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.

Summary of Requirements
Required Prerequisite and Collateral Course5
Major Requirements37
General Education and Electives to reach minimum Total Hours78
Total Hours120

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

Required Course
MATH 121Precalculus Mathematics a5
Total Hours5
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

Required Courses
ECON 120Principles of Microeconomics a,b4
ECON 121Principles of Macroeconomics a,b4
ECON 220Microeconomics: Theory and Applications3
ECON 221Macroeconomics in the World Economy: Theory and Applications3
ECON 270Statistics for Economics4
ECON 300Econometrics3
or ECON 400 Honors Econometrics
ECON 395Research and Writing in Economics c1
Five additional economics courses at the 200, 300, or 400 level; at least three must be numbered 320 or higher.15
Total Hours37
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

Courses
ECON 311Introduction to Urban Real Estate3
ECON 329Industrial Organization3
ECON 330Government and Business3
ECON 333International Economics3
ECON 339Monetary Theory3
ECON 344Behavioral Economics3

Human Resources

Courses
ECON 214Economics of Education3
ECON 215Health Economics3
ECON 331Labor Economics3
ECON 334Economic Development3
ECON 475Urban Economics and Public Policy3

Urban Economics/Real Estate 

Courses
ECON 311Introduction to Urban Real Estate3
ECON 331Labor Economics3
ECON 332Urban Economics3
ECON 342Regional Economics3
ECON 370Environmental Economics3
ECON 475Urban Economics and Public Policy3

International Studies

Courses
ECON 333International Economics3
ECON 334Economic Development3
ECON 339Monetary Theory3

Pre-Graduate School in Economics/Business/Public Policy/Public Administration

Courses
ECON 213Economic History of the United States3
ECON 214Economics of Education3
ECON 328Public Finance3
ECON 329Industrial Organization3
ECON 331Labor Economics3
ECON 332Urban Economics3
ECON 333International Economics3
ECON 334Economic Development3
ECON 344Behavioral Economics3
ECON 475Urban Economics and Public Policy3

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

Courses
ECON 213Economic History of the United States3
ECON 215Health Economics3
ECON 328Public Finance3
ECON 329Industrial Organization3
ECON 330Government and Business3
ECON 331Labor Economics3
ECON 350Economics of Sports and Entertainment3
ECON 370Environmental Economics3
ECON 475Urban Economics and Public Policy3

Recommended Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
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
 Hours16
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
 Hours17
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
 Hours16
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
 Hours14-16
Third Year
Fall Semester
ECON 300
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
 Hours15-17
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
 Hours13-18
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
ECON 2xx, ECON 3xx, or ECON 4xx c 3
Electives 12
 Hours15
Spring Semester
ECON 2xx, ECON 3xx, or ECON 4xx c 3
Electives 11
 Hours14
 Total Hours120
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.