ECON 100Principles of Economics
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
This course provides an introduction to the basic concepts and tools of micro and macro economic analysis of individuals, businesses, and government in the global world. Topics may include consumers, producers, market structures, national income accounting, unemployment, and inflation.
Prerequisites
- Enrolled in H-Mathematics/Chartered Professional Accountancy
Antirequisites
Leads to
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 3338 | 0 / 40 | MW 11:30–12:50 |
| LEC 701 | 1255 | 27 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
18% liked it14% easy64% useful
From 17 ratings and 5 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Didn't really like this course. It wasn't too difficult but it was quite unorganized as this is technically a crash course of micro and macro economics. Quite a bit of math used in the course especially in the microeconomic section.
Apr 2016 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Microeconomics, macroeconomics, and some differential calculus mashed into one- quite an overwhelming amount of information for an introductory course. On the other hand, you will learn a lot and the end result is very rewarding if you put in the hard work.
Jun 2016 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Course is not organised. Too much content in too little time.
Sep 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
It's a mix of content from ECON 101 and ECON 102.
Apr 2018 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Would say this course is hard, concept were not explained quite enough, and was very equation heavy (I'm still not sure what concepts half the equations represented). Do not underestimate this course.
Apr 2017 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
26 posts and comments in 17 threads mention ECON 100, October 2016 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Winter 2024
Accounting at UWaterloo 2 points, 8 comments
“The Math/Chartered Account program shows these five courses for first semester: September to December AFM 111 – Professional Pathways & Problem-Solving AFM 191 – Foundations for Financial Reporting …”
u/SirFrancisTheKnight: “Question 1: Math/CPA takes Econ 100 in the winter term (January to April) which is a mix of micro and macro economics (ie satisfies Econ 101 and Econ 102). …”
Fall 2023
IS ANYONE HERE AN ECONOMICS MAJOR IN WATERLOO. 1 point, 11 comments
u/SchoolPresident: “Mathematics/CPA is the program you have to be in to take ECON 100.”
u/Local-Performance168: “Is it compulsory to take ECON 100 in order to get admitted into the Economics Major Program, or are there choices take other courses. For example only taking ECON 101 and ECON 102, and they fulfill the credits needed for the 2nd year. (Just an example like that).”
u/SchoolPresident: “Here are the courses you will need for an Honours Economics degree: https://ugradcalendar.uwaterloo.ca/page/ARTS-Honours-Economics You will not take ECON 100.”
Spring 2022
FARM vs MATH/CPA 2 points, 7 comments
“Hey everyone, &x200B; I have been fortunate enough to be accepted into both FARM and Math/CPA and have been very grateful for it:) Nevertheless, I am VERY struggling to choose between these two and …”
u/AFMISFULLOFNOOBS: “… Control AFM 491 Advanced Financial Accounting ECON 100 Principles of Econ. …”
Spring 2020
SLC before all the construction started 555 points, 34 comments
[deleted]: “Bombshelter & SLC; the 2 decent places on campus are gone. Let it sink in.”
u/SantiJP3: “Bombshelter was decent. I remember doing a couple of shots with some classmates before our final for ECON 100 (elective in our 2nd year). Good times.”
u/leea0526: “off topic, but why did you choose to do ECON 100 instead of ECON 101/102?”
Thoughts on ECON 100? 1 point, 3 comments
u/Blaster167: “I’m debating on taking ECON 100 or ECON 101. I’ve heard 101 is easy, but I couldn’t find much on 100. I’m just wondering if it’s going to be more useful than 101.”
u/tendstofortytwo: “ECON 100 has a prereq: you need to be Math/CPA.”
Question about 2A Progression Requirements 1 point, 8 comments
“For some context I am in Math/CPA and I failed to reach the Math 135 progression requirement of 60% in 1A. …”
u/BronzeWarrior15: “What are the transfer credits in? If they are in a course that you didn’t take (perhaps ECON 101? Do you still take COMM 103/100/ECON 100 as we did when I went through?) then that should be acceptable, but I can’t confirm this — you might have to talk with either Peter or Aziza.”
Fall 2019
ECON 100 and 101? 1 point, 2 comments
u/12345goose: “Econ 100 and 101 are antireqs of each other http://www.ucalendar.uwaterloo.ca/1920/COURSE/course-ECON.html”
Spring 2019
Econ courses 2 points, 1 comment
u/Tank_full_of_dank: “… Most of the second year courses and most of them have the following prereqs: econ101 or econ100/comm103; econ 102. Just for clarification that means that i need to have both econ 101 and econ 102 in order to take the course. …”
u/OfficialPapaJohn: “… For example, for ECON201 you need "ECON 101 or (ECON100=COMM103). …”
Winter 2019
How did they figure out that the demand was unit elastic at that point? Econ majors pls help. 7 points, 15 comments
u/beaverlyknight: “Technically speaking, price elasticity of demand (Ed) at a particular point is Ed = -dQ / dP P / Q How I would do it: So first of all if you look at your demand curve Q = 50 - 2p Ed = -dQ / dP P / Q …”
u/Level126: “… Took Econ 100 which is anti req with 101, and then convinced math faculty to accept AP credit for 102 in 2nd year. Econ 100 fills all 101 requirements. Hopefully I don't get screwed when I'm trying to graduate without 101. …”
Fall 2018
Can a MATH/CPA transfer to AFM?? 3 points, 7 comments
“I am a first year math/cpa student and I am suffering from my math courses currently, is it possible for me to switch to AFM?”
[deleted]: [deleted]
u/Level126: “ECON 100 counts as econ 101.”
Spring 2018
Can Econ 100 or 101 be a bird course for engineering 7 points, 13 comments
u/leea0526: “ECON 100 is restricted to Math/CPA students only.”
Winter 2018
What’s the useful/interesting course you’ve taken? 5 points, 27 comments
“Have lots of elective room next term — I find that taking bird electives means I’m never all that interested and actually do worse than challenging courses. …”
u/Level126: “Liked CO250, and liking Math239. Also liked Econ 100 for being a crash course in micro/macro with math having done micro and macro in highschool. Only thing is that you can't take econ 100 unless you're in math/cpa i think”
u/Level126: “ECON 100 despite being a micro/macro crash course only counts as ECON 101. I got lucky personally by having an ECON 102 credit from AP Macro. ECON 100 is not similar to 101/102. ECON 100 has no multiple choice for example. …”
u/leea0526: “You will most likely not be able to enroll in ECON 100 as it is restricted to Math/CPAs.”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them