Economics
ST LUCIA IPSWICH GATTON
Contents
What is economics?
1
What will I study?
2
What will I learn?
2
How is it different from commerce or business?
3
Why are economics qualifi cations in demand?
3
Skills
3
Careers
4
Scholarships
4
Bachelor of Economics
5
Courses
5
Specialisations
6
Dual Programs
8
PASS – Peer Assisted Study Sessions
8
Why UQ economics?
8
Further information
back cover
What is economics?
Economics is the science of decision making.
As individuals, communities, companies
and governments, we face choices every
day, weighing up costs and benefi ts of
our decisions. With the rapid momentum
of globalisation, development, economic/
fi nancial/cultural integration and increasing
pressure for ecological sustainability, the reach
and signifi cance of economics is amplifi ed.
Economics determines and refl ects much of
today’s social and political landscape, and
students trained in this fi eld are exceptionally
well-positioned to play a leading part in the future
direction of business, government and society.
Fundamentally, economics is a social science
that embraces the big picture – how the world
works (and doesn’t work), and provides insight
into:
• how we can do things better
• why outcomes are sometimes
not as we expect
•
the winners and losers in economic,
political and business activity
• social, environmental and opportunity
costs of decisions
•
importance of international co-operation,
free trade agreements and aid programs
• health, transport and communication
infrastructure priorities and constraints
ECONOMICS / 1
What will I study?
Students in the fi eld of economics will develop strong
analytical and problem solving skills in core courses
including:
•
Microeconomics – students learn practical applications
of economic concepts including opportunity cost, why
countries trade, scarcity, demand and supply.
•
Macroeconomics – functioning of the economy and
its interaction with the international economy. GDP,
unemployment, infl atio