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Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

Term to Term Issues

Program Advice

Grades, Examinations and Academic Standings

Student Exchange Opportunities

Academic and Peer Support Networks

Administrative Issues

Graduation

 

 

Term to Term Issues:

I am missing a prerequisite for an Economics course that I want to take.  What should I do?

Option 1:  Take the prerequisite course before enrolling in the following course.

Option 2:  Approach your instructor and ask them for permission to enrol in the course.  In many cases, the prerequisite requirement is non-negotiable (see option 1).

The economics course that I am trying to enrol in is full.  What should I do?

Option 1:  Take the opportunity to enrol in the course using the pre-enrolment option in Quest, your enrolment appointment, or during the open enrolment period.

Option 2:  Take the course another term.

Option 3:  Approach your instructor and ask them for permission to enrol in the course.  In many cases, the instructor is restricted in the number of students that the room will hold (fire code limits are non-negotiable (see option 1or option 2)).

I have a content exemption for ECON 211 and/or ECON 221 but Quest won’t let me enrol in some of my courses!  What should I do?

If you have earned a content exemption to ECON 211 and/or ECON 221 then to enrol in ECON courses requiring ECON 211 or ECON 221 as a prerequisite you will need to download a copy of your transcript from Quest and visit the individual course instructor for a prerequisite override.

One of my Economics professors is extraordinary.  How do I nominate them for the “Distinguished Teacher” Award?

Contact the Center for Teaching Excellence for more information on how to nominate your favourite Economics professor for this prestigious award.

 

Program Advice:

When (and how) should I declare my Economics major?

A helpful and detailed site outlining the timing and process for declaring your major can be found at the following link:

http://arts.uwaterloo.ca/arts/ugrad/majors.html

What degree programs are offered in Economics?  Can I specialize or take an option in a particular field of Economics?

A helpful and detailed site outlining the different major programs offered in Economics can be found at the following link:

http://economics.uwaterloo.ca/EconomicsPlans.html

I am a student from another Faculty and/or Department and I wish to become an Economics major.  How can I do it?

For Arts Students

If you have an interest in studying Economics and have the required grade average, please complete a Plan Modification form. You can download the Plan Modification Form from the Registrar web page.  Please submit your Plan Modification form, along with a copy of your transcript (printed from Quest) and send it to the attention of the Economics Undergraduate Program Assistant in HH 214.  For academic advice in Economics, you are welcome to see the Economics Advisor in HH 213 or HH 125.

For Non Arts Students

Please apply for an Internal Transfer into the Faculty or Arts.  You can make an appointment with an academic advisor in the Arts Undergraduate Office located in PAS 2439.

Which courses are required for a minor in Economics?

For a minor in Economics you will need a minimum of 10 Economics courses including the following required classes:

ECON 101, 102, 201, 202,

One of ECON 211 or ECON 221.

If you are enrolled in the Faculty of Mathematics or the Faculty of Engineering then you will likely be given a content exemption for ECON 211.  If you have successfully completed at least one University level Introductory Statistical course then you will be given a content exemption for ECON 221.

Please note:  a content exemption does not reduce the required minimum of 10 Economics courses necessary to complete the minor in Economics.  Students with content exemption(s) must take other Economics electives (your choice) to satisfy the minimum count of required ECON courses for your respective ECON Degree.

What is ECON 472?

ECON 472 is the Department of Economics Senior Honours Essay course

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Before graduation, all honours students must demonstrate to the Undergraduate Advisor their proficiency in report and essay writing. This can be accomplished by receiving a passing grade in ECON 472, or by submitting two single-authored term papers, each with a minimum course-weight of 25%, and written in an Economics course. Content exemption from ECON 472 does not reduce the overall 18-course requirement.

 

Once enrolled, you will consider a topic that you might be interested in researching.  You will then visit the Economics department website to find the faculty members’ Areas of Interest (http://economics.uwaterloo.ca/FacultyAreasofInterest.htm).  This will assist you in finding the appropriate supervisor for your essay.  Early in the term in which you are enrolled in ECON 472 there will be an information meeting with the Undergraduate advisor that will outline your responsibilities including arranging a supervisor, selecting a topic, setting a schedule for meetings and deliverables with your supervisor, etc.

Grades, Examinations and Academic Standings:

I missed one (or more) of my final exams in Economics due to illness.  What do I do now?

