BSc Applied Economics
The Bachelor of Science in Applied Economics is a four-year regular undergraduate programme of the Department of Applied Economics, School of Economics, University of Cape Coast.
Aim of the programme
The BSc Applied Economics programme aims to train graduates who can apply economic reasoning and analytical tools to real-life problems, making economics practical, relevant, and connected to industry and society. It seeks to produce graduates who combine solid academic training with practical skills for policy, business, and development.
Objectives
- i. Equip students with a strong foundation in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and applied econometrics, while focusing on practical applications rather than excessive abstraction. ii. Develop students’ ability to apply economic concepts and methods to everyday life issues such as jobs, prices, poverty, inequality, trade, and industrial growth. iii. Build capacity to use statistical, mathematical, and computational tools for economic and policy analysis in ways that are relevant to industries and the working world. iv. Strengthen critical thinking, problem-solving, and research skills for tackling real-world social and economic challenges. v. Prepare students for professional careers in government, industry, finance, research, consulting, and international organisations, as well as for postgraduate study in economics and related fields. vi. Cultivate ethical values, professional attitudes, and communication skills necessary for effective economic practice and leadership in society.
- Equip students with a strong foundation in microeconomics, macroeconomics and applied econometrics, focusing on practical applications rather than excessive abstraction.
- Develop students' ability to apply economic concepts and methods to everyday life issues such as jobs, prices, poverty, inequality, trade and industrial growth.
- Build capacity to use statistical, mathematical and computational tools for economic and policy analysis in ways that are relevant to industries and the working world.
- Strengthen critical thinking, problem-solving and research skills for tackling real-world social and economic challenges.
- Prepare students for professional careers in government, industry, finance, research, consulting and international organisations, as well as for postgraduate study in economics and related fields.
- Cultivate ethical values, professional attitudes and communication skills necessary for effective economic practice and leadership in society.
Unlike traditional economics programmes that focus heavily on abstract or highly technical quantitative work, the programme is designed to emphasise the application and real-world relevance of economic ideas. It trains students to use economics as a tool for analysing everyday issues such as unemployment, inflation, inequality and environmental challenges, making the subject pertinent to industries and the workplace.
The first two years cover introductory mathematics and statistics for economists, the principles and elements of applied micro- and macroeconomics, contemporary economic issues, computing and computer applications for applied economists, introduction to development economics, econometrics, industrial economics, the economics of social issues, economic planning and financial economics, together with the University-wide Communicative Skills, Information Literacy Skills, African Studies, the interfaculty course and Critical Thinking and Practical Reasoning, and two semesters of basic communication in French.
The third and fourth years cover applied microeconometrics, the economics of resource allocation, intermediate applied micro- and macroeconomics, research methods, the economy of Ghana, game theory, monetary economics, behavioural economics, advanced applied micro- and macroeconomics, applied economic research and reporting, economic modelling and forecasting and development economics, with two or three electives each semester drawn from energy economics, project and economic evaluation, managerial economics, empirical finance, transport economics, the economics of international trade law, investment and portfolio management, labour economics, business economics, health economics, microfinance, sustainable finance and the green economy, housing finance, international trade theory and policy, applied monetary systems and banking operations, the economics of gender and society, corporate governance and ethics, the economics of markets and regulation, public finance and public policy, international finance and open economy macroeconomics, the economics of innovations and technology, and the economics of education.
The research component is the Project Work, a long essay written in the second semester of the fourth year.
Background
The BSc Applied Economics programme was created in response to the increasing demand for economics graduates with strong analytical, quantitative, and policy-focused skills to tackle Ghana’s and Africa’s development challenges. Applied economics plays a vital role in national development strategies, especially within the context of the Ghana Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies (2017–2024), which highlights industrial transformation, job creation, and inclusive growth. The programme also supports the objectives of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, both of which underscore the importance of sound economic policy, evidence-based decision-making, and inclusive economic growth.
Unlike traditional economics programmes that focus heavily on abstract or highly technical quantitative work, the BSc Applied Economics programme is intentionally designed to emphasise the application and real-world relevance of economic ideas. It trains students to utilise economics as a tool for analysing everyday issues such as unemployment, inflation, inequality, and environmental challenges, making the subject pertinent to industries and the workplace. The programme was developed by the Department of Applied Economics in consultation with industry stakeholders, government agencies, and academic experts to ensure graduates combine solid theory with practical skills. It balances rigorous training in economic reasoning and data analysis with practical experience through internships, empirical projects, and case studies. While the programmes have existed at the department since 2018, the first cohort of BSc Applied Economics students will be admitted in the 2025/2026 academic year, with plans to attract both local and international students.
Career opportunities
Graduates of the programme are employed across the agricultural sector, the services sector and the industrial sector of the economy, in government, industry, finance, research, consulting and international organisations. The Department runs tracer events that track the performance of graduates of the programme.
Course structure
The courses mounted for this programme, by year and semester.
Level 100
First Semester
| Code | Course | Type | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMS107 | Communicative Skills | Mandatory | 3 |
| ECA103 | Principles of Applied Microeconomics | Core | 3 |
| ECA109 | Introduction to Computing for Applied Economists | Core | 3 |
| ECF101 | Principles Of Finance | Core | 3 |
| ILT101 | Information Literacy | Mandatory | 1 |
Second Semester
| Code | Course | Type | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMS108 | Communicative Skills | Mandatory | 3 |
| ECA105 | Contemporary Economic Issues | Core | 3 |
| ECA106 | Principles of Applied Macroeconomics | Core | 3 |
| ECF104 | Personal Financial Decision Making | Core | 3 |
| ECF106 | Introductory Statistics for Economists | Core | 3 |
Level 200
First Semester
| Code | Course | Type | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA203 | Elements of Applied Microeconomics | Core | 3 |
| ECA205 | Introduction to Development Economics | Core | 3 |
| ECA207 | Introduction To Econometrics | Core | 3 |
| ECA209 | Elements of Industrial Economics | Core | 3 |
| ECO209 | Mathematics For Economists | Core | 3 |
| FRM103 | Basic Communication in French I | Core | 2 |
| PHL205 | Critical Thinking And Practical Reasoning | Mandatory | 2 |
Second Semester
| Code | Course | Type | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA208 | Computer Applications for Applied Economists | Core | 3 |
| ECA210 | Elements of Applied Macroeconomics | Core | 3 |
| ECA212 | Economics of Social Issues | Core | 3 |
| ECA216 | Economic Planning | Core | 3 |
| ECF320 | Financial Economics | Core | 3 |
| ECO212 | Elements Of Mathematics For Economists | Core | 3 |
| FRM104 | Basic Communication in French II | Core | 2 |
Level 300
First Semester
| Code | Course | Type | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA303 | Applied Microeconometrics | Core | 3 |
| ECA309 | Energy Economics | Elective | 3 |
| ECA310 | Economics of Resource Allocation | Core | 3 |
| ECA318 | Managerial Economics | Elective | 3 |
| ECA321 | Intermediate Applied Microeconomics | Core | 3 |
| ECA327 | Project and Economic Evaluation | Elective | 3 |
| ECF303 | Empirical Finance | Elective | 3 |
| ECF309 | Development Finance | Core | 3 |
| ENT302 | Introduction to Entrepreneurship | Mandatory | 1 |
Second Semester
| Code | Course | Type | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA312 | Transport Economics | Elective | 3 |
| ECA314 | Economics of International Trade Law | Elective | 3 |
| ECA319 | Monetary Economics | Core | 3 |
| ECA320 | Intermediate Applied Macroeconomics | Core | 3 |
| ECF312 | Investment and Portfolio Management | Elective | 3 |
| ECF317 | Game Theory and Applications | Core | 3 |
| ECF318 | Business Economics | Elective | 3 |
| ECO308 | Economy Of Ghana | Core | 3 |
| ECO416 | Labour Economics | Elective | 3 |
Level 400
First Semester
| Code | Course | Type | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA401 | Economic Modelling and Forecasting | Core | 3 |
| ECA403 | Behavioural Economics | Core | 3 |
| ECA417 | Applied Monetary Systems and Banking Operations | Elective | 3 |
| ECA419 | Economics of Gender and Society | Elective | 3 |
| ECA427 | Advanced Applied Microeconomics | Core | 3 |
| ECA430 | Sustainable Finance and Green Economy | Elective | 3 |
| ECA432 | Applied Economic Research and Reporting | Core | 3 |
| ECF307 | Microfinance | Elective | 3 |
| ECF405 | Housing Finance | Elective | 3 |
| ECO409 | International Trade Theory | Elective | 3 |
| ECO415 | Health Economics | Elective | 3 |
Second Semester
| Code | Course | Type | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECA404 | Experimental Economics | Core | 3 |
| ECA406 | Economics of Markets and Regulation | Elective | 3 |
| ECA410 | International Finance And Open Economy Macroeconomics | Elective | 3 |
| ECA412 | Economics of Innovations and Technology | Elective | 3 |
| ECA414 | Economics of Education | Elective | 3 |
| ECA424 | Advanced Applied Macroeconomics | Core | 3 |
| ECA499 | Project Work | Research Component | 3 |
| ECF406 | Corporate Governance and Ethics | Elective | 3 |
| ECF409 | Development Economics | Core | 3 |
| ECF413 | Public Finance and Public Policy | Elective | 3 |
