BA with a Major in Economics
Degree Requirements
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from UIC, students must complete university, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Economics degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Summary of Requirements | ||
| Required Prerequisite and Collateral Course | 5 | |
| Major Requirements | 37 | |
| General Education and Electives to reach minimum Total Hours | 78 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
General Education
See General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting these requirements.
Required Prerequisite and Collateral Course
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| MATH 121 | Precalculus Mathematics a | 5 |
| Total Hours | 5 | |
- a
MATH 121 fulfills the LAS Quantitative Reasoning Requirement and students should take this course as early as possible. This requirement is waived for students who have completed a course in Calculus or who place into Calculus upon admission to UIC. Students who plan to pursue graduate studies in economics are strongly encouraged to take additional mathematics courses, including three semesters of Calculus (MATH 180, MATH 181, and MATH 210) and Linear Algebra (either MATH 310 or the more advanced sequence of MATH 215 and MATH 320). Students who wish to take additional math courses can consider STAT 401, STAT 411, MATH 220, and MATH 313.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ECON 120 | Principles of Microeconomics a,b | 4 |
| ECON 121 | Principles of Macroeconomics a,b | 4 |
| ECON 220 | Microeconomics: Theory and Applications | 3 |
| ECON 221 | Macroeconomics in the World Economy: Theory and Applications | 3 |
| ECON 270 | Statistics for Economics | 4 |
| ECON 300 | Econometrics | 3 |
| or ECON 400 | Honors Econometrics | |
| ECON 395 | Research and Writing in Economics c | 1 |
| Five additional economics courses at the 200, 300, or 400 level; at least three must be numbered 320 or higher. | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 37 | |
- a
This course is approved for the Understanding the Individual and Society General Education category.
- b
This course is approved for the Understanding U.S. Society General Education category.
- c
ECON 395 fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement. Concurrent registration in a designated 300-level economics course is required.
Course Suggestions for Economics Careers
The following groups of courses are offered as guidance to students who may have an interest in one of the career/educational paths shown below.
Business/Financial Economics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Courses | ||
| ECON 311 | Introduction to Urban Real Estate | 3 |
| ECON 329 | Industrial Organization | 3 |
| ECON 330 | Government and Business | 3 |
| ECON 333 | International Economics | 3 |
| ECON 339 | Monetary Theory | 3 |
| ECON 344 | Behavioral Economics | 3 |
| ECON 475 | Urban Economics and Public Policy | 3 |
Human Resources
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Courses | ||
| ECON 214 | Economics of Education | 3 |
| ECON 215 | Health Economics | 3 |
| ECON 331 | Labor Economics | 3 |
| ECON 334 | Economic Development | 3 |
| ECON 453 | Economics of Family | 3 |
| ECON 475 | Urban Economics and Public Policy | 3 |
Urban Economics/Real Estate
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Courses | ||
| ECON 311 | Introduction to Urban Real Estate | 3 |
| ECON 331 | Labor Economics | 3 |
| ECON 332 | Urban Economics | 3 |
| ECON 342 | Regional Economics | 3 |
| ECON 370 | Environmental Economics | 3 |
| ECON 475 | Urban Economics and Public Policy | 3 |
International Studies
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Courses | ||
| ECON 333 | International Economics | 3 |
| ECON 334 | Economic Development | 3 |
| ECON 339 | Monetary Theory | 3 |
Pre-Graduate School in Economics/Business/Public Policy/Public Administration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Courses | ||
| ECON 213 | Economic History of the United States | 3 |
| ECON 214 | Economics of Education | 3 |
| ECON 328 | Public Finance | 3 |
| ECON 329 | Industrial Organization | 3 |
| ECON 331 | Labor Economics | 3 |
| ECON 332 | Urban Economics | 3 |
| ECON 333 | International Economics | 3 |
| ECON 334 | Economic Development | 3 |
| ECON 344 | Behavioral Economics | 3 |
| ECON 453 | Economics of Family | 3 |
| ECON 475 | Urban Economics and Public Policy | 3 |
NOTE: Students who plan to pursue graduate studies in economics should take additional mathematics courses. Please consult the director of undergraduate studies for guidance.
Careers in Law
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Courses | ||
| ECON 213 | Economic History of the United States | 3 |
| ECON 215 | Health Economics | 3 |
| ECON 328 | Public Finance | 3 |
| ECON 329 | Industrial Organization | 3 |
| ECON 330 | Government and Business | 3 |
| ECON 331 | Labor Economics | 3 |
| ECON 350 | Economics of Sports and Entertainment | 3 |
| ECON 370 | Environmental Economics | 3 |
| ECON 453 | Economics of Family | 3 |
| ECON 475 | Urban Economics and Public Policy | 3 |
Recommended Plan of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ENGL 160 | Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
| ECON 120 | Principles of Microeconomics a | 4 |
| MATH 121 | Precalculus Mathematics b | 5 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 161 | Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research | 3 |
| ECON 121 | Principles of Macroeconomics a | 4 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ECON 220 | Microeconomics: Theory and Applications | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ECON 270 | Statistics for Economics | 4 |
| ECON 221 | Macroeconomics in the World Economy: Theory and Applications | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3-5 | |
| Hours | 14-16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ECON 300 or ECON 400 |
Econometrics or Honors Econometrics |
3 |
| ECON 2xx, ECON 3xx, or ECON 4xx c | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3-5 | |
| General Education Requirement course/Elective | 3 | |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ECON 2xx, ECON 3xx, or ECON 4xx c | 3 | |
| ECON 2xx, ECON 3xx, or ECON 4xx c | 3 | |
| ECON 395 | Research and Writing in Economics d | 1 |
| General Education Requirement course/Elective | 3-5 | |
| Electives | 3-6 | |
| Hours | 13-18 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ECON 2xx, ECON 3xx, or ECON 4xx c | 3 | |
| Electives | 12 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ECON 2xx, ECON 3xx, or ECON 4xx c | 3 | |
| Electives | 11 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- a
These two courses may be used to satisfy two of the nine courses in the General Education Requirement.
- b
MATH 121 satisfies Quantitative Reasoning requirement with a grade of C or better. Based upon placement, math prerequisite may be required.
- c
200-, 300-, or 400-level course in economics. At least three economics elective courses must be numbered 320 or higher.
- d
ECON 395 requires concurrent registration with a designated 300-level economics course.
Note: Students should meet periodically with their academic advisor. For questions regarding career paths for economics majors or applications to graduate school, students are encouraged to consult the director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Economics.