Scheme of studies for BS Economics

School of Economics - BS Economics - Scheme of studies for BS Economics

Scheme of studies for BS Economics

  1. Duration:

BS Economics is a four years degree program comprising of eight regular semesters. School of Economics may offer Summer sessions after 2nd, 4th and 6th semesters.

  1. Academic Requirements for Degree:

  • Regular Degree: BS Economics (four year degree program)
  • Successful completion of 132 credit hours spread over 44 courses (including viva voce examination) in eight regular semesters. The semester wise split up of courses is given in Section: 4.3
  • Cutoff Degree: BA (equivalent to two year degree program)
  • Successful completion of minimum 62 credit hours with cumulative grade point average of 1 or more. Courses set compulsory for Cutoff degree are given in Section: 4.4

  1. Specializations:

  1. Economics
  2. Specialization in Economics is the mainstream specialization and is recommended for all those students who want to pursue their careers as economists with no commitment to any specific area at this stage. The students are required to take courses in core economic theory with application and are given chance to study a variety of courses from different fields of economics such as monetary economics, public finance, labor economics, urban economics, international economics, development economics, etc.
  1. Economics and Finance
  2. Economics and Finance focuses on the application of economic theory to financial markets. The students are taught courses in money and banking, stock markets and of secondary financial markets with special emphasis on the financial side of domestic and cross border investment.
  1. Development Economics
  2. Development Economics is a broad area of specialization with a focus on the application of economic theory to understand the characteristics of and economic issues faced by developing countries. The students are exposed to quantitative as well as qualitative models of economic development with a view to consider the pros and cons of alternative paradigms of economic development.
  1. International Economics
  2. International Economics has always been an important specialized area of economics and has gain even more importance in the context of the recently growing interest in globalization. In addition to core economic theory, the students are exposed to the study of international trade, international finance, migration and other cross border issues facing the world, especially the developing countries.

Selection of specialization:   At the end of fifth semester students are asked to give their preferences regarding the specialization area. Specializations are offered on the basis of preferences and available resources. 

  1. Split up of Courses:

BS Economics is a four years degree program comprising of eight regular semesters. Common courses are taught in first five semesters and specialization courses are offered in last three semesters. Semester wise split up of courses is given below:

Courses Semesters Total

Courses
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
Elementary & Language Courses 3 2 2 2 – – – – 9
General Courses 2 2 2 1 – – – – 7
Discipline Specific Foundation Courses 1 2 2 2 – – – – 7
Discipline Specific Core Courses – – – – 5 3 – 1 9
Specialization Compulsory Courses – – – – – 2 3 1 6
Specialization Elective Courses – – – – – – 2 3 5
Viva Voce Examination* – – – – – – – 1 1
Total Courses 6 6 6 5 5 5 5 6 44

*Viva Voce Examination is equivalent to one course. It is taken at the end of 8th semester. 

4.1 Common Courses

4.1.1. Elementary and Language Courses (25 credit hours)

  • EC151: Functional English
  • EC152: English Comprehension and Composition
  • EC251 Writing Skills
  • EC252: Communication Skills
  • EC153: Islamic Studies or EC154:Comparative Religions
  • EC155: Pakistan Studies
  • EC256: Computer Skills
  • EC257: Ethics
  • EC111: Basic Mathematics

4.1.2. General Courses (21 credit hours)

  • EC271: Culture and Religions in International Relations
  • EC272: General Science
  • EC273: International Relations
  • EC274: Introduction to Geography
  • EC275: Introduction to Indo-Pak History
  • EC276: Introduction to Law
  • EC277: Introduction to Logic
  • EC278: Introduction to Sociology
  • EC279: Numbers System
  • EC280: Principles of Accounting
  • EC281: Principles of Management
  • EC282: Principles of Political Science
  • EC283: Principles of Psychology
  • EC284: Introduction to Education
  • EC285: Introduction to Mass Communication
  • EC286: Introduction to Commerce
  • EC287: Introduction to Anthropology
  • EC288: Introduction to Philosophy
  • Non-English Language Course
    EC260:Arabic, EC261: Chinese, EC262:French, EC263:German, EC264:Italian, EC265:Persian, EC266:Russian, EC267:Spanish.
    Note: Each course worth 3 credit hours. Therefore degree requirement is 7 courses. School of Economics can offer any seven General Courses depending upon interest of students and availability of teachers.

