This path is for upper-year applicants: for those who are completing their first year at another university, or have completed or are close to completing a diploma program at a community college, and are interested in transferring to Queen’s University.

At its core, the social science of economics is concerned with the material well-being of human societies. It will help students understand the world in which they live and work. It will equip students to succeed in an increasingly knowledge-based and interdependent global economy. It will allow students to identify, describe and improve the strategies and incentives used by individuals, businesses and governments.

Economics will arm students with the tools to face a surprisingly wide range of problems that affect our everyday lives. Students in economics will learn how to document and value risk, study labour markets and global trade, design and assess government policies, and describe the operation of international currency markets.

But there are so many other questions economists can ask. What determines the prices of goods and services? Why do stock and bond prices rise and fall? Why do some people earn so much, while others earn so little? Can carbon taxes slow global warming? How much should one spend or save? Where should one invest their savings? Should people buy houses? How does the tax system affect each person, their family and the businesses in their neighbourhood? By showing students how to systematically address these questions and many, many more, economics will help students make better decisions in their personal life, in business and as a global citizen.

Major in Economics

A major is an intensive course of study in one discipline, with approximately half of the courses within the discipline with room for an optional minor in any other Arts and Science discipline.

Note: Students in this program are eligible for the Queen’s Undergraduate Internship Program (QUIP) which provides 2nd or 3rd year students with a 12-16 month work experience. The internship normally occurs following the student’s third year of study, after which the student completes the final year of the honours degree. The internships are paid, professionally supervised, career-related positions offering students the opportunity to learn about current advances, practices, and technologies in business and industry.