Economics
Why Study Economics?
Economics will provide you with an education that will prepare you for starting a career, going on to do further study and for life. It will enable you to think about, develop your opinions on and debate critical issues that affect life at work, in business and an in society, as a citizens and voters. Increasingly, the language and vocabulary of the workplace, business, government and social interactions draws on Economics.
The focus of the BA programme in Economics at UCC is on your intellectual, professional and personal development through Economics. The practice of Economic analysis develops problem solving and analytical skills. You will also develop professional skills including the ability to communicate and present, handle and analyse data, computing skills and empirical research skills - all of which will position you for future careers. These transferable skills are essential for graduates working in finance, busienss, business organisations, consultancy, accountancy, government, the media, voluntary organisations and teaching to ensure that they are adaptable and flexible and are able to participate fully in Ireland's "smart" economy.The programme has been developed with input from economists and business practitioners. It is organised and built around important questions and issues in Economics creating opportunities for you to research, debate, learn, innovate and work with other people. You will be learning by doing as you are taught to think and act like an economist.
Postgraduate Opportunities
The Department of Economics offers a range of postgraduate courses aimed at different career paths: MBS (Business Economics); MA (Economics); Postgraduate Diploma and MA in Health Economics Practice; the MSc (Financial Economics) through to Doctoral level; Higher Diploma Economics (Competition, Governance and Society), as well as Professional Development workshops, courses and programmes. Economics also leads to many postgraduate education and professional training opportunities in areas such as Management, Marketing and Accountancy.
Subject Overview
Perhaps the most useful defninition of Economics is that of the great English economist Alfred Marshall, who stated that "Economics is a study of mankind in the ordinary business of life". In the words of his student, John Maynard Keynes, probably the greatest economist of the twentieth century, Economics is the science of human motives - it deals with values, motives, expectations, decisions, hopes, disappointments, and the psychological uncertianties that pervade our lives. This is the foundation on which Economics at UCC is built on as one fo the decision or human sciences.
What will you be studying?
Year 1
The World of Economics: You will be introduced to learning how to think about issues and questions in Economics and the language of Economics.
Year 2
Students select from:
Microeconomics: Behaviour, Organisation and Institutions; Macroeconomics: Business Cycles, Growth and Development; Skills for Economic Interpretation; Developing Skills for Economics Analysis; Reasoning and Persuasion in Economics; Economic Journey through Life Decisions; The Changing Economy; Empirical Research Methods; Reasoning, Problem Solving and Communications in Economics
Year 3
Corporate Strategy; Human Resource Economics; Financial Markets and Institutions; Innovation; Competitiveness and Economic Growth; Econometrics and Survey Methods; Issues and Questions in Economics; Empirical Research Methods; Health Economics; Public Expenditure and Finance; Undergraduate Dissertation
To view complete module descriptions, see the Book of Modules for Economics
