Getting Started

School: SBS

Information below is meant to guide first year students in getting starting 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 https://www.umass.edu/gened. Students should choose a wide variety of Gen Ed courses, providing breadth of experience.

MATH 127 Calculus for Life and Social Sciences (or MATH 131)
RES-ECON 102 Introduction to Resource Economics (or ECON 103)
ECON 104 Introduction to Macroeconomics
RES-ECON 212 Introductory Statistics for the Social Sciences (or STATISTC 240)
RES-ECON 106 (formerly 162) Economics is Everywhere or RES-ECON 107 (formerly 121) Hunger in a Global Economy or RES-ECON 262 Environmental Economics or RES-ECON 263 Natural Resource Economics

Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses

Required prerequisites, including recommended sequence:

RES-ECON 102 Introduction to Resource Economics (or ECON 103) and ECON 104 Introduction to Macroeconomics. MATH 127 Calculus for Life and Social Sciences (or MATH 131) and RES-ECON 212 Introductory Statistics for the Social Sciences (or STATISTC 240).

If previous Math background is not adequate to enable placement in MATH 127 or 131, students should also take appropriate lower-level math courses. Potential majors should note that Managerial Economics requires quantitative courses at the junior/senior levels (RES-ECON 213, Intermediate Statistics for Business and Economics and RES-ECON 313, Decision Analysis) that are rigorous.

Transfers with sophomore/junior standing should take the following:

MATH 127 Calculus for Life and Social Sciences (or MATH 131)
RES-ECON 102 Introduction to Resource Economics (or ECON 103)
ECON 104 Introduction to Macroeconomics
RES-ECON 212 Introductory Statistics for the Social Sciences (RES-ECON 212 is highly preferred; STATISTC 240 is also accepted to fulfill this requirement.)
RES-ECON 106 (formerly 162) Economics is Everywhere or RES-ECON 107 (formerly 121) Hunger in a Global Economy or RES-ECON 262 Environmental Economics or RES-ECON 263 Natural Resource Economics

If students have already completed all of these courses, they should speak with a Resource Economics advisor for recommendation of appropriate selection of courses.

How to Declare/Change into the Major

For current and 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.

Information on the process to join the Managerial Economics major is available on the “Declaring a Major” webpage at: https://www.umass.edu/resec/undergraduate-program/declaring-res-ec-major. Students should pay particular attention to the Undergraduate Handbook. After reviewing the material available on the website, students interested in the Managerial Economics major should complete the online Statement of Interest AND view the online information session.

Once students have completed these steps, they should email Ruth Glickman DeLisle at rglickmandel@umass.edu confirming they wish to declare. Students declaring the major should specify in this email their declaration for Resource Economics or Managerial Economics.

Transfer Students

Students can declare when they enter the university. Meet with a Managerial Economics advisor before the first day of classes.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Minimum total # of credits required: 67

Twelve departmental core courses (including Junior Year Writing and IE seminar), six required courses related to managerial topics, and four upper-level electives. Refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn more.

Is there a minor?
Not exactly. There is, however, a minor available in Resource Economics, with the option to do a focus in Managerial [Industrial Organization] Economics. It is also possible to minor in Resource Economics with a focus in Environmental & Natural Resources Economics; Behavioral/Experimental Economics; Quantitative Economics; or Health Economics. Selecting a focus area is optional.

For further information, contact:
Dorise C.G. Heller, Director of Undergraduate Advising
306F Stockbridge Hall; (413) 545-2490
email: dorise@umass.edu

Ruth Glickman DeLisle, Senior Academic Advisor
306G Stockbridge Hall; (413) 545-5714
email: rglickmandel@umass.edu

Department website: www.umass.edu/resec