4.1.3. Foundation Courses (27 credit hours)

  • EC101: Principles of Microeconomics
  • EC105: Principles of Macroeconomics
  • EC112: Basic Statistics
  • EC201: Intermediate Microeconomics
  • EC205: Intermediate Macroeconomics
  • EC211: Mathematical Economics – I
  • EC212: Inferential Statistics

4.1.4. Core Compulsory Courses (27 credit hours)

  • EC301: Microeconomic Analysis
  • EC305: Macroeconomic Analysis
  • EC312: Basic Econometrics
  • EC322: Public Sector Economics
  • EC321: Monetary Economics
  • EC341: Financial Economics
  • EC361: International Economics
  • EC381: Development Economics
  • EC423: Economy of Pakistan

4.2. Specialization Courses

4.2.1. Specialization: ECONOMICS
Compulsory Courses (21 credit hours)

  • EC 302: Economics of Information and Game Theory
  • EC 311: Mathematical Economics-II
  • EC401: General Equilibrium and Welfare Economics
  • EC406: Dynamic Macroeconomics
  • EC412: Econometrics of Time Series and Panel Data
  • EC413: Applied Economics
  • EC439: Viva Voce Examination

Optional Courses (21 credit hours)**

  • EC402: Industrial Organization
  • EC403: Industrial Economics
  • EC404: Behavioral Economics and Experimental Methods
  • EC421: Monetary Policy
  • EC422: Fiscal Policy
  • EC423: Health Economics
  • EC424: Labor Economics – I
  • EC425: Labor Economics – II
  • EC426: Urban Economics
  • EC427: Transport Economics
  • EC428: Energy Economics
  • EC429: Islamic Economics
  • EC430: Political Economy
  • EC431: Law and Economics
  • EC432: Ecological and Environmental Economics
  • EC433: Economics of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
  • EC434: Social Choice and Economic Justice
  • EC435: History of Economic Thought

4.2.2. Specialization: ECONOMICS AND FINANCE
Compulsory Courses (21 credit hours)

  • EC 311: Mathematical Economics-II
  • EC342: Corporate Finance
  • EC412: Econometrics of Time Series and Panel Data
  • EC422: Financial Risk Management
  • EC441: Financial Accounting
  • EC442: International Finance
  • EC459: Viva Voce Examination

Optional Courses (Degree requirement: 12 credit hours)**

  • EC444: Financial Institutions & Economic Development
  • EC445: Financial Modeling
  • EC446: Portfolio Management
  • EC447: Financial Derivatives
  • EC448: Financial Theory and Capital Markets
  • EC449: Financial Markets and Institutions
  • EC450: Money, Banking and Finance
  • EC471: Islamic Banking
  • EC472: Regulation of Financial Crime

4.2.3. Specialization: DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS

Compulsory Courses (21 credit hours)

  • EC382: Theories of Economic Development
  • EC383: Poverty and Income Distribution
  • EC461: Globalization and Economic Development
  • EC481: Institutions and Development
  • EC482: Development Policy
  • EC491: Quantitative Methods for Development Economics
  • EC499: Viva Voce Examination

Optional Courses (Degree requirement: 12 credit hours)**

  • EC483: Human Resource Development
  • EC484: Population Economics
  • EC485: Cost Benefit Analysis
  • EC486: Natural Resource Economics
  • EC487: Environmental Economics
  • EC488: Agricultural Economics
  • EC489: Forestry Economics
  • EC490: Rural Development
  • EC491: Regional Economics
  • EC492: Theories of Economic Growth
  • EC493: Structural Transformation and Economic Growth
  • EC494: Economics of Gender
  • EC495: Urbanization and Development
  • EC496: Ecological and Environmental Economics
  • EC497: Economics of Transition
  • EC498: Economics of Crime

4.2.4. Specialization: INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS

Compulsory Courses (Degree requirement: 18 credit hours)

  • EC 311: Mathematical Economics-II
  • EC362: International Trade Theory
  • EC412: Econometrics of Time Series and Panel Data
  • EC442: International Finance
  • EC461: Globalization and Economic Development
  • EC462: International Trade Policy
  • EC479: Viva Voce Examination

Optional Courses (Degree requirement: 12 credit hours)**

  • EC463: Trade and Environment
  • EC464: Economics of International Migration
  • EC465: Global Environmental Governance
  • EC466: Competition, Regulations and Business Strategies
  • EC467: World Economy: Issues and Challenges
  • EC468: International Development
  • EC469: Economics of Antitrust and Regulations
  • EC470: Global Capital Markets
  • EC471: International Banking: Regulations and Supervision
    ** School of Economics offers selected optional courses for each specialization. Students are given choice to register courses of their choice within the offered list.

