Economics, Bachelor of Arts College of Letters & Science
Economics is the study of how individuals, organizations, and societies choose among alternative uses of resources and how these resources are turned into the things people want.
The Program
Economics majors complete an introductory course sequence in economics, in addition to several courses in quantitative methods. Intermediate theory and economic history are taken on the upper division level and then students are free to concentrate the remainder of their units in various areas of interest, including more courses in economic theory or history, international economics, labor, industry, alternative economic systems, economic development, public finance, econometrics, or mathematical economics.
Major Advisors
Contact Department office at eheadvisingcenter@ucdavis.edu or 530-752-9142.
Internships & Career Alternatives. Internships for economics majors have been arranged at banks, brokerages, other business enterprises, and governmental units. The internships must complement the student's course work. A degree in economics is excellent preparation for students who want to go on to law school, business school, advanced work in economics, or graduate work in international relations. It is also a good background for careers in management and positions with the government.
Course Limits
Except under extraordinary circumstances, not more than two economics courses should be taken in any one quarter. In special cases, the department will accept a limited number of related upper division courses from other departments in satisfaction of the economics upper division course requirements. Approval from a departmental advisor is required in all such cases.
Graduation with High or Highest Honors. To be eligible for departmental recommendation for High or Highest Honors in Economics at graduation, a student must take all upper division courses in Economics for a letter grade, earn at least a 3.500 grade point average in those courses, and complete at least eight units of course work that result in the submission of an Honors project. Consult the College of Letters and Science section of this catalog and contact the Department for more information.
Study Abroad
The Economics Department wishes to accommodate students who would like to complement their economics degree with a study abroad experience. Up to 20 units of upper division credit from foreign campuses (excluding ECN 100A and ECN 101) may be used towards the completion of the degree. To ensure that foreign courses will apply towards the economics degree, students need to select courses from the pre-approved list at the UC Davis Study Abroad office or seek pre-approval in the economics department for the foreign courses they wish to complete.
Recommended
Students considering graduate study in economics are strongly urged to take MAT 021A-MAT 021B-MAT 021C and MAT 022A.
American History & Institutions
This University requirement can be satisfied by completion of ECN 111A, ECN 111B; see also under Bachelor’s Degree Requirements.
Graduate Study
Students who meet the admission requirements of Graduate Studies and the Department of Economics may pursue studies leading to M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. Fields of emphasis for graduate study include: Microeconomic Theory, Macroeconomic Theory, Econometrics, Economic Development, Economic History, Industrial Organization, International Economics, Labor Economics and Public Economics. For information on admission to graduate study, degree requirements, and financial aid, consult the Graduate Announcement and Department of Economics.
The major requirements below are in addition to meeting University Degree Requirements & College Degree Requirements; unless otherwise noted. The minimum number of units required for the Economics Bachelor of Arts is 62.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Preparatory Subject Matter | ||
| Economics | 8 | |
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
or ECN 001AV | Principles of Microeconomics | |
or ECN 001AY | Principles of Microeconomics | |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | ||
or ECN 001BV | Principles of Macroeconomics | |
| Statistics | 4 | |
| Choose one: | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
or STA 013Y | Elementary Statistics | |
| Gateway to Statistical Data Science | ||
| Mathematics | 6-8 | |
| Choose one: | ||
| Short Calculus (Discontinued) | ||
| Calculus for Biology & Medicine | ||
| Calculus for Data-Driven Applications | ||
| Calculus | ||
| Choose one: | ||
| Short Calculus (Discontinued) | ||
| Calculus for Biology & Medicine | ||
| Calculus for Data-Driven Applications | ||
| Calculus | ||
| Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal | 18-20 | |
| Depth Subject Matter | ||
| Economics | 20 | |
| Intermediate Micro Theory: Consumer & Producer Theory | ||
| Intermediate Micro Theory: Imperfect Competition & Market Failure | ||
| Intermediate Macro Theory | ||
| Analysis of Economic Data | ||
| Choose one: | ||
| World Economic History Before the Industrial Revolution | ||
| World Economic History Since the Industrial Revolution | ||
or ECN 110BY | World Economic History Since the Industrial Revolution | |
| Economic History | ||
or ECN 111AV | Economic History | |
or ECN 111AY | Economic History | |
| Economics History | ||
| Choose one specialization below: | 24 | |
| Depth Subject Matter Subtotal | 44 | |
| Total Units | 62-64 | |
Specialization: General
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Choose 12 units: | 12 | |
| Economics of Uncertainty & Information | ||
| Decision Making | ||
| Comparative Economic Systems | ||
| Industrial Organization | ||
| Industrial Organization | ||
| Theory of Games & Strategic Behavior | ||
| Energy Economics | ||
| Public Microeconomics | ||
or ECN 130Y | Public Microeconomics | |
| Public Finance | ||
or ECN 131Y | Public Finance | |
| Health Economics | ||
| Financial Economics | ||
or ECN 134Y | Financial Economics | |
| Money, Banks, & Financial Institutions | ||
or ECN 135Y | Money, Banks, & Financial Institutions | |
| Topics in Macroeconomic Theory | ||
| Macroeconomic Policy | ||
| Public Economics in International Perspective | ||
| Econometrics | ||
| Economic & Financial Forecasting | ||
| Economics & Business Data Analytics | ||
| Transportation Economics | ||
| Economics of the Labor Market | ||
| Economics of Human Resources | ||
| Economics of Education | ||
| International Microeconomics | ||
| International Macroeconomics | ||
| International Finance | ||
| Economic Development in Weak States | ||
| Special Study for Honors Students | ||
| Special Study for Honors Students | ||
| Futures & Options Markets | ||
| Introduction to Mathematical Economics | ||
| Economics of Global Poverty Reduction: What Works & Why | ||
| Natural Resource Economics | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Additional upper division Economics courses. | 12 | |
| Total Units | 24 | |
Specialization: Behavior & Strategy
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one: | 4 | |
| Industrial Organization | ||
| Theory of Games & Strategic Behavior | ||
| Choose two: | 8 | |
| Economics of Uncertainty & Information | ||
| Decision Making | ||
| Neuroeconomics/Reinforcement Learning & Decision Making | ||
| Industrial Organization | ||
| Industrial Organization | ||
| Theory of Games & Strategic Behavior | ||
| Introduction to Behavioral Economics | ||
| Choose one: | 4 | |
| Economics of Uncertainty & Information | ||
| Decision Making | ||
| Comparative Economic Systems | ||
| Industrial Organization | ||
| Industrial Organization | ||
| Theory of Games & Strategic Behavior | ||
| Energy Economics | ||
| Public Microeconomics | ||
or ECN 130Y | Public Microeconomics | |
| Public Finance | ||
or ECN 131Y | Public Finance | |
| Health Economics | ||
| Financial Economics | ||
or ECN 134Y | Financial Economics | |
| Money, Banks, & Financial Institutions | ||
or ECN 135Y | Money, Banks, & Financial Institutions | |
| Topics in Macroeconomic Theory | ||
| Macroeconomic Policy | ||
| Public Economics in International Perspective | ||
| Econometrics | ||
| Economic & Financial Forecasting | ||
| Economics & Business Data Analytics | ||
| Transportation Economics | ||
| Economics of the Labor Market | ||
| Economics of Human Resources | ||
| Economics of Education | ||
| International Microeconomics | ||
| International Macroeconomics | ||
| International Finance | ||
| Economic Development in Weak States | ||
| Special Study for Honors Students | ||
| Special Study for Honors Students | ||
| Futures & Options Markets | ||
