Our BA programme provides you with a broad understanding of economics, and exposes you to a wide range of specialist economics areas. As you progress through your degree, your focus will be on the application of economics to real-world problems.The BA Economics provides you with a broad understanding of economics and exposes you to a range of specialist economics areas. You'll develop the theoretical understanding and quantitative skills to help you become highly proficient economists, with a focus on the application of economics to real-world problems.In your first year you'll be introduced to foundational economic principles and theories and develop your core quantitative skills in mathematical methods for economics. You will then build on your toolkit of theoretical and quantitative skills in your second and final years and apply these to the areas of economics that interest you the most.Our degree is designed to give you the choice of which pathway you wish to specialise in. You'll have the same core and optional modules on the BA Economics and BSc Economics courses in the first and second years, so that you can study modules in both applied and methodological economics.Employment skills and personal development are embedded throughout our curriculum. All students receive employability sessions in their first year, where you will learn about finding placements or internships, and what jobs you can do with an economics degree.Our courses have a strong emphasis on data analysis from year one, where you will learn to analyse real data using software including Excel and Stata. You’ll gain independent research skills that are highly valued by employers in your final year dissertation or Economics in Action module. You will also have the opportunity to get involved in the Sheffield Economics Employability Development (SEED) scheme which is a series of careers events and opportunities to develop your skills for employment. Optional placement year, Study abroad