Honours Bachelors of Arts in Economics

Students start in the Social Sciences Level 1 program or the Economics 1 program and apply to the Economics Honours BA Program at the end of their first year. Students must complete the requirements of a Level 1 program including two Level 1 Economics courses.

Completion of any Level I program with a Grade Point Average of at least 5.0 including an average of at least 5.0 in ECON 1B03 (or 1BX3) and 1BB3 (or 1BA3) and completion of one of ECON 1ME3, MATH 1MM3, 1A03, 1LS3.

For continuation in program, see the section on Minimum Requirement for Entering and Continuing in a Program Beyond Level I.

If a student misses the cut-off for enrolling in Level 2 Honours, he or she can enrol in the BA program for level II. The student can transfer to Honours when entering Level 3 if the GPA is at least 5.0 and the student has an average of at least 5.0 in the four intermediate theory courses ECON 2G03, 2GG3 (or 2Z03, 2ZZ3), 2H03 and 2HH3.  The student can transfer to Honours-Specialist Option when entering Level 3 if the GPA is at least 5.0 and the student has an average of at least 6.0 in the four intermediate theory courses ECON 2G03, 2GG3 (or 2Z03, 2ZZ3), 2H03 and 2HH3 with a grade of at least C in each of ECON 2GG3 (or 2ZZ3) and 2HH3.

To remain in programs beyond Level 2, and to graduate from them, students must maintain a GPA of at least 5.0 for the Honours B.A.

Undergraduate Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards

All undergraduate students accepted for admission to McMaster University are automatically considered for a McMaster University entrance award. Additional entrance awards, in-course scholarships, bursaries and other forms of financial assistance is available to you at various stages of their undergraduate careers.

Each scholarship, bursary, Government Aid or Work Study Program a has its own unique application process and requirements. More information on financial aid visit the Student Financial Aid & Scholarship (SFAS) Office.

Economics students are eligible for more than fifteen Scholarships and Awards.

Academic Counseling

Please e-mail Prof. O’Shaughnessy at econugchair@mcmaster.ca or our Undergraduate Administrative Assistant at econug@mcmaster.ca for support. 

Academic Advising

The Academic Advising office is run through the Office of the Associate Dean. The primary goal of the Advising Office is to provide all Social Sciences undergraduate students with the information and guidance they need to succeed in their academic careers.

Advisors can help you make the right academic decisions by explaining policies and regulations as well as presenting different options and supports available in your studies.

An academic advisor can assist you with:

• Course requirements, dropping and adding courses
• Program selection, application and changes
• Studying abroad
• Transfer credits
• Petitions for missed term work, deferred examinations and special consideration
• Appeals procedures
• Referral to other campus services

Learn more about Academic Advising in the Social Sciences.