| Introduction to Mathematical Economics | ||
| Economics of Global Poverty Reduction: What Works & Why | ||
| Natural Resource Economics | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Additional upper division Economics courses. | 8 | |
| Total Units | 24 | |
Specialization: Data Analytics & Economics Analysis
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ECN 140 | Econometrics | 4 |
| Choose two: | 8 | |
| Economics of Uncertainty & Information | ||
| Decision Making | ||
| Theory of Games & Strategic Behavior | ||
| Health Economics | ||
| Econometrics | ||
| Economics & Business Data Analytics | ||
| Transportation Economics | ||
| Additional upper division Economics courses. | 12 | |
| Total Units | 24 | |
Specialization: International Macro-Finance
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Choose three: | 12 | |
| World Economic History Since the Industrial Revolution | ||
or ECN 110BY | World Economic History Since the Industrial Revolution | |
| Financial Economics | ||
or ECN 134Y | Financial Economics | |
| Money, Banks, & Financial Institutions | ||
or ECN 135Y | Money, Banks, & Financial Institutions | |
| Topics in Macroeconomic Theory | ||
| Macroeconomic Policy | ||
| Economic & Financial Forecasting | ||
| International Macroeconomics | ||
| International Finance | ||
| Economy of East Asia | ||
| Choose three: | 12 | |
| Economics of Uncertainty & Information | ||
| Decision Making | ||
| Comparative Economic Systems | ||
| Industrial Organization | ||
| Industrial Organization | ||
| Theory of Games & Strategic Behavior | ||
| Energy Economics | ||
| Public Microeconomics | ||
or ECN 130Y | Public Microeconomics | |
| Public Finance | ||
or ECN 131Y | Public Finance | |
| Health Economics | ||
| Financial Economics | ||
or ECN 134Y | Financial Economics | |
| Money, Banks, & Financial Institutions | ||
or ECN 135Y | Money, Banks, & Financial Institutions | |
| Topics in Macroeconomic Theory | ||
| Macroeconomic Policy | ||
| Public Economics in International Perspective | ||
| Econometrics | ||
| Economic & Financial Forecasting | ||
| Economics & Business Data Analytics | ||
| Transportation Economics | ||
| Economics of the Labor Market | ||
| Economics of Human Resources | ||
| Economics of Education | ||
| International Microeconomics | ||
| International Macroeconomics | ||
| International Finance | ||
| Economic Development in Weak States | ||
| Special Study for Honors Students | ||
| Special Study for Honors Students | ||
| Futures & Options Markets | ||
| Introduction to Mathematical Economics | ||
| Economics of Global Poverty Reduction: What Works & Why | ||
| Natural Resource Economics | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Total Units | 24 | |
Specialization: Policy
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Choose three: | 12 | |
| Energy Economics | ||
| Public Microeconomics | ||
or ECN 130Y | Public Microeconomics | |
| Public Finance | ||
or ECN 131Y | Public Finance | |
| Public Economics in International Perspective | ||
| Transportation Economics | ||
| Economics of the Labor Market | ||
| Economics of Human Resources | ||
| Economics of Education | ||
| International Microeconomics | ||
| Additional upper division Economics courses. | 12 | |
| Total Units | 24 | |
Specialization: Poverty & Inequality
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Choose three: | 12 | |
| Economic Development | ||
| Economic Development | ||
| Economics of International Immigration | ||
| Public Microeconomics | ||
or ECN 130Y | Public Microeconomics | |
| Public Economics in International Perspective | ||
| Economics of Human Resources | ||
| Economic Development in Weak States | ||
| Choose three: | 12 | |
| Economics of Uncertainty & Information | ||
| Decision Making | ||
| Comparative Economic Systems | ||
| Industrial Organization | ||
| Industrial Organization | ||
| Theory of Games & Strategic Behavior | ||
| Energy Economics | ||
| Public Microeconomics | ||
or ECN 130Y | Public Microeconomics | |
| Public Finance | ||
or ECN 131Y | Public Finance | |
| Health Economics | ||
| Financial Economics | ||
or ECN 134Y | Financial Economics | |
| Money, Banks, & Financial Institutions | ||
or ECN 135Y | Money, Banks, & Financial Institutions | |
| Topics in Macroeconomic Theory | ||
| Macroeconomic Policy | ||
