This programme is aimed at students who wish to understand how economic principles influence the behaviour of individuals, firms and communities, and how institutions can intervene to achieve certain economic outcomes. 

Students will be provided with thorough foundations in microeconomic and macroeconomic modelling and their applications in subfields (such as trade, health, education and transport). Students will develop skills in data analysis, and be supported in the development of their analytical and problem-solving skills as well as in the application of these skills to understanding real economic issues both past and present.

We value critical thinking about economic issues; an ability to cast problems in an economic framework and resolve complex problems using economic analysis tools. Students will be provided with a structured approach to developing skills of analysis, problem design and resolution using economic theory, data analysis and statistical methods, delivered via lectures, seminars and workshops in classrooms and computer labs with online support and eLearning content.

The degree complements skills developed in other subject areas in the BA programme and prepares students for careers in government, private consultancy firms, teaching and media, and for postgraduate studies that lead to careers in academia, central banks and leadership roles in industry, public and voluntary sectors.

1 - Understand basic models of microeconomics and macroeconomics as well as their application in selected subfields (such as health, international trade, labour and transport) and be able to evaluate and synthesise economic theories and models
2 - Undertake data analysis using statistical and econometric approaches, and use econometric software
3 - Develop problem solving skills and a capacity to apply these skills in a variety of contexts
4 - Understand the role and development of policy in a number of different settings, and analyse the impact and implications of economic policies on different groups (individuals, households, firms or other agents)
5 - Understand and debate different perspectives on economic argument, models, theories and doctrines and have knowledge of contemporary economic issues
6 - Have a broad awareness of related disciplines and fields of study and understand the impact of economic solutions in a societal and global context
7 - Have the capacity to engage in life-long learning

The BA degree in Economics and Politics is an exciting new multidisciplinary joint-major programme that gives you the opportunity to study these complementary subjects together in a systematic way. It allows you to reach a better understanding of who and what influence the decisions that determine national and international economic policies. It also equips you with the quantitative skills needed to analyse economic policies.

The combination of subjects does not pre-suppose any particular school subjects although it is an advantage for you to have ability in mathematics for Economics and an interest in current affairs for Politics. Refer to Arts Omnibus for subject descriptions.

The undergraduate degree course in Economics & Politics usually takes three years.

In Stage 1, you will gain an understanding of political systems, how they work and the ideas that underpin them, examining how they operate in different countries of the world, making comparisons and looking at the fundamental questions of political philosophy. Alongside these you will study the principles of macro- and microeconomics. For this joint honours degree you must also take quantitative economics - which uses applied mathematical methods to solve economic problems at both the macro and the micro level.

As you progress through Stage 2 you will develop your understanding of comparative politics, international relations and political theory as well as your knowledge of economics and society. You will be introduced to the analysis of contemporary public policy and international political economy. You will have the opportunity to specialise in a range of areas such as Ireland, Globalisation and European Integration so that you can maximise the learning opportunities presented by these closely interrelated subjects.

After Year 2, you are encouraged to spend a year at another European university through the Erasmus exchange scheme, or through other international exchanges at non-European universities; when you return to UCD and have completed the final year of your degree, you are awarded a BA (International) degree.

The year abroad takes place when you have accumulated at least 110 credits and satisfied any subject prerequisites, adding a fourth year to the BA programme and turning it into a BA International.

A wide range of employment opportunities in the public and private sector is available to you, both in Ireland and abroad.

Areas include the print and broadcasting media, the civil service, the diplomatic service, business, administration and research, as well as careers as public representatives and in academic life.

UCD School of Economics,
Rm G215, Newman Building,
Belfield,
Dublin 4
Tel: +353 1 716 8272/8505/8335
Email:economics@ucd.ie
Web:www.ucd.ie/economics

Stage 2 students must take 25 credits. This includes three core modules and two option modules.

