Getting Started
College: SBS
Information below is meant to guide first-year students in getting started with this major and choosing appropriate courses. More advanced students interested in this major would also likely start with proposed foundation/pre-requisite courses. Please refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn about the full major requirements.
How to Explore the Major
Suggested General Education Courses
All Undergraduates are required to satisfy the General Education Requirements. Guidelines for students are available at www.umass.edu/gened. Students should choose a wide variety of Gen Ed courses, providing breadth of experience.
Economics is a Liberal Arts Major in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and interdisciplinary experience, in General Education courses, is useful to an Economics Major.
Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses
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.
How to Declare/Change into the Major
For current & admitted students: This major is unrestricted which means any student may declare the major. Unrestricted majors may still have an entry process such as meeting with an advisor or attending an informational meeting.
To declare, students complete 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
Refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn more.
Minimum total # or range of credits required: 48-54
Is there a minor? If so, what are the requirements?
Yes - a minor is available! Refer to the Minor page located in the left menu bar to learn more.
For further information, contact:
Director of Undergraduate Advising
Valerie Voorheis, voorheis@econs.umass.edu
-- or --
Senior Academic Advisor
Stephanie Brewer, sbbrewer@umass.edu
General email: advising@econs.umass.edu
Website: http://www.umass.edu/economics/