Major in Economics

Major Details

The economics major program emphasizes traditional economics areas and is similar to economics majors offered in most colleges and universities throughout the country. It is more suited for students who would like to work for various government organizations, to advance to graduate/law schools or for students who are not yet sure which career paths they would like to pursue in the future (for example, business or government, or law or academics).

McMicken College's flexible degree requirements allow for and highly encourage students to pursue multiple areas of study. Free electives allow for enough credits for students to pursue a minor, certificate program or even complete a second major. Some of the most common pairings are listed below.

  • Any area studies program 
  • Business 
  • Foreign language
  • Political science

Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this major. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are currently enrolled at UC, you can audit your degree online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the course applicability system (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.

Course Name Course Number Credits
First Year
*English Composition ENGL101 & 15ENGL102

6

Foundations of Applied Calculus (or subsitution or waiver) 15MATH224 (QR) 3
Applied Calculus I & II 15MATH226-227 (QR) 6
*Foreign Language see checklist

9-15

Introduction to Microeconomics (SS) 15ECON101 3
Introduction to Macroeconomics (SS) 15ECON102 3
*Social Sciences (SS) see offerings

3

*Humanities (HU) see offerings

3

*Natural Science (NS) see offerings 3
Courses in minor or other program see options

0-6

Total for first year

45

Second Year
*Intermediate Composition 15ENGL289 3
*Foreign Language (if necessary) see checklist

0-9

Statistics for Economists 15ECON320 4
Microeconomic Theory 15ECON341-342 8
*Historical Perspectives (HP) see offerings 9
*Literature (LT) see offerings 3
*Natural Science (NS) see offerings 6
Courses in minor or other program see options 3-12
Total for second year

45

Third Year
Introduction to Applied Econometrics 15ECON321 4
Macroeconomics 15ECON372 4
**Economics Field Courses see list below 9
*Literature (LT) see offerings 3
*Humanities, Literature or Fine Arts (HU, LT or FA) see offerings 3
*Social & Ethical Issues (if not already taken, SE) see offerings 3
Courses in minor or other program see options

 19

Total for third year 45
Fourth Year
**Economics Field Courses see list below 9
Advanced Economics Electives see note below 15
Economics Capstone 15ECON599 3
*Diversity & Culture (if not already taken, DC) see offerings 3
Courses in minor or other program see options 15
Total for fourth year 45
Minimum total overall: 180

*Needed to fulfill A&S college requirements.

** Required field courses: 18 credits, to be completed with a field-courses average of "C" or better.

A. Core Courses (23 credit hours, courses also listed above in suggested schedule)

  • Each course must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
  • All courses should be taken reasonably early in your major program.

15-ECON-320   Statistics for Economists, 4 cr.
15-ECON-321   Introduction to Applied Econometrics; 4 cr.
15-ECON-341   Microeconomic Theory I; 4 cr.
15-ECON-342   Microeconomic Theory II; 4 cr.
15-ECON-372   Macroeconomic Theory; 4 cr.
15-ECON-599   Economics Capstone; 3 cr.

B. Field Courses (18 credit hours)

  • Each student must take either three courses in each of at least two fields or two courses in each of at least three fields.
  • The average across all field courses must be a "C" or better.
  • Each of the area courses is a three-credit hour course.
  • Prerequisites for all required field courses, unless stated otherwise
    15-ECON-320
    15-ECON-342

Labor Economics:
15-ECON-557 Economics of Work and Family; 3 cr.
15-ECON-558 Labor Market Analysis; 3 cr.
15-ECON-559 Labor Market Issues; 3 cr.
15-ECON-508 Economic Theory of Population; 3 cr.

International Economics
15-ECON-551 Open Economy Macroeconomics; 3 cr
15-ECON-552 International Trade Theory; 3 cr.
15-ECON-575 Economic Development; 3 cr.

Industrial Organization
15-ECON-510 Strategic Thinking; 3 cr.
15-ECON-565 Industrial Organization; 3 cr.
15-ECON-569 Antitrust Policy and Trade Regulation; 3 cr.
15-ECON-578 Law and Economics; 3 cr.

Public Economics
15-ECON-482 Public Economics: Expenditures; 3 cr.
15-ECON-483 Public Economics: Taxation; 3 cr.
15-ECON-567 Politics and Economics; 3 cr.

Macro and Monetary Economics
15-ECON-371 Money and Banking; 3 cr.
15-ECON-551 Open Economy Macroeconomics; 3 cr
15-ECON-571 Stabilization Policy; 3 cr.

Quantitative Economics
15-ECON-510 Strategic Thinking; 3 cr.
15-ECON-521 Applied Econometrics II; 3 cr

Urban/Regional Economics
15-ECON-570 Regional Economics; 3 cr.
15-ECON-506 Urban Economic Problems; 3 cr.

C. Electives (15 credit hours)
In addition to the 23 core credits and 18 field credits, economics majors need another 15 credit hours of electives to satisfy the 56-hour requirement. Students can satisfy the remaining 15 hours in four ways:

  1. Take additional 300-level or higher economics courses.
  2. Take any other upper-level course offered by the department, including Honors Seminar (15-ECON-431,432) and Special Problems (15-ECON-689).
  3. Take a maximum of six credit hours of the Teaching Assistant Practicum (15-ECON-422)
  4. Complete a maximum of six credit hours in the Internship Program (15-ECON-498).