See http://economics.uwaterloo.ca/DeferredExams.html.

What is the Department of Economics’ policy on grade revisions?

The policy, adopted at the Economics Department Meeting on Tuesday, June 6, 2006, is as follows:

 

A grade in any ECON course may not be changed if 12 or more months have elapsed since the grade was awarded.

Can I repeat a course that I did poorly in but managed to pass?

 

Only one of the two attempts will count for credit towards the degree.

Please note: When a course is repeated, the two marks are not averaged together. Rather, both marks are entered with all other marks in calculating the student's cumulative overall average.

Student Exchange Opportunities:

I am going on exchange at another university.  Can I take Economics courses at the exchange university that will count toward my University of Waterloo Economics degree?

For detailed information on the Department of Economics’ Exchange Policy please check the following website:

http://economics.uwaterloo.ca/EconExchangePolicy.html

Academic and Peer Support Networks:

I need help with my fundamental Economics courses (ECON 101, 102, 201, 202, or 211).  Where can I get help?

The Economics Department offers an informal Economics Clinic every term.  This service is intended to help students with any questions that they may have in the “building block” courses in Economics.  Often staffed 3-5 days per week by graduate students and/or instructors, the Economics Clinic has become a popular destination for first and second year Economics students to get answers to their questions.

Check the Economics website for times and location.

I am looking for a way to interact with other Economics students.  Is there an Economics Society on campus?

YES!  The Economics Society is a great place to connect with other Economics students, share experiences, and get involved in your department.  The Economics Society website is http://economics.uwaterloo.ca/StudentSociety.html .  Check it out!

I am a senior Honours Economics student that would like to do some tutoring.  Who should I contact?

Taryn MacLean - Undergraduate Program Assitant– is located in HH 214.  She will take your information and if any tutoring opportunities come available you may be contacted.

I am a student that needs tutoring in my Economics courses.  Who should I contact?

Taryn MacLean - Undergraduate Program Assistant– is located in HH 214.  She will take your information and try to match you with an available tutor.

Administrative Issues:

Major Course Count:

If two or more courses are anti-requisites, only one of them may be counted for degree credit.  However, it does not mean that these anti-requisite courses are interchangeable for degree requirement or for prerequisite purposes.

If an anti-requisite course is indeed accepted as a prerequisite for another course, you will still need to obtain an override approval from your advisor or your course professor.

Anti-requisites and Major Average:

The grades earned in Anti-requisite courses are usually not included in your Major Cumulative Average.  Anti-requisite courses are usually not included in your Major course count either.

Example 1:  Major Cumulative Average and Major Course Count:

AFM/ACC 371, ACTSC 371 are anti-requisites to ECON 371.  The grade averages earned in these anti-requisite courses will not be included in your ECON cumulative average.  These AFM courses are anti-requisites for ECON 371 but they are NOT counted as an ECON course.  This example is similar to a lot of MATH/STAT courses that are anti-requisites to ECON 211/221/321.  In other words, while students are given CONTENT equivalence, they are not given MAJOR course count equivalence.  ECON students must take other ECON courses to satisfy the total number count of ECON courses for degree requirement.  Students in the School of Accountancy / Math / Engineering and other Faculty should check with their respective advisors regarding the interpretation of anti-requisites.

Example 2:  Reciprocity

STAT 331, 361, 371 are anti-requisites to ECON 321.  This means that at most, only one of these courses may be counted for degree credit.  All students who have taken anti-requisites courses for ECON 321 must seek override permission from each of the respective Economics course professors for courses that require ECON 321 as a prerequisite.  As an example, even though Economics may accept STAT 331 as a replacement pre-requisite for ECON 321, an economics advisor cannot speak for other academic disciplines.  The Department of Mathematics may not accept ECON 321 as a replacement for STAT 371 either to satisfy MATH/BUSINESS degree requirements or as a prerequisite for STAT 372.  Again, non ECON students must seek counsel from their respective Faculty/Departmental advisors.

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Graduation:

This June 14th from 12:00pm-3:00pm there will be a reception to celebrate our graduates.  Graduates and their families are invited. 

The reception will be held in Hagey Hall 344.  Light refreshments will be served.  Please RSVP to Taryn MacLean at temaclea@uwaterloo.ca.  We hope to see you there!