Why study economics? What’s required to earn a degree? It's all summarized in our major map.

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Requirements

1. Calculus: Calculus I (MATH 241) and Calculus II (MATH 242) should be completed by the end of the sophomore year. MATH 251 / 252 or MATH 261 / 262 can be substituted for MATH 241/242. Students interested in pursuing graduate studies are strongly encouraged to take MATH 251 / 252.
2. Statistics: Elementary Statistics I (STAT 243Z) should be completed by the end of the sophomore year. For students with a strong math background, there are other statistics and probability classes that will fulfill the requirement. Please consult with the Department of Mathematics for more information.
3. Introductory Economics: Introduction to Economic Analysis: Microeconomics (EC 201) and Introduction to Economic Analysis: Macroeconomics (EC 202) should be completed by the end of the sophomore year.
4. Intermediate Economics: Intermediate Microeconomic Theory (EC 311) and Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory (EC 313) should be completed by the end of the junior year.
5. Econometrics: Introduction to Econometrics I (EC 320) and Introduction to Econometrics II (EC 421) should be completed by the end of the junior year.
6. Major Electives: Additional 28 credits in economics courses numbered 300 or above, with at least 20 credits in courses numbered 400 or above. No more than eight (8) of the 28 credits may be in courses numbered 401, 404, 405, or 408. Note that 311, 313, 320, and 421 do not count toward these credits.
7. Letter Grades Required: Grades of C– or better in courses taken to satisfy major requirements. Exceptions are courses offered P/N only—EC 401 404, 405, and 408. No more than 8 credits graded P/N may be applied to the economics major.
8. Oregon Residency: At least 28 of the 44 required upper-division credits required for the major (i.e., EC 311, 313, 320, 421, and the 28 required field course credits) must be taken at the University of Oregon.

Students who are interested in pursuing math classes beyond calculus should take MATH 251/252 or MATH 261/262, as these classes are prerequisites for further study in mