Economics (CLAS)
Economics teaches students how to look at a complex world and make sense of the wide variety of behaviors they observe. Students majoring in economics will learn the analytical skills used to understand how households, firms and governments make economic decisions, comparing costs and benefits in an effort to maximize their objectives.
About This Major
- College: Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Degree: Bachelor of Arts
- Hours for Degree: 120
- Minor: No
- Website: www.cba.ufl.edu/eco/programs/undergrad/
Overview
Students will also learn the critical skills used to determine the implications of those economic decisions for the allocation of society's scarce resources, the pricing of goods and services, the distribution of income, the behavior of macroeconomic variables and the need for government intervention.
Classes within the economics major span a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from international trade, labor economics, law and economics, economics of sports, game theory, public choice and more. The analytical skills developed in the major are useful preparation for careers in business, government, public policy or academia. A degree in economics is also appropriate for students intending to pursue advanced degrees in the social sciences and in professional schools of management, law or public administration.
Coursework for the Major
Students must achieve grades of C or higher in each required preprofessional and economics course, including the economics electives and outside substitutes.
Required Coursework
- MAC 2233 or MAC 2311
- STA 2023
- ECO 2013, ECO 2023, ECO 3101 and ECO 3203, and
- Four economics electives from ECO 3532, ECO 3704, ECO 3713, ECO 4400, ECO 4504, ECO 4730, ECO 4934, ECO 4935, ECP 3006, ECP 3113, ECP 3203, ECP 3302, ECP 3409, ECP 3510, ECP 3530, ECP 4213, ECP 4330, ECP 4403, ECP 4451, ECS 3403, ECS 4013 and ECS 4203.
- Students may substitute an approved course taught outside the department for one economics elective. Approved outside substitutes consist of AEB 3450,
AEB 4274, AEB 4931, ECO 4956, ECS 4110, ECS 4111, FIN 3403 and GEO 3502. An outside substitute used to satisfy the economics elective requirement will not double count toward the CLAS 3000-level elective requirement. - Course prerequisites are strictly enforced. A current listing of course prerequisites is available each term in 267 Stuzin Hall.
Recommended Coursework
Students planning to pursue graduate study in economics should consider a minor in mathematics or statistics or take the following mathematics and statistics courses:
- MAC 2311, MAC 2312, MAC 2313
- MAP 2302
- Either MAS 3114 or 4105, and
- STA 4321 and 4322. (Students taking advanced statistics might not be required to take STA 2023.)
Overseas Studies
Students are encouraged to spend a semester abroad. The Warrington College of Business Administration offers several excellent study abroad programs which allow a student the opportunity to go abroad and still make progress toward his or her degree. Students are urged to contact the advisors in the Warrington College of Business Administration for more information.
Placement
Students are urged to complete ECO 3101 in a timely fashion because this course serves as a necessary prerequisite for many of the economics electives.
Research
Working on research can be a valuable part of an undergraduate education. There are a limited number of spots for undergraduates to work with a faculty member on research and/or assist with a class. Students should ask their professors about this possibility; however, before approaching a professor, you should have completed ECO 3101 and at least one economics elective. Students selected for these limited positions must have very strong grades in all economics classes. More formally, ECO 4935, Honors Empirical Research, is available to honors students and seniors who have high grades and are interested in research.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements. For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements — Structure of a CLAS Degree.
Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
Semester 2
- Complete 1 of 4 courses (ECO 2013, ECO 2023, MAC 2233 and STA 2023) with a 2.5 GPA on critical-tracking coursework, excluding ECO 3101
Semester 3
- Complete 1 additional course of the 4 courses with a 2.75 GPA on critical-tracking coursework, excluding ECO 3101
Semester 4
- Complete 2 additional courses of the 4 courses with a 3.0 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework, excluding ECO 3101
Semester 5
- Maintain a 3.0 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework, excluding ECO 3101
- Complete ECO 3101 with a grade of C or better
Recommended semester plan
Students are expected to complete the writing and math requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another general education course (typically, GE-C, H or S).
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics (GE-S) | 4 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 4-5 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Total | 14-15 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (GE-S) | 4 |
| MAC 2233 Survey of Calculus 1 (GE-M) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 3-5 |
| Physical Science (GE-P) | 3 |
| Science laboratory (GE-P or B) | 1 |
| Total | 14-16 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (GE-M) | 3 |
| Biological Science (GE-B) | 3 |
| Elective (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option) | 6 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Physical Science (GE-P) | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| ECO 3101 Intermediate Microeconomics (GE-S) | 4 |
| Biological Science (GE-B) | 3 |
| Electives | 9 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| ECO 3203 Intermediate Macroeconomics | 4 |
| Economics course (one at 3000 level or above) | 4 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) | 6 |
| Total | 17 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| Economics courses (two at 3000 level or above) | 8 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) | 6 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| Economics course (one at 3000 level or above) | 4 |
| Electives | 5-2 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) | 6 |
| Total | 15-12 |