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Handbook of Undergraduate Studies

III. Designing Your Economics Major

Designing your Economics major entails just three steps. First, get ready. Second, choose eight 2000-level economics courses (see section B on page 7). Third, choose 12 credits of 2000-level “related” courses. It’s as simple as that.

Below, we elaborate on these steps. Then we explore which courses you may take, followed by a sample plan of study and suggested courses for different career paths. Finally, you will find a handy summary of Economics Degree Requirements.

A. Getting Ready

1. Principles courses: ECON 1201 and 1202 are required for all 200-level courses in Economics (ECON 1200 is a substitute for ECON 1201 and 1202). These principles courses satisfy Content Area 2 of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ (CLAS) General Education Requirements.

2. Math and Statistics: Economics majors must pass either STAT 1100Q or 1000Q, and one of the following calculus courses: MATH 1071Q, 1121Q, 1131Q or 1110Q. Our preferred option is for you to take Math 1131Q and Stat 1100Q. If you had a medium level pass on the quantitative skills test we recommend Math 1121Q or 1071Q and Stat 1000Q. If you did not have much high school math, we suggest that you take Math 1070Q before beginning one of the above sets of courses. Math 1070Q is not required for Economics majors.

*If you like Math and Statistics you may want to consider the “Certificate in Quantitative Economics” on page 14, or look for other suggestions on page 17.

3. Writing: Strong writing skills are essential in this world. Therefore, we recommend that you take English 3003W, Advanced Expository Writing.

 

B. Economics Courses

All Economics majors must take at least 24 credits of 200-level courses in Economics, including both ECON 2201 and ECON 2202, intermediate micro and macroeconomic analysis, and three courses from ECON 2311-2327 or any ECON course listed 3000 or above.

ECON 2201 and ECON 2202 are open to sophomores. You should take them as early as possible, because they are prerequisites for most of the other 2000-level courses. You may take 2201 and 2202 in either order, or simultaneously, if you wish.

Students entering the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences in the Fall 2007 or later must meet the above requirements. Students who entered the CLAS earlier may opt to fulfill these requirements or the ones that apply to the catalog of the year they last entered the college. Note: The catalog year is the year you entered CLAS (or later), not the year you entered the University.

  • Reminder: You must earn a minimum of a 2.0 average in your 8 major courses combined to graduate with an Economics degree. Minors must have a minimum of 2.0 in each minor course.

C. Related Courses

What are “relateds” for an Economics Major? They should be (a) outside the department, (b) especially pertinent to several of your Economics courses, and (c) coherent as a group. But (d) these 12 credits need not be all in the same department. For example, 4 courses on American themes (e.g., in English, History, and Political Science) could “relate” to one’s study of American Economic History. Alternately twelve credits in Business could cohere, and so could 4 courses in Political Science, Sociology, or Statistics. Ultimately, the choice of your “relateds” comes down to what you and your advisor agree to.

  • Note that you may wish to use your related courses for one of the University’s approved Minors; see the General Catalog for details. Your major advisor is the final arbiter of whether a Minor is “related.”

D. “Which Courses Should I Take?”

Together with your advisor, you can design your Economics major to fit your interests and future career and educational plans. In section E, you will find suggested Freshman and Sophomore courses leading into an Economics major. Section F gives possible Economics electives appropriate to various careers. See the University’s General Catalog, or the Department’s Undergraduate Course Descriptions each semester, for descriptions of the courses.

We urge all majors to go beyond the degree requirements by participating in one or more of the programs listed in section V below. Those programs will enhance your classroom experiences, give you a well-rounded education, and make you more attractive to potential employers.

 

E. Sample Freshman-Sophomore Courses

There are many paths to graduation with a B.A. in Economics. On the next page is one such path for your first two years at the University.

If you entered UConn with applicable credits in economics or mathematics, you would enter the sequence shown at an advanced stage.

The sample program assumes that you will begin your Economics major in your very first semester. However, it is perfectly possible to complete your major starting later.

To explore any of these options further, please contact an Economics faculty member.

 

Sample Freshman-Sophomore Program
First Semester

Econ 1201 or 1202
First Math course
Engl 1010 or 1011
2 other General Education Requirements

Second Semester

Econ 1201 or 1202
Second Math course (see page 6)A Writing (“W”) course
2 other General Education Requirements

Third Semester

Econ 2201 or 2202
Stat 1000Q or 1100Q
A “Related” courseOne General Education Requirement
One elective

Fourth Semester

Econ 2201 or 2202
One or more Econ courses open to sophomores
One “Related” course
One General Education Requirement
One elective

 

F. Preparing for a Career

Majoring in Economics is good preparation for a wide range of careers. A broad-based major could be achieved by selecting some of the courses from the following categories:

Economic History and Economic Systems

2101, 2102, 2104, 2110, 2127

Technical and Quantitative Skills:

2301, 2311, 2312, 2326, 2327

Money and Financial Markets:

2411, 3416, 3422, 3431

International Economics:

2477, 3421, 3422, 3473

Relations between Government and the Private Sector:

2446, 2462, 3431, 3461, 3468

Applied Economic Policy and Analysis:

2444, 3431, 3438, 3439, 3451, 3461

Labor Economics:

2444, 2441, 2446, 3441

Careers in business/Corporations/finance:

2311, 2326, 2441, 2446, 2411, 2462, 3416, 3431, 3461, 3468

 

Careers in international relations, trade, and finance:

2101, 2311, 2477, 3421, 3422, 3473, 3493

 

Careers in public administration/government/labor:

2311, 2327, 2456, 3462, 3431, 3438, 3439, 3451, 3461, 3468, 3441

 

Careers in public policy/advocacy/journalism:

2101, 2102, 2456, 2444, 2446, 2462, 3431, 3439, 3451, ARE 4462

 

Careers in law:

2126, 2311, 2411, 2462, 3431, 3468, ACCT 2001, FNCE 3101

 

 

Summary of Economics Degree Requirements

 

Students entering the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences in the Fall 2001 or later must meet the following requirements. Students who entered the CLAS earlier may opt to fulfill these requirements or the ones that apply to the catalog of the year they last entered the college.

  • Econ 1201 & 1202 or Econ 1200 (w/ Econ 1000 as recommended preparation)

  • Either Stat 1000Q or 1100Q (1100Q is preferred)**

  • One of the following: Math 1071Q, 1121Q, 1131Q, or 1110Q (115Q is preferred)**

  • Econ 2201 and 2202
  • At least three courses from Econ 2311-2327 or Econ 3000+.*
  • Three Econ 2000-3000 level elective courses

  • A total of 24 Credits at 2000+-level in Economics

  • A total of 12 Related Credits at 2000+-level or 15 credits in relevant minor.

    • *Econ courses listed at 3000 and above have Econ 2201 and/or 2202 as prerequisites and a calculus course as recommended preparation. Therefore, take 2201 and 2202 as early as possible. At least one methods course (Econ 2311-2327) is highly recommended. For guidelines on appropriate Math or Stat courses, see Section A “Getting Ready.”