College of Arts & Sciences

Economics (A&S)

120

Total Hours

42

Major Hours

29

Majors in A&S

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The Economics major pairs a strong grounding in business with economics. Majors learn about accounting, finance and management while discovering how to forecast general economic conditions, estimate trends, analyze data, and use economic theory to help their organization operate more efficiently.  

Careers

Grow Your Future

Economics is a social science and as such an important component of the liberal arts curriculum.  It provides a useful background for students interested in exciting and rewarding careers in private business, consulting, government, financial service institutions and numerous other sectors. Economics majors are also well-suited for graduate programs including MBA and MPA programs, and law schools.

Career opportunities in Economics

  • Economic Forecaster
  • Researcher/Analyst for government agencies
  • Teaching in public schools or higher education
  • Legal consultant

Classes & Requirements

What You'll Study

Economics majors explore theoretical and applied courses in diverse areas including microeconomics, macroeconomics, labor, money and banking, international economics, public economics, and industrial organization. Students pursue these interests within the framework of a liberal arts education.


Graduation Requirements

Any student earning a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree must complete a minimum of 39 hours at the 300+ level. These hours are generally completed by the major requirements. However, keep this hour requirement in mind as you choose your course work for the requirements in the major. See the complete description of College requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Arts and Sciences section of the 2015-2016 Undergraduate Bulletin.

UK Core Requirements

  • The Nature of Inquiry in Arts and Creativity (3 hours)
  • The Nature of Inquiry in the Humanities (3 hours)
  • The Nature of Inquiry in the Social Sciences (3 hours)
  • The nature of Inquiry in the Natural, Physical and Mathematical Sciences (3 hours)
  • Composition and Communication I (3 hours)
  • Composition and Communication II (3 hours)
  • Quantitative Foundations (3 hours)
  • Statistical and Inferential Reasoning (3 hours)
  • Community, Culture and Citizenship in the USA (3 hours)
  • Global Dynamics (3 hours)

Total Credit Hours - 30


Premajor Requirements 

  • MA 113 - Calculus I or MA 123 - Elementary Calculus and its Applications and MA 162 - Finite Mathematics and its Applications [4-7 Hours]
  • ECO 201 - Principles of Economics I [3 hours]
  • ECO 202 - Principles of Economics II [3 hours]
  • STA 296 - Statistical Methods [3 hours]

Total Hours - 13-16

Major Requirements 

Core Requirements

  • ECO 391 - Economics and Business Statistics [3 hours]
  • ECO 401 - Intermediate Microeconomic Theory [3 hours]
  • ECO 402 - Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory [3 hours]
  • ECO 499 - Seminar in Economics [3 hours]

Other Course Work within the Department

  • Choose 9-15 hours of 300+ level Economics courses of which at least 6 must be at the 400+ level [9-15 hours]

Course Work Outside the Department

  • Choose 15-21 hours outside Economics at the 200+ level, with at least 6 hours in two different departments. These courses are generally chosen from the following departments: Anthropology, Computer Science, History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Statistics, or other courses offered by the College of Business and Economics. 200+ level courses used to satisfy College Requirements can be counted here [15-21 hours]

Total Hours - 42


Economics | Bachelor of Arts

B.A. Major Requirements B.A. Four Year Plan

Economics | Bachelor of Science

B.S. Major Requirements B.S. Four Year Plan

Imagine Your Future

Economists

Economists collect and analyze data, research trends, and evaluate economic issues for resources, goods, and services.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.

Median Salary

$105,630

per year in 2021

Number of Jobs

16,900

in 2021

10 Year Job Outlook

1,000

new jobs (average)

Work Environment

Although the majority of economists work independently in an office, many collaborate with other economists and statisticians. Most economists work full time during regular business hours, but occasionally they work overtime to meet deadlines.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Read More

Where Can Economics Take Me?

More Than Just Money: The Vastness of an Economics Degree

A degree in economics prepares students for interesting and financially rewarding careers in private business, consulting, government, financial service institutions and numerous other sectors. Economics majors are also well-suited for graduate programs including MBA and MPA programs, and law schools.

Graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics can prepare a graduate for jobs such as:

  • Forecaster of overall economic conditions
  • Researcher/Analyst for government agencies
  • Teaching in public schools or higher education
  • Consultant on legal cases involving antitrust, legal liability, damages, regulation and discrimination.

Below is a list of some more occupations appropriate for economics majors:

Banking and Financial Services
Bank Management
Loan Officer
Commodities/Stock Broker
Economic Forecaster
Credit Accounting Coordinator
Securities Analyst
Pension Funds Administrator
Portfolio Administrator

Government
Regional/Urban Planner
Foreign Trade Analyst
Social Security Administrator
Cost Analyst
Tax Administrator
Budget Officer
Lobbyist

Business
Market Analyst
Purchasing Agent
Public Relations
Real Estate Agent
Systems Evaluator
Forecaster
Contract Administrator
Auditor
Financial Analyst
Pricing Analyst

Insurance
Underwriter
Claims Adjuster
Benefits Analyst

Some employers of economics majors

Ameriprise Financial - www.ameriprise.com
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System - www.federalreserve.gov
Cambridge Associates- www.cambridgeassociates.com
CIGNA - www.cigna.com
Economy.com - www.economy.com
DuPont - www.dupont.com
GEICO Direct - www.geico.com
MassMutual - www.massmutual.com
Merrill Lynch - www.ml.com
Northrop Grumman - www.northropgrumman.com
Vanguard - www.vanguard.com
Wells Fargo Financial - www.wellsfargo.com

For more information about careers, go to the following: 

National Association for Business Economists - www.nabe.com
American Economic Association - www.aeaweb.org
After College - Economics Career Network - www.aftercollege.com
Econ Jobs - www.econ-jobs.com
Economics Bulletin - www.economicsbulletin.com
Institute for International Economics - www.iie.com
National Council on Economic Education - www.ncee.net
JOE - Job Openings for Economists - www.aeaweb.org/joe
Cengage Learning - Information for economics majors - www.swcollege.com/bef/economics_careers/career_resources_degree.html

For more information about career opportunities, contact the UK Career Center.