4.3 Semester Wise Split up of Courses

First Semester

  1. EC151: Functional English
  2. EC153: Islamic Studies or  EC154:Comparative Religions
  3. General Course 1
  4. General Course 2
  5. EC101: Principles of Microeconomics
  6. EC111: Basic Mathematics

Second Semester

  1. EC152: English Comprehension and Composition
  2. EC155: Pakistan Studies
  3. General Course 3
  4. General Course 4
  5. EC105: Principles of Macroeconomics
  6. EC112: Basic Statistics

Third Semester

  1. EC251 Writing Skills
  2. EC257: Ethics
  3. General Course 5
  4. General Course 6
  5. EC201: Intermediate Microeconomics
  6. EC211: Mathematical Economics – I

Forth Semester

  1. EC252: Communication Skills
  2. General Course 7 (preferably non-English language course)
  3. EC256: Computer Skills
  4. EC205: Intermediate Macroeconomics
  5. EC212: Inferential Statistics

Fifth Semester

  1. EC312: Econometrics
  2. EC321: Monetary Economics
  3. EC341: Financial Economics
  4. EC361: International Economics
  5. EC381: Development Economics

Sixth Semester (Specialization: Economics)

  1. EC301: Microeconomic Analysis
  2. EC305: Macroeconomic Analysis
  3. EC322: Public Sector Economics
  4. EC302: Economics of Information and Game Theory
  5. EC311: Mathematical Economics – II

Sixth Semester (Specialization: Economics and Finance)

  1. EC301: Microeconomic Analysis
  2. EC305: Macroeconomic Analysis
  3. EC322: Public Sector Economics
  4. EC311: Mathematical Economics – II
  5. EC342: Corporate Finance

Sixth Semester (Specialization: Development Economics)

  1. EC301: Microeconomic Analysis
  2. EC305: Macroeconomic Analysis
  3. EC322: Public Sector Economics
  4. EC382: Theories of Economic Growth
  5. EC383: Poverty and Income Distribution

Sixth Semester (Specialization: International Economics)

  1. EC301: Microeconomic Analysis
  2. EC305: Macroeconomic Analysis
  3. EC322: Public Sector Economics
  4. EC311: Mathematical Economics – II
  5. EC362: International Trade Theory

Seventh Semester (Specialization: Economics)

  1. EC401: General Equilibrium and Welfare Economics
  2. EC406: Dynamic Macroeconomics
  3. EC412: Econometrics of Time Series and Panel Data
  4. Optional Course 1
  5. Optional Course 2

Seventh Semester (Specialization: Economics and Finance)

  1. EC412: Econometrics of Time Series and Panel Data
  2. EC421: Financial Accounting
  3. EC434: Financial Risk Management
  4. Optional Course 1
  5. Optional Course 2

Seventh Semester (Specialization: Economic Development)

  1. EC461: Globalization and Economic Development
  2. EC482: Development Policy
  3. EC491: Quantitative Methods for Economic Development
  4. Optional Course 1
  5. Optional Course 2

Seventh Semester (Specialization: International Economics)

  1. EC412: Econometrics of Time Series and Panel Data
  2. EC451: Globalization and Economic Development
  3. EC452: International Trade Policy
  4. Optional Course 1
  5. Optional Course 2

Eighth Semester (Specialization: Economics)

  1. EC413: Applied Economics
  2. EC423: Economy of Pakistan
  3. EC439: Viva Voce Examination
  4. Optional Course 3
  5. Optional Course 4
  6. Optional Course 5

Eighth Semester (Specialization: Economics and Finance)

  1. EC423: Economy of Pakistan
  2. EC442: International Finance
  3. EC459: Viva Voce Examination
  4. Optional Course 3
  5. Optional Course 4
  6. Optional Course 5

Eighth Semester (Specialization: Economic Development)

  1. EC423: Economy of Pakistan
  2. EC481: Institutions and Development
  3. EC499: Viva Voce Examination
  4. Optional Course 3
  5. Optional Course 4
  6. Optional Course 5

Eighth Semester (Specialization: International Economics)

  1. EC423: Economy of Pakistan
  2. EC442: International Finance
  3. EC479: Viva Voce Examination
  4. Optional Course 3
  5. Optional Course 4
  6. Optional Course 5

4.4 Courses set compulsory for B.A. Cut-off degree

As per university rules, “A student after successfully completing minimum 62 credit hours course work may seek to obtain B.A (two year) pass degree”. In this regard following courses of 30 credit hours are compulsory for BA cut-off degree program at School of Economics, QAU.