| Public Economics in International Perspective | ||
| Econometrics | ||
| Economic & Financial Forecasting | ||
| Economics & Business Data Analytics | ||
| Economics of the Labor Market | ||
| Economics of Human Resources | ||
| Economics of Education | ||
| International Microeconomics | ||
| International Macroeconomics | ||
| International Finance | ||
| Economic Development in Weak States | ||
| Special Study for Honors Students | ||
| Special Study for Honors Students | ||
| Futures & Options Markets | ||
| Introduction to Mathematical Economics | ||
| Economics of Global Poverty Reduction: What Works & Why | ||
| Natural Resource Economics | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Total Units | 24 | |
Specialization: Economic History
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Choose three: | 12 | |
| World Economic History Before the Industrial Revolution | ||
| World Economic History Since the Industrial Revolution | ||
or ECN 110BY | World Economic History Since the Industrial Revolution | |
| Economic History | ||
or ECN 111AV | Economic History | |
or ECN 111AY | Economic History | |
| Economics History | ||
| Economics of International Immigration | ||
One of which may be from: | ||
| Medicine's Histories: Human & Veterinary Medicine from the Ancient World to One Health | ||
| Global Environmental History | ||
| Environmental Change, Disease & Public Health | ||
| Themes in World History | ||
| Colonialism & the Making of the Modern World | ||
| Ancient History | ||
| Ancient History | ||
| Ancient History | ||
| Topics in Pre-Modern Jewish History | ||
| Topics in Modern Jewish History | ||
| History of Jews in the Muslim World | ||
| History of Modern Palestine/Israel | ||
| History of West Africa | ||
| History of East Africa & the Indian Ocean | ||
| History of Southern Africa from Exploration to the Rainbow Nation | ||
| Postcolonial Africa | ||
| Slavery, Africa, & the Atlantic World | ||
| History of Modern North Africa, 1800 to the Present | ||
| African History: Special Themes | ||
| World War I | ||
| World War II | ||
| Medieval History | ||
| Medieval History | ||
| Medieval History | ||
| Selected Themes in Medieval History | ||
| Topics in Early Modern European History | ||
| The History of Human Rights in Europe | ||
| Christianity & Culture in Europe: 50-1450 | ||
| Christianity & Culture in Europe: 1450-1600 | ||
| Christianity & Culture in Europe: 1600-1850 | ||
| Early Modern European History | ||
| European History During the Renaissance & Reformation | ||
| The Old Regime: Absolution, Enlightenment & Revolution in Europe | ||
| Crime & Punishment in Early Modern Europe | ||
| European Thought & Culture from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment | ||
| The Age of Revolution | ||
| History of Science to the 18th Century | ||
| History of Science, 18th to 20th Centuries | ||
| Scientific Revolution | ||
| The Rise of the Russian Empire, 1304-1825 | ||
| Reform & Revolution in Tsarist Russia, 1825-1917 | ||
| Russian History: The Rise & Fall of the Soviet Union, 1917 to Present | ||
| Medieval & Renaissance Medicine | ||
| The Rise of Capitalism in Europe | ||
| France Since 1815 | ||
| History of the Holocaust | ||
| The Memory of the Holocaust | ||
| History of Eastern Europe & the Balkans | ||
| History of Germany, 1450 to 1789 | ||
| History of Germany since 1789 | ||
| War & Revolution in Europe: 1789-1918 | ||
| Europe in the 20th Century | ||
| Europe in the 20th Century | ||
| European Intellectual History: 1800-1870 | ||
| European Intellectual History: 1870-1920 | ||
| European Intellectual History: 1920-1970 | ||
| Women & Society in Europe: 1500-1789 | ||
| Women & Society in Europe: 1789-1920 | ||
| Women in Society in Europe: 1914-Present | ||
| Comparative Cultural History of Modern Britain & France, 1880-1914 | ||
| England: The Middle Ages | ||
| England: The Early Modern Centuries | ||
| 18th-Century England | ||
| Industrial England | ||
| Latin American Migration History | ||
| Business, Biomes & Knowledge: Latin American Environmental History | ||
| Special Topics in Latin American History | ||
| Women & Gender in Latin American History | ||
| Spain & America in the 16th Century | ||
| Human Rights in Latin America | ||
| History of the Andean Region | ||
| History of Brazil | ||
| History of Brazil | ||
| History of Chile | ||
