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Economics

Welcome to the Department of Economics

Economics Cafes

Welcome to a new round of Economics Cafe! The next session will be held:

“Economic Eggs in more Baskets: Challenges for Canada's Trans-Pacific Partnership”
Date:  Wed. Mar. 27, 2013
Time: 4:00-5:30pm
Presenter: Jamshid Shahidi, Dept. of Economics, KPU
Location: Surrey, Grass Roots Café

“The Economics of Government Debt: Understanding Crisis in the Euro Zone”
Date:  Wed. Feb. 27, 2013
Time: 4:00-5:30pm
Presenter: Dr. Deep Gosh, Dept. of Economics, KPU
Location: Surrey, Grass Roots Café

“The Economics of Beer”
Date:  Tues. Nov. 20, 2012
Time: 4:00-5:30pm
Presenter: Rob Scharff, Dept. of Economics, KPU
Location: Surrey, Grass Roots Café


*NEW*

BA Minor in Economics: The department will launch the program this coming fall semester. Our planned offerings are shown below. Successful completion of this program requires 27 credits in economics, you will need to take a maximum of 12 credits at the 3000 level, and at least three credits must be at the 4000 level. Kwantlen offers the double minor option, which provides you with the opportunity of combining economics with a minor in another discipline such as political science, history, journalism, psychology, or mathematics.

New courses we plan to offer in the Spring 2012 semester:
1. ECON 3451* Macroeconomic Policy I
2. ECON 3251* Women and the Economy


* These courses satisfy LibEd requirements for all the BBA degrees.

Our Programs and Courses

The Economics Department of Kwantlen Polytechnic University offers three programs at the undergraduate level:

1. New Course Offering: ECON 1110 – Economic Explanation of Life
This course is designed for students – in particular, non-business students in the arts and social sciences - who want to get a first taste of the flavor of economics. You will be inspired by the explanatory power of economic thinking, with applications to such diverse behavior as discrimination, sexual activity, divorce, traffic patterns, and military participation. Presented in an engaging and interactive class-room setting, this course is definitely worth checking out!

2. Business Administration Diploma Program: Successful completion of the Business Administration Diploma provides first and second year required courses for transfer to the Business Administration Program at SFU. Alternatively, it allows for direct entry into two of Kwantlen's Bachelor of Business Administration degree programs, the BBA in Entrepreneurial Leadership and the BBA in Human Resource Management. To see the current Business Administration Diploma Brochure, click here. For the Business Administration worksheet from the Counseling department, click here.

3. Associate of Arts Degree in Economics: The Associate of Arts Degree in economics can generally be completed in two years. An economics concentration requires five economics courses. The AA degree allows you to go directly into the third year at Kwantlen or at your chosen institution, if you have planned your courses accordingly and meet all prerequisites.

4. Economics courses offered at Kwantlen range from basic economic principles in micro- and macroeconomics, to labour economics, environmental economics, globalization, money and banking, and intermediate microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. Most of our courses can be taken as electives in a wide variety of programs. First and second year courses are transferable to numerous institutions across Canada and the United States. Courses are offered at our Richmond, Surrey, and Langley Campuses during the Spring, Summer and Fall semesters. Please check the registration guide for specific offerings during a semester. If you would like to have more information about economics courses presently offered at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, or if you have any other questions, please check out our links or contact us.

Our Faculty

Our faculty is highly committed to providing student-centered instruction, which is a crucial underpinning for your learning and success. Our small class sizes with a maximum of 35 students allow us to create an engaging, inclusive, and interactive learning environment. As such, many of our instructors have integrated cooperative learning techniques into lectures. This will allow you to practice and do economics right in class. We truly strive for teaching excellence, which is greatly enhanced through our ongoing professional development and conference participation. For a complete faculty listing, click on the Faculty button.

Why Economics?

Why should you consider economics? Have you ever wondered about the following: Why can a minimum wage create unemployment? What causes the Canadian dollar to fluctuate? Why do we have so much overfishing in our oceans? Why is pollution such a problem? Why do countries trade? Does a monopoly charge the highest price consumers are willing to pay? What is the difference between a bond and a mutual fund? Aside from being highly interesting, you will gain many practical and useful skills in problem solving and critical thinking, which constitutes a foundation for your successful career in management, journalism, law, the public sector, or finance.

Some Interesting Web Links

Library Subject Guide: Economics

Statistics Canada

Bank of Canada

Video Clips:

Mar 20 2012 Econ Cafe - Never Mind the Gap - Why the Poor are Getting Richer And the Rich Are Getting Poorer

Feb 28 2012 Econ Cafe - The Future of Work - Whats Ahead for Todays Student

Comedy Economics

General Introduction

Asymmetric Information

Insider information

What Economists don't Know.

The Secret Cappuccino

The Barefoot Economist

If you would like to have more information about economics courses presently offered at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, or if you have any other questions, please check out our links or contact us.