University Of Johannesburg Bridging Courses, Bridging Programme in Economics (for Degree students) and Advanced Diploma in Economics (for Diploma Students)
If you wish to participate in the bridging program you will need to apply for this course. Applications must be done online. Additional information can be found on the UJ website and any additional enquiries can be sent to Dr Peter Baur ([email protected]).
The minimum admission requirements for the programme is as follows:
- Students complying with the usual prerequisites of the honours programme and who were conditionally admitted at the end of the previous academic year, but failed the entrance examination in the beginning of the academic year, and
- Students who do not qualify for the conditional admission into any of the Economics honours programmes because they did not obtain a 3rd year average of 65% or more (but obtained an average higher than 55% for Economics 3); and
- For the Advanced Diploma: Diploma or BTech students with Economics as a major up to their 3rd year level (with an average of 65% for Economics 3 AND who obtained 50% or more in the Basic Mathematics course for Diploma students); and
- APS for matric mathematics of 3 (Unless the student had done an extended degree in which case matric mathematics will not be considered).
The duration of this course is over two semesters. Currently there are four compulsory modules, (two subjects per semester) which include Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Mathematical Economics and Research. This program is specially designed to further prepare students for Honors in Economics (General), by giving students additional tools that they will find useful when studying for the Honors Degree in Economics (General).
First semester
| Microeconomics | Mathematical Economics |
| Theory of demand | Exponential and logarithmic functions in economics |
| Theory of production | Derivatives and rules of differentiation |
| Theory of cost | Use of derivatives and optimisation in economics |
| Perfect competition | Partial derivatives and constrained optimisation |
| Monopoly and price discrimination | Differentiation of exponential and logarithmic functions |
| Monopolistic competition and advertising | Fundamentals of matrix algebra |
| Oligopoly and collusion | Matrix inversion and its application to economics |
| Pricing of production factors | Further applications of matrix algebra to economics |
| Mathematical applications in microeconomics | First-order differential and difference equations in economic models |
| Game theory with application to pricing behaviour | Second-order differential and difference equations in economic models |
| Linear programming with microeconomic applications | Integral calculus in economic models |
Second semester
| Macroeconomics | Macroeconomic Research |
| Economic indicators and their calculation | Basics of MS Excel |
| National accounts and economic growth | Sources of local and global economic data |
| Input-output economics | Data analysis and regression (using MS Excel) |
| Aggregate demand and the IS-curve | Writing data commentaries |
| Money demand, money supply and the LM-curve | Finding and reading economic literature |
| IS-LM model and exchange rates | Summarising and referencing economic literature |
| AD-AS model and the business cycle | Constructing economic arguments |
| Labour market and labour policy | Writing the introduction to an argumentative essay |
| Fiscal and monetary policy | Writing the body of an argumentative essay |
| Trade and exchange rate policy | Writing the conclusion of an argumentative essay |
The completion of this articulation program is necessary for those who wish to apply for the Honours Degree in Economics (General). Students who pass all modules in the Bridging Programme will be allowed to write the admission exam. However, after completion of the articulation programme candidates who achieve the following marks will not have to write the entrance exam into honours: 50% in Mathematical Economics; and 65% in Microeconomics; and 65% in Macroeconomics; 65% in Macroeconomic Research.
This Bridging Program does not give students automatic access to Honours. Students who have completed the Bridging Program in Economics or the Advanced Diploma in Economics may apply for the Honours Degree in Economics (General), and may still be required to write an entrance exam before been selected into the Honours in Economics (General) degree.