| Latin American Social Revolutions | ||
| History of Mexico to 1848 | ||
| History of Mexico since 1848 | ||
| Modern Latin American Cultural & Intellectual History | ||
| History of Inter-American Relations | ||
| Mexican-American History | ||
| Mexican-American History | ||
| Colonial America | ||
| The American Revolution | ||
| The Early National Period, 1789-1815 | ||
| Slavery, Society & Expansion in the Early U.S. | ||
| Civil War Era | ||
| Reconstruction, America’s Second Founding | ||
| Selected Themes in 19th-Century American History | ||
| American Environmental History | ||
| Becoming an American: Immigration & American Culture | ||
| The Gilded Age & Progressive Era: United States, 1876-1917 | ||
| War, Prosperity, & Depression: United States, 1917-1945 | ||
| The United States Since World War II, 1945 to the Present | ||
| Selected Themes in 20th-Century American History | ||
| American Intellectual History | ||
| Cultural & Social History of United States | ||
| Cultural & Social History of United States | ||
| History of Black People & American Race Relations: 1450-1860 | ||
| History of Black People & American Race Relations: 1860-Present | ||
| Water in the West: Environment & Politics in America's Arid Lands | ||
| Asian American History, 1850-Present | ||
| American Political History, 1789-1896 | ||
| American Political History, 1896-present | ||
| The Fight for the Right to Vote | ||
| Religion in American History to 1890 | ||
| Gender & Justice in American History | ||
| The Frontier Experience: Trans-Mississippi West | ||
| The Frontier Experience: Trans-Mississippi West | ||
| History of Sexuality in America | ||
| History of Science in America | ||
| History of Technology in America | ||
| History of US Foreign Relations in the 20th Century | ||
| America in the 1960s | ||
| California History | ||
| Middle Eastern History I: The Rise of Islam, 600-1000 | ||
| Middle Eastern History II: The Age of the Crusades, 1001-1400 | ||
| Middle Eastern History III: The Ottomans, 1401-1730 | ||
| Middle Eastern History IV: Safavids Iran, 1300-1720 | ||
| Classical China | ||
| High Imperial China | ||
| Late Imperial China | ||
| 19th-Century China: The Empire Confronts the West | ||
| The Chinese Revolution | ||
| History of the People's Republic of China | ||
| Special Topics in Chinese History to 1800 | ||
| Special Topics in Chinese History after 1800 | ||
| Sex & Society in Modern Chinese History | ||
| History of the Modern Middle East, 1750-1914 | ||
| History of the Modern Middle East, From 1914 | ||
| The Middle East Environment: Historical Change & Current Challenges | ||
| History of Modern Iran, From 1850 to Present | ||
| Aristocratic & Feudal Japan | ||
| Early Modern Japan | ||
| Modern Japan | ||
| Business & Labor in Modern Japan | ||
| Education & Technology in Modern Japan | ||
| History of Modern Korea | ||
| A History of Vietnam | ||
| Medieval India | ||
| Modern India | ||
| Choose three: | 12 | |
| Economics of Uncertainty & Information | ||
| Decision Making | ||
| Comparative Economic Systems | ||
| Industrial Organization | ||
| Industrial Organization | ||
| Theory of Games & Strategic Behavior | ||
| Energy Economics | ||
| Public Microeconomics | ||
or ECN 130Y | Public Microeconomics | |
| Public Finance | ||
or ECN 131Y | Public Finance | |
| Health Economics | ||
| Financial Economics | ||
or ECN 134Y | Financial Economics | |
| Money, Banks, & Financial Institutions | ||
or ECN 135Y | Money, Banks, & Financial Institutions | |
| Topics in Macroeconomic Theory | ||
| Macroeconomic Policy | ||
| Public Economics in International Perspective | ||
| Econometrics | ||
| Economic & Financial Forecasting | ||
| Economics & Business Data Analytics | ||
| Transportation Economics | ||
| Economics of the Labor Market | ||
| Economics of Human Resources | ||
| Economics of Education | ||
| International Microeconomics | ||
| International Macroeconomics | ||
| International Finance | ||
| Economic Development in Weak States | ||
| Special Study for Honors Students | ||
| Special Study for Honors Students | ||
| Futures & Options Markets | ||
| Introduction to Mathematical Economics | ||
| Economics of Global Poverty Reduction: What Works & Why | ||
| Natural Resource Economics | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Total Units | 24 | |