  • EC151: Functional English
  • EC152: English Comprehension and Composition
  • EC251 Writing Skills
  • EC252: Communication Skills
  • EC153: Islamic Studies or  EC154:Comparative Religions
  • EC155: Pakistan Studies
  • EC101: Principles of Microeconomics
  • EC105: Principles of Macroeconomics
  • EC111: Basic Mathematics
  • EC112: Basic Statistics

4.5.Prerequisite for Registering Courses

There are certain courses which are prerequisite of advance courses, for instance Principles of Microeconomics is prerequisite for Intermediate Microeconomics. All prerequisites are offered in initial semesters and their advance courses are offer in later semesters. If due to any reason a student is not able to successfully pass a prerequisite then he / she is not allowed to register its advance course. Following is the prerequisite chart of different advance courses. It is to be noted that all prerequisites, except English language courses are normally offered in Summer Session.

English Language Courses

  • (EC-151)Functional English is prerequisite for (EC-251) Writing Skills
  • (EC-152) English Comprehension and Composition is prerequisite for (EC-252) Communication Skills

Courses of Microeconomics

  • (EC-101) Principles of Microeconomics is prerequisite for (EC-201) Intermediate Microeconomics
  • (EC-201) Intermediate Microeconomics is prerequisite for Microeconomic Analysis (EC-301)

Courses of Macroeconomics

  • (EC-105) Principles of Macroeconomics Principles is prerequisite for (EC-205) Intermediate Macroeconomics
  • (EC-205) Intermediate Macroeconomics is prerequisite for (EC-305) Macroeconomic Analysis

Courses of Mathematical Economics

  • (EC-111) Basic Mathematics is prerequisite for (EC-211) Mathematical Economics – I
  • (EC-211) Mathematical Economics – I is prerequisite for (EC-311) Mathematical Economics – II

Courses of Statistics and Econometrics and Applied Economics

  • (EC-112) Basic Statistics is prerequisite for (EC-212) Inferential Statistics
  • (EC-212) Inferential Statistics is prerequisite for (EC-312) Econometrics
  • (EC-312) Econometrics is prerequisite for (EC-412) Econometrics of Time Series and Panel Data and (EC-413)Applied Economics

4.6. Prerequisite for Improvement In CGPA

Students who obtain less than 60% in a course or courses can opt to repeat the course or courses to improve their CGPA. However grade improvement would not be allowed in more than four courses during the entire study program of studies.

In this regard a straight forward principle is that a basic course cannot be improved after studying its advance course. Following is the prerequisite chart for improvement of courses at School of Economics, QAU. 

Courses of Microeconomics

  • (EC-101) Principles of Microeconomics cannot be improved after studying (EC-201) Intermediate Microeconomics.
  • (EC201) Intermediate Microeconomics cannot be improved after studying (EC-301) Microeconomic Analysis.

Courses of Macroeconomics

  • (EC-105) Principles of Macroeconomics cannot be improved after studying (EC-205) Intermediate Macroeconomics.
  • (EC-205) Intermediate Macroeconomics cannot be improved after studying (EC-305) Macroeconomic Analysis.

Courses of Mathematics

  • (EC-111) Basic Mathematics cannot be improved after studying (EC-211) Mathematical Economics-I
  • (EC-2111) Mathematical Economics-I cannot be improved after studying (EC-311) Mathematical Economics-II

Courses of Statistics

  • (EC-112) Basic Statistics cannot be improved after studying (EC-212) Inferential Statistics.

Courses of Econometrics

  • (EC-312) Econometrics cannot be improved after studying (EC-412) Econometrics of Time Series and Panel Data.

Note: This scheme of studies is effective for the students admitted in 2016 and onwards.