Economics in Uni (1 Viewer)

[Leon_yu]

Hi,
i was just wondering, what kind of things u learn in economics in uni, i heard from a frd that it doesn't have much pratical use in finding a job. i hope someone can clarify this for me

thanks

 

[Rafy]

Another question,

The assumed knowledge is Mathematics. How much maths do you REALLY have to know? Could you get through the course all right without having done maths? I assume you can.

 

[Sarah168]

1st year economics units don't have alot of maths content (hardly much beside formulas in macro and easy algebra and linear equations in micro) so thats not a worry but moving into the area of later units, the maths proportion seems to rise. As long as you have the bare minimum, they often walk you trhough it and there is plenty of help available so it isnt like "shit..i cant do this maths bit. im 100% screwed"

i dont believe an economics degree limits your job prospects and dont believe that any such idea should stop you from doing what you love. However, it is important to be aware that, natually, the nature of b ec means you MUST complete a major in economics or econometrics (stats)....this is designed for people who want to move specifically in roles based on economics. As such, it can be seen that one hand is held back but i think that if its what u want to do, then its in no way a limitation. Often (check with the uni) you can do an additional major in acct, finance or any other commerce unit or sometimes even arts/ science units (once again, check with uni program)

If you want to really move into the economics field, an honours degree would go a long way in helping you get a foot in the door. its not an easy path and alot of people i talk to, know, and posts i've read of members on this forum have seen that economics is not an easy path but always try it out before being frightened away by various opinions

btw, im not 100% objecting to your opinion, without wings, about the "job options" thing but i do think it needs more enlightenment cos quite often, people can walk away with very different ideas then what was intended.

ill shut up now

 

[karpov]

what type of jobs could one get with a B Ec degree?
and do you have to write heaps of essays in eco at uni?

 

[Sarah168]

by enlightenment, i meant more detail in the post rather than the validity of the source

karpov: Uni eco is nowhere near as essay-based as high school. Micro has no essays from my experience but i've seen exam papers with one essay question...even uni eco essays requires lots of graphs and calculations in it. Its basically that with a bunch of explanations following.

Macro is less maths- based and has some mroe written answers but Im not so sure i'd call them those fully fledged essays in high school...

if u do a search, im sure i've read a post by minai somewhere about essays in uni eco..

 

[Rafy]

yes, there are a few past papers on the university websites.....gives you a good idea of whats involved

 

[Sarah168]

oh but looking at those papers are scary. I remember looking at the micro ones about 3 weeks into intro micro and almost ran out screaming...then again im one of those people who tend to forget that you actually get taught the thing in the exam paper lol

one of the usyd micro ones had an exam essay q about protection. Pretty much similar to one you would get in the HSC but they would expect you to use graphs and calculations to show gains from trade and the extra stuff you learn in uni micro

 

[Leon_yu]

Thanks for all your imput guys, i understand now a lot better ^^

 

[Demandred]

Careers with an Economics Degree
Students with an economics degree can find work in different roles, including:

Economist - private sector: banking and industrial organisations
Economist - public sector: Government
General Business
International Economic Analyst
Development Economist.

http://ecocomm.anu.edu.au/programs/bec.asp

Realistically, you need a master degree to have a decent shot at those jobs.

 

[sunjet]

Just do B Eco @ UWS 73 UAI

I'm hoping to do B eco @ unsw/usyd

 

[Sarah168]

Realistically, you need a master degree to have a decent shot at those jobs.

A competitive/superior honours degree (which is not easy ) is usually sufficient though a Master's degree never hurt anyone's chances

 

[mattchan]

yeah, is that a myth that most eco jobs like that require honours and masters etc.?

 

[rumour]

Another question,

The assumed knowledge is Mathematics. How much maths do you REALLY have to know? Could you get through the course all right without having done maths? I assume you can.

It depends on which uni you go to, I have to do a maths suject as well as Micro & Macro for my Economics degree.

 

[Sarah168]

you can probably get through it but try to do a quick bridging course or give yourself a crash course in linear algebra and calculus for first yr economics.

afterward, mathematical economics will require more in depth knowledge.

oh and its not a myth that a superior honours degree is required to get a foot in the door of the economics field. Of course, there are exceptions (im just saying this, i really havent seen these cases) but most jobs i've seen (including RBA, but that is obviously ridiculously competitive) ask for something "extra"

from usyd site

"A good four-year honours degree is a considerably enhanced qualification compared with a three-year pass degree. It singles out the recipient as someone who has exceptional ability. Furthermore, if a student wishes to work as a professional economist, in industry, finance or the public service, employers may be looking for a level of specialisation that is not provided by a three-year pass degree. A four-year honours degree will provide the extra rigour and specialisation required for such a job. Similarly, if a student wants to qualify for postgraduate study in economics, a pass degree is not always sufficient. A good honours degree is a recognised key to postgraduate studies in most countries of the world. Hence, an honours degree in economics will be highly desirable for a student who is seeking employment as a professional economist, who wants to do post-graduate work in economics or who simply wants to signal relatively high academic achievement. "

 

[yook]

hypothetically what jobs could you get if you get a pass degree in Usyd B.Economics?

im not sure if i want to do it. it scares me to be unemployed [in the future, following uni]...

there must be a reasonable amount of ppl that want to do economics at Sydney, the uai is just over 90... nothign crazy but still.. for a mediocre job in the end?!

 

[Sarah168]

if u have an additional major (eg, acct) you can go into that with the pass degree in eco

if u want someting in the eco field, i really dont know...

 

[Demandred]

I don't think there are any jobs at the bottom of the food chain for economists. All the decent jobs are 'up' there. Economics really complements other courses such as finance and accounting, your better off combining IMO.

 

[Conspirocy]

there is a lot of maths involved in the eco course, its different to the HSC economics course.

Also a B.Economics, would limit your job options fairly

Don't mean to be rude, but a B.Economics would not limit your job options at all. Thats a pretty uninformed answer.

Why don't we have a look at the actual course

B. Economics UNSW
- must study a compolsory major in economics, econometrics, financial economics, economic history
- then must complete either a sub major in another field of the Facualty of Commerce
- Also have the choice of a second major in
*Accounting
*Asian Studies
*Business Law
*Finance
*Human Resources Management
*Inustrial Relations
*Information Systems
*International Business
*Management
*Marketing
*Modern Languages
*Taxation

Seems to look like a lot of the majors you can do in commerce, would you say that a B.Commerce limits your job options??
- in fact check the site
http://www2.fce.unsw.edu.au/nps/ser...oggedOutInheritableArea&maxWnd=_Future_UG_BEc

You can also look at the University of Sydney, which has the same structure:
- http://heifer.ucc.usyd.edu.au/ugcou...rch=Economics&a_FacultyID=>0&-recid=77&-find=

im tired wont bother with any others

 

[Conspirocy]

oh and just for a laugh read this article

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Ross-Git...s/2005/01/28/1106850108836.html?oneclick=true

 

[Jago]

hahaha "If you had an economics degree you could have worked that out for yourself." that's gold