Economics Major

General Information

Economists are professionals who use data, critical thinking, and economic theories to analyze and provide solutions to challenges from the local to the global environment. An economics education enables the development of a wide range of practical skills and the exploration of diverse areas, including banking, sports, health care, international trade, and the natural environment. Our program equips students with the theoretical, analytical, and quantitative background needed to work as economists across a range of fields in the private and public sectors. It enhances several transferable skills integrated into general education, such as oral and written communication, information literacy, quantitative analysis, and applied research. The economics program also enriches the study of a wide range of academic and pre-professional areas, such as accounting, business, finance, law, math, political science, and psychology, which can become minors or even second majors.

Career Opportunities

A degree in economics opens the door to a wide range of opportunities in the business world, and economists frequently work as analysts and consultants. Different levels of government seek economists to work as policy analysts, forecasters, and planners. A third avenue includes careers in the non-profit world, where economists work in think tanks and non-governmental organizations. Our graduates have climbed the ladders of a variety of Fortune 500 companies in areas ranging from technology to insurance. They are employed as financial analysts, operations managers, lawyers, underwriters, and bankers, among many other rewarding and stimulating occupations.

Program Objectives

Having completed a major in Economics, the student will:

Demonstrate strong analytical and quantitative methods, having experienced training in economic theory and data analysis.
Apply economic principles to real-world issues across different sectors, which may include areas as diverse as banking, public policy, international trade, health care, sports, and the natural environment.
Use different economic approaches to think creatively and identify solutions to challenges facing local communities, the nation, and the world.
Communicate orally and effectively on a variety of economic topics.
Explore career paths and identify coursework, university activities, internships, and other useful experiences that build skills and networks.

Degree Requirements

Required economics and mathematics courses (21 credit hours):

EC 111	Principles of Microeconomics	3 cr.
EC 112	Principles of Macroeconomics	3 cr.
EC 215	Intermediate Macroeconomics	3 cr.
EC 216	Intermediate Microeconomics	3 cr.
EC 490	Seminar: Issues in Contemporary Economics	3 cr.
MATH 120	Intro Statistics for the Arts & Sciences	3 cr.
MATH 123	Calculus I for Management, Life, and Social Sciences	3 cr.

Subtotal: 21 cr.

EC 3XX/4XX	Upper Level Economics Electives	12 cr.
EC 2XX/3XX/4XX	Economics Electives	3 cr.

Subtotal: 15 cr.

POSC XXX

Political Science

3 cr.

Subtotal: 3 cr.

Total Credit Hours: 39

The 2.000 required grade point average in the major is based upon all EC courses pursued as part of the student’s degree program.

Economics Suggested Sequence of Courses

Please note: Students who join the Department of Economics at the beginning of their sophomore year can begin taking their major requirements then and complete the program without academic sacrifice.

First Year- Fall Semester

EC 111	Principles of Microeconomics	3 cr.
MATH 120	Intro Statistics for the Arts & Sciences	3 cr.
BLUE 101	BLUE course	1 cr.
GBD XXX	Golden Bear Discovery / GOLD	3 cr.
ENGL 132	English Composition I	3 cr.
GBD XXX	Golden Bear Discovery	3 cr.

Subtotal: 16 cr.

First Year - Spring Semester

EC 112	Principles of Macroeconomics	3 cr.
ENGL 133	English Composition II	3 cr.
GBD XXX	Golden Bear Discovery (or GOLD)	3 cr.
GBD XXX	Golden Bear Discovery	3 cr.
MATH 123	Calculus I for Management, Life, and Social Sciences	3 cr.

Subtotal: 15 cr.

Sophomore Year - Fall Semester

EC 215	Intermediate Macroeconomics	3 cr.
GBD XXX	Golden Bear Discovery	3 cr.
GBD XXX	Golden Bear Discovery	3 cr.
POSC XXX	Political Science Requirement	3 cr.
GEN XXX	General Elective	3 cr.

Subtotal: 15 cr.

Sophomore Year - Spring Semester

EC 216	Intermediate Microeconomics	3 cr.
GEN XXX	General Elective	3 cr.
WIC 2XX	Writing Intensive Course	3 cr.
GEN XXX	General Elective	3 cr.
EC 2XX/3XX	Economics Elective	3 cr.

Subtotal: 15 cr.

Junior Year - Fall Semester

EC 3XX/4XX	Economic Elective	3 cr.
EC 3XX/4XX	Economic Elective	3 cr.
WIC 3XX/4XX	Writing Intensive Course	3 cr.
GEN XXX	General Elective	3 cr.
GEN XXX	General Elective	3 cr.

Subtotal: 15 cr.

Junior Year - Spring Semester

EC 3XX/4XX	Economic Elective	3 cr.
GEN XXX	General Elective	3 cr.
GEN XXX	General Elective	3 cr.
GEN XXX	General Elective	3 cr.
GEN XXX	General Elective	3 cr.

Subtotal: 15 cr.

Senior Year - Fall Semester

EC 3XX/4XX	Economic Elective	3 cr.
GEN XXX	General Elective	3 cr.
GEN XXX	General Elective	3 cr.
GEN XXX	General Elective	3 cr.
GEN XXX	General Elective	3 cr.

Subtotal: 15 cr.

Senior Year - Spring Semester

EC 490	Seminar: Issues in Contemporary Economics	3 cr.
GEN XXX	General Elective	3 cr.
GEN XXX	General Elective	3 cr.
GEN XXX	General Elective	3 cr.
GEN XXX	General Elective	2 cr.

Subtotal: 14 cr.

Total Credit Hours: 120

EC.BA - BA in Economics

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