a 65% overall average | — 4-year BA: 60% module and overall averages. Honours Double Major: 70% in each Major (no concessions), no course below 60%, at least 1.0 course at the 3000 level or above in each Major, and a 65% overall average. A 3-year BA (15.0 courses, 60% averages) is also possible | — 4-year BA: 60% module and overall averages. Honours Double Major: 70% in each Major (no concessions), no course below 60%, at least 1.0 course at the 3000 level or above in each Major, and a 65% overall average. A 3-year BA (15.0 courses, 60% averages) is also possible |
| Math & computing (courses, % of degree) | 1.5 (8%) | 0.5 (3%) | 0.5 (3%) | 0.5 (3%) | 0.5 (3%) |
| Statistics & econometrics (courses, % of degree) | 1.5 (8%) | 1.5 (8%) | 1 (5%) | 1 (5%) | 1 (5%) |
| Economic theory & topics (courses, % of degree) | 7.5 (38%) | 6.5 (33%) | 2 (10%) | 6 (30%) | 5.5 (28%) |
| Business & finance (courses, % of degree) | — | — | — | — | 0.5 (3%) |
| Political science (courses, % of degree) | — | — | 2 (10%) | — | — |
| Writing, research & breadth (courses, % of degree) | 1 (5%) | 1 (5%) | 1 (5%) | — | — |
| Other required (courses, % of degree) | — | 1 (5%) | 6 (30%) | — | — |
| Open courses | 8.5 (43%) | 9.5 (48%) | 7.5 (38%) | 12.5 (63%) | 12.5 (63%) |
| Best suited to | Graduate school in economics or finance; quantitative policy and research roles. | International organizations, trade and development policy, global business. | Law, public policy, government and political economy. | A 4-year BA in economics, or pairing it with a second Major; law, business, public policy. | Banking, investment and corporate finance, combined with a second Major. |
| Source | Academic calendar Report an error | Academic calendar Report an error | Academic calendar Report an error | Academic calendar Report an error | Academic calendar Report an error |
Getting in
Where students are admitted
Faculty of Social Science (main campus); modules are entered after first year
When the program is declared
After first year (5.0 courses), with module-specific first-year averages
Worth knowing
Western grades in percentages. Huron, King’s and Brescia are affiliated colleges with their own Economics modules; this page covers main campus only.
Things worth knowing before choosing
First-year marks decide entry
Every Economics module needs a 70% average with no mark below 60% in named first-year courses. The PPE module asks for 75% with nothing below 70%, and its enrolment is limited.
The Honours Specialization needs more math
It requires Calculus 1501 (or 1301 at 85%) and Linear Algebra (Math 1600) by the end of second year. The Majors and Global Economics need only first-year calculus.
Course numbers are not what you might guess
At Western, ECON 2220/2221 are intermediate macroeconomics and ECON 2260/2261 are intermediate microeconomics. In the Economics and Global Economics Honours Specializations these, with ECON 2222/2223 econometrics, are normally taken in second year; PPE requires only the micro and econometrics courses.
Honours depends on a 70% module average
To graduate with Honours, the module average must be 70% with no course below 60%, the overall average 65%, plus 2.0 essay courses (at least 1.0 senior) and 1.0 course in each of breadth Categories A, B and C.
Affiliated-college courses may not carry over
The two Majors require modular courses to be taken on main campus. Students moving into an Honours Specialization from Huron, King’s or Brescia must retake ECON 2220/2221 taken there, and the PPE module will not count them at all.
An Ivey combined degree is possible
The Honours Specializations in Economics, Global Economics or PPE (Economics) can be combined with Ivey’s HBA over five years. Entry needs a 78% average over the first two years with no mark below 60%, at least 70% in Business Administration 2257, and a 78% average in HBA1; entrance may be limited.
Economics + another subject: 4 ways to combine them
An Honours degree at Western is an Honours Specialization or two Majors. The department also offers a non-Honours Specialization in Economics and a Minor, which are not modelled here.
| Attribute | Honours Double Major: Economics (or Financial Economics) + another Major | Honours Specialization + a Minor | Economics HSP / HBA (with Ivey) | PPE Honours Specialization (Economics) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics side | Major: 6.0 courses | Specialization: 9.0 courses | Honours Specialization in Economics, Global Economics or PPE (Economics) | Econometrics, intermediate micro and PPE seminars |
| Other side | A second Major, such as Psychology, Political Science or Mathematics | A Minor in another subject | Ivey HBA (HBA1 in third year, HBA2 over years 4–5) | Political Science and Philosophy |
| Room left | Depends on the second Major; 12.5 courses remain after the Economics Major and its first-year courses | Part of the 8.5 open courses | Very little | About 7.5 courses |
| Entry hurdle | 70% in each Major, no course below 60%, 1.0 at the 3000 level in each | Honours Specialization entry averages | 78% averages, no mark below 60%; entrance may be limited | 75% average, limited enrolment |
| Best for | Economics with real depth in a second field | Graduate school with a second interest | Business careers with strong economics | Law, policy and government |
Courses counted toward the PPE module cannot also count toward another module.
Students thinking about graduate school are advised to take advanced economics and extra math and to see the Undergraduate Coordinator.
Sources
- Western Academic Calendar 2026-27: Economics (main campus) modules
- Western Calendar: Honours Specialization in Economics
- Western Calendar: Major in Financial Economics
- Western Calendar: Honours Specialization in Economics/HBA (combined with Ivey)
- Western Calendar: Honours Specialization in PPE (Economics)/HBA (combined with Ivey)
- Western Calendar: Graduation requirements and breadth requirements
- Western Calendar: Economics course descriptions
- Course titles are from the calendar; course summaries are paraphrased. Unit tallies are planning estimates, and open units also have to cover Western's breadth and writing requirements.