Getting Started (Majors Guide)

College: SBS

 (Revised Spring 2018)  

How to Explore/Get Started in the Economics Major

Suggested General Education Courses

Under the new guidelines students are still required to take two courses, one in U.S. Diversity and one in Global Diversity. Students entering in Fall 2018 are expected to take one of these diversity courses, either U.S. or Global, in their first year on campus.  For Fall 2018 Registration, look for courses with DU (formerly U) and DG (formerly G) to help students stay on track.  Any course labled DU will satisfy the requirement for a U.S. diversity course and any course labeled DG will satisfy the the requirement for Global diversity course. Course planning guidelines, including guidelines for students, are available at www.umass.edu/gened.

Economics is a Liberal Arts Major in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and interdisciplinary experience, in General Education courses, is useful to an Economics Major.

Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses

There are no pre-requisite courses for the Economics Major.  Taking Economics 103, 104, or 105 are good introductions to the field.  A strong Math background is helpful.

How to Declare the Major, Secondary Major or Minor in Economics

Students may declare the major at matriculation or any time after. To declare, students fill out a declaration form and attend an information session, which are posted at http://www.umass.edu/economics/undergraduate/advising. 

Transfer Students:

Students can declare when they enter the university. Meet with an advisor in the Economics Department, preferably during a transfer advising session or before the first day of classes. These meetings may be done over the phone, or if necessary, by email, advising@econs.umass.edu.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Minimum total # or range of credits required: 44-56

Required Courses:

These requirements apply to students entering the University of Massachusetts in fall 2018 or later. For requirements for earlier entry years see archived Guides to Undergraduate Programs.

Suggested for First Year Students

  • ECON 103 - Intro to Microeconomics (or RES-ECON, 102 Intro to Resource Economics)
  • ECON 104 - Intro to Macroeconomics
  • Calculus 1 - MATH 127 or MATH 131
  • Calculus 2 – MATH 128 or MATH 132

First-year students should take a Calculus 1 and 2 sequence in consecutive semesters whenever possible. However, if the Math Placement Test score indicates that further preparation is necessary, students should take a pre-calculus course during their first semester before taking Calculus 1.

NOTE: Students should be aware that ECON 103 (or RES-ECON 102), ECON 104, and Calculus 1 are all prerequisites for the second-year courses in economic theory. Students considering graduate school should meet with the Chief Undergraduate Advisor in the Economics Department to discuss additional math requirements.

Suggested for Second Year Students

  • ECON 203, Intermediate Microeconomics (or RES-ECON 202, Price Theory)
  • ECON 204, Intermediate Macroeconomics
  • RES-ECON 212 (preferred) or STATISTC 240, 501, or 515

The Economics Department cannot assure that students will graduate in four years with an Economics major if they fail to complete these courses by the end of the second year.

To Complete the Major

In addition to the courses above, the Economic Major requires the following:

  • The Intercultural and International Requirement.  Complete one of the following options:  1.  Three courses, at least 3 credits each, from SBS master list of designated International and Intercultural (IIR) courses; 2.  Nine credits of foreign language; 3.  A combination of three courses, two of at least 3 credits each from a language and one of at least 3 credits from the designated SBS IIR master list; 4.  Completion of a Certificate Program in one of the programs with Intercultural and International emphasis (African Studies, Asian and Asian American Studies, International Agriculture, International Relations, International Scholars Program, Translation and Interpreting Studies, Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies)  5.  Three courses with a total of at least nine credits transferred from an UMass International Programs Office approved study abroad program. 
  • ECON 365 (Formerly Econ 397W) Junior Year Writing (Not required for Secondary Majors)
  • An Integrative Experience (IE) Course:  ECON 306, ECON 367, ECON 394CI, ECON 394EI, ECON 394FI, ECON394IO, ECON 394LI, ECON 494MI, ECON499C, ECON499D (Not required for secondary majors)
  • The major also requires four upper-level ECON courses, 3-credits each, at the 300-level or higher, one of which should be the Integrative Experience, plus junior year writing and completion of either Option A or Option B:

Option A: Two additional ECON courses, 3 credits each, numbered 300 or higher

Option B: Complete one of the following collateral field options: any minor or certificate program or additional major; any combination of five 3-credit courses in the Isenberg School of Management major departments, 3 credits each, numbered 200-level or higher; or a group of five courses, 3-credits each, numbered 300-level or higher, chosen by the student and approved by the Undergraduate Program Director in the Department of Economics prior to the student enrolling in the courses. (Resource Economics courses cannot be counted, unless it is a second major or a minor.)

To Complete the Secondary Major

For the Secondary Major in Economics, students take all of the requirements for the Major with the exception of Junior Year Writing in Econ Course and the IE Course in Economics. 

To Minor In Economics

For the minor, students must complete a total of seven courses:

  • ECON 104
  • ECON 103 or RES-ECON 102
  • MATH 127 or MATH 131
  • One of the following: MATH 128, MATH 132, RES-ECON 212, or STATISTC 240, 501, 515
  • ECON 203, or RES-ECON 202, or ECON 204
  • Two additional ECON courses, 3 credits each, numbered 200–level or higher

NOTE: If RES-ECON 202 is taken to count toward the Economics minor, then ECON 203 cannot also count.

The minor can be declared after completing the requirements, any time before graduation. To declare, students fill out a declaration form and attend an information session, which are posted at http://www.umass.edu/economics/undergraduate/advising.

For further information, contact:
Chief Undergraduate Advisor
Valerie Voorheis,voorheis@econs.umass.edu

-- or --

Academic Advisors
Leah Dodson, ldodson@econs.umass.edu
Stephanie Brewer, sbbrewer@econs.umass.edu

General email: advising@econs.umass.edu
Website: http://www.umass.edu/economics/