Students are required to select a minimum of FIVE option modules in stage 3, FOUR of which must be level 3. The remaining option(s) may be level 2 or level 3.

Students are required to select a minimum of FIVE option modules in stage 4, FOUR of which must be level 3. The remaining option(s) may be level 2 or level 3.

Module ID	Module Title	Trimester	Credits
Stage 2 Core Modules
ECON20010	Intermediate Microeconomics I	Autumn	5
ECON20040	Statistics for Economists	Autumn and Spring (separate)	5
ECON20020	Intermediate Macroeconomics	Spring	5
Stage 2 Core Modules
Stage 2 Options - A)MIN2OF: Students should select 2 of the Level Two options listed. Any Politics and Economics Joint Major students who wish to choose DEV20130 as an option module, should select this module last
ECON20080	Economic Policy Analysis	Autumn	5
ECON20190	Introduction to Financial Economics	Autumn	5
MATH20330	Optimisation for Economics	Autumn	5
DEV20130	Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals	Spring	5
ECON20060	Irish Economy	Spring	5
ECON20100	Game Theory	Spring	5
ECON20120	The Economics of the European Union: Institutions, Policies and Crises	Spring	5
ECON20130	Economic History: From the Middle Ages to the Second World War	Spring	5
ECON20160	Economics of the Environment	Spring	5
ECON20230	Economics, Organisation and Management	Spring	5
Stage 2 Options - A)MIN2OF: Students should select 2 of the Level Two options listed. Any Politics and Economics Joint Major students who wish to choose DEV20130 as an option module, should select this module last
Stage 3 Options - A)MIN4OF: Students are required to select a minimum of FIVE option modules, FOUR of which must be selected from the following list of level 3 modules. The remaining option(s) may be level 2 or level 3.
ECON30100	The Economics of Health and Health Policy	Autumn	5
ECON30150	International Money and Banking	Autumn	5
ECON30180	Industrial Economics: Economics of Business Strategy	Autumn	5
ECON30270	Behavioural Economics and Public Policy	Autumn	5
ECON30290	Advanced Microeconomics	Autumn	5
ECON30360	Labour Economics	Autumn	5
ECON30400	Political Economy	Autumn	5
ECON30410	Development Economics	Autumn	5
ECON30520	R for Economists	Autumn	5
ECON30540	Advd Econometrics: Time Series	Autumn	5
ECON30570	Economic Growth	Autumn	5
ECON30590	Economics of Gender and Diversity	Autumn	5
ECON30610	Economics of Natural Resources	Autumn	5
FIN30200	Econometrics of Financial Markets	Autumn	5
ECON30130	Econometrics: Applying Statistics to Economic Data	Autumn and Spring (separate)	5
ECON30120	Advanced Macroeconomics	Spring	5
ECON30160	International Trade Economics	Spring	5
ECON30170	Financial Economics: Asset Pricing	Spring	5
ECON30190	Public Economics: Government Spending, Taxation and Public Choice	Spring	5
ECON30390	Experimental Economics: Lab Experiments	Spring	5
ECON30430	Economics of International Fin	Spring	5
ECON30500	Field Experiments Social Sci	Spring	5
ECON30530	Advanced Econometrics: Microeconometrics	Spring	5
ECON30550	Philosophy of Economics	Spring	5
ECON30580	Economics of Betting Markets	Spring	5
ECON30600	Economics of Climate Change	Spring	5
Stage 3 Options - A)MIN4OF: Students are required to select a minimum of FIVE option modules, FOUR of which must be selected from the following list of level 3 modules. The remaining option(s) may be level 2 or level 3.
Stage 3 Options - B)MIN0OF: Students may select up to one of the following level 2 modules to fulfill their stage 3 option requirement. Reminder: Students need at least 4 modules from the Level 3 list above. Students need 5 modules in total for Stage 3 Economics
ECON20080	Economic Policy Analysis	Autumn	5
ECON20190	Introduction to Financial Economics	Autumn	5
MATH20330	Optimisation for Economics	Autumn	5
DEV20130	Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals	Spring	5
ECON20060	Irish Economy	Spring	5
ECON20100	Game Theory	Spring	5
ECON20120	The Economics of the European Union: Institutions, Policies and Crises	Spring	5
ECON20130	Economic History: From the Middle Ages to the Second World War	Spring	5
ECON20160	Economics of the Environment	Spring	5
ECON20230	Economics, Organisation and Management	Spring	5
Stage 3 Options - B)MIN0OF: Students may select up to one of the following level 2 modules to fulfill their stage 3 option requirement. Reminder: Students need at least 4 modules from the Level 3 list above. Students need 5 modules in total for Stage 3 Economics
Stage 4 Options - A)MIN4OF: Students are required to select a minimum of FIVE option modules, FOUR of which must be selected from the following list of level 3 modules. The remaining option(s) may be level 2 or level 3.
ECON30100	The Economics of Health and Health Policy	Autumn	5
ECON30150	International Money and Banking	Autumn	5
ECON30180	Industrial Economics: Economics of Business Strategy	Autumn	5
ECON30270	Behavioural Economics and Public Policy	Autumn	5
ECON30290	Advanced Microeconomics	Autumn	5
ECON30360	Labour Economics	Autumn	5
ECON30400	Political Economy	Autumn	5
ECON30410	Development Economics	Autumn	5
ECON30520	R for Economists	Autumn	5
ECON30540	Advd Econometrics: Time Series	Autumn	5
ECON30570	Economic Growth	Autumn	5
ECON30590	Economics of Gender and Diversity	Autumn	5
ECON30610	Economics of Natural Resources	Autumn	5
FIN30200	Econometrics of Financial Markets	Autumn	5
ECON30130	Econometrics: Applying Statistics to Economic Data	Autumn and Spring (separate)	5
ECON30120	Advanced Macroeconomics	Spring	5
ECON30160	International Trade Economics	Spring	5
ECON30170	Financial Economics: Asset Pricing	Spring	5
ECON30190	Public Economics: Government Spending, Taxation and Public Choice	Spring	5
ECON30390	Experimental Economics: Lab Experiments	Spring	5
ECON30430	Economics of International Fin	Spring	5
ECON30500	Field Experiments Social Sci	Spring	5
ECON30530	Advanced Econometrics: Microeconometrics	Spring	5
ECON30580	Economics of Betting Markets	Spring	5
ECON30600	Economics of Climate Change	Spring	5
Stage 4 Options - A)MIN4OF: Students are required to select a minimum of FIVE option modules, FOUR of which must be selected from the following list of level 3 modules. The remaining option(s) may be level 2 or level 3.
Stage 4 Options - B)MIN0OF: Students may select up to one of the following level 2 modules to fulfill their stage 3 option requirement.
ECON20080	Economic Policy Analysis	Autumn	5
ECON20190	Introduction to Financial Economics	Autumn	5
MATH20330	Optimisation for Economics	Autumn	5
DEV20130	Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals	Spring	5
ECON20060	Irish Economy	Spring	5
ECON20100	Game Theory	Spring	5
ECON20120	The Economics of the European Union: Institutions, Policies and Crises	Spring	5
ECON20130	Economic History: From the Middle Ages to the Second World War	Spring	5
ECON20160	Economics of the Environment	Spring	5
ECON20230	Economics, Organisation and Management	Spring	5
Stage 4 Options - B)MIN0OF: Students may select up to one of the following level 2 modules to fulfill their stage 3 option requirement.

		Award		GPA
Programme	Module Weightings	Rule Description	Description
BHACS001	Stage 3 - 50.00% Stage 2 - 50.00%	Standard Honours Award	First Class Honours	3.68	4.20
			Second Class Honours, Grade 1	3.08	3.67
			Second Class Honours, Grade 2	2.48	3.07
			Pass	2.00	2.47