Economics and Financial Management (BA)

The Lazaridis BA in Economics and Financial Management will give you the skills to navigate and influence the complex world of personal and corporate finance. You will master the intricacies of how individual, family, government and firm decisions shape financial markets and how to use that knowledge in your work and personal life.

The in-demand skills you’ll learn in the program are fundamental to decision-making for a wide range of organizations, including businesses, non-profit and community organizations and governments.

Program Details

Degree Highlights

Your future professors work hard to make sure your academic experience is current, complete and designed to open doors in your career. Here are a few things you can count on:

  • Career-Ready Curriculum 
    Learn how the Bank of Canada's interest rate decisions impact bond and stock prices and understand the effects of exchange rates on the riskiness of international supply chain choices.
  • Mix Politics with Business 
    Study the role of government regulations in maintaining financial stability — and recognize when they might contribute to instability. Explore the influence of psychological biases on financial decision-making and discover how governments can use these insights to improve personal finances.
  • Teaching Excellence 
    Learn from internationally recognized, award-winning experts in economics and finance, dedicated to delivering an exceptional educational experience. Blending academic rigor with real-world insights, you will gain a deep understanding of economic and financial principles.

Top Experiences

Here are just a few of our students’ favourite ways to apply their learning in the real world throughout their degree (Check out the Experience Guide for more!):

  • Co-op 
    You can apply to co-op at the end of first year and complete three four-month work terms over the course of your four-year degree.
  • Competitions 
    Grow your forecasting skills as part of the SMITH Prediction Competition. Explore options to participate in Canada-wide student competitions.
  • Teaching and Research 
    Gain hands-on experience throughout your degree in the CI Financial Lab. Work as an Instructional Assistant in the Economics department. Explore research opportunities with the Laurier Centre for Economic Research and Policy Analysis (LCERPA).
  • Student-Run Labs 
    Learn how to conduct leading edge statistical analysis with coding in Stata, R or Python through the student-run PRISM lab.

Courses, Options and Pathways

Courses

Get a glimpse of what you will study throughout your degree. See what your first-year classes will look like through sample courses and start exploring what your upper academic years can offer.

Program Options

Explore a variety of courses, specializations and pathway options that let you shape your degree around your unique interests and goals. Find out how you can customize your experience and prepare for what’s next.

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AACSB Accreditation

The Economics and Financial Management (BA) program is offered by the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics and is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business – delivering on excellence and the highest standards for business schools in the world. 

Admissions

  • Format: full time or part time
  • Duration: four years
  • Start: September (fall term) or January (winter term)

Your Career Awaits

It’s not only about the journey; it’s about the destination. Let us help you get to where you’re going.

Here are just some examples of our graduates' destinations. What’s yours?

Sample Career Options

Note: Additional training and education may be required.

  • bank examiner/trust officer
  • business forecaster
  • economic developer
  • financial analyst
  • investment banking analyst
  • lawyer/paralegal
  • pricing analyst
  • securities trader

Explore more careers.

Support After Graduation

Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.

Your Co-op Experience

Co-op is a way to integrate what you are learning in the classroom with practical experience in your field of study. Build your resume, earn money, develop your network and graduate with work experience.

You can apply for admission to co-op in your first year and may be eligible for an admission interview early in your second year. As a student in this program, you will be eligible to complete three work terms of four months’ duration, between second and fourth year, enabling you to obtain 12 months of full-time work experience.

Interested? Learn more about co-op.

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99%employment rate for co‑op students – 2024 / 2025

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Tuition and Scholarships

Getting a university education is an investment in your future.

At Laurier, we take financial health seriously by providing a wide variety of funding opportunities for you throughout your degree, such as scholarships and bursaries, and by equipping you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

 

Laurier is among the top 6 percent in the Center for World University Rankings

 

Laurier students engaged in hands-on learning in 2024

 

Laurier graduates employed or in post-graduate studies in 2024

Waterloo Campus

The Waterloo campus is tucked into about one city block, so you’re steps away from your classes, food and your new favourite study spot. With more than 60 programs in arts, science, business and music, you can customize your degree, gain hands-on learning opportunities and join in the community beyond the classroom.

There are many ways to tour our Waterloo campus, whether that's on a guided tour with one of our Laurier student ambassadors, on your own using virtual reality, or even on-demand through one of our pre-recorded tours. See our campus spaces and start to picture yourself at Laurier.

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Delivered In Person

Join us on campus and experience university life firsthand.

You can complete your program primarily through in-person courses where you will attend classes in a physical classroom on scheduled days and times, which you will see and choose from when you register for courses. 

Connect face-to-face with your professors, learn alongside your classmates and be part of the campus community from day one.  

Hear From Current Students

Want to know what it’s really like to be a Laurier Golden Hawk? Student Life at Laurier is your social media source to get unfiltered content, first-hand stories and tips on living and learning at Laurier.

Connect with Us

Questions? Email chooselaurier@wlu.ca, call 548.889.8888 or see all contact information.


You Belong Here

Think this program might be the perfect fit for you and your future?