EC 4400E-001: Senior Research Seminar in Economics

 

Course Syllabus (pdf of entire Course Outline)

Registration

You are responsible for ensuring you are registered in the correct courses. If you are not registered in this course, the Department will not release your marks until your registration is corrected. You may check your timetable by using the Login on the Student Services website at https://studentservices.uwo.ca/secure/index.cfm. If you notice a problem, please contact your faculty academic counsellor right away.

Prerequisite Note

The prerequisites for this course are Economics 2223A/B, Economics 2261A/B, and Economics 2221A/B (Economics 2220A/B for students in the Economics, Politics and Philosophy Honors Specialization). Students must be in their 4th year of an Honors Economics Degree. Concurrent enrolment in Economics 3388A/B is strongly recommended.

You are responsible for ensuring that you have successfully completed all course prerequisites, and that you have not taken an antirequisite course. Lack of prerequisites may not be used as a basis for appeal. If you are found to be ineligible for a course, you may be removed from it at any time and you will receive no adjustment to your fees. This decision cannot be appealed.

If you find that you do not have the course prerequisites, it is in your best interest to drop the course well before the end of the add/drop period. Your prompt attention to this matter will not only help protect your academic record, but will ensure that spaces become available for students who require the course in question for graduation.

Essay Guidelines

Please read carefully the Department of Economics' Essay Guidelines, which contain information that will help you with your Ec4400E paper.

What is Economics 4400E?

Economics 4400 is a two-semester course for fourth year students in Economics Honors programs. The aim of this course is to help you develop the skills and techniques needed to carry out an original research project. You will acquire these skills through learning by doing. During the course of the year you will write a substantial, original research paper on a topic chosen and researched by you in consultation with the faculty team. Subject to the approval of and in consultation with the faculty, you may select any topic you find interesting, choose your approach and methodology, and work solo or with a partner.

During this year you will be required to submit several written assignments in addition to the final research paper. You are also required to present your research to the class and to discuss in writing and orally the research paper of a classmate.

The course team will endeavour to help you with all aspects of the project. We will provide class presentations, hands-on demos, and informal consultation and feedback throughout the year. A variety of useful and important information is available on this course website.

While we will provide support, this is your research project. It is up to you to take charge, set your directions, and carry the project through to completion. Your success will depend on the initiative, resourcefulness, effort and skill that you devote to your project.

Research is a collective endeavour. We encourage you to interact formally and informally with your classmates so as to generate positive externalities and form a community of scholars (see Student Choice Award in the Course Syllabus).

About this Site

This web page is designed to help answer questions about the course and to provide assistance for the students enrolled in it. Undergraduates at The University of Western Ontario thinking of pursuing an Honors Degree in Economics will also find this page helpful in preparing them for the final year when they take this course. For students enrolled in 4400E, this website contains information about or links to schedules of presentations and meetings, announcements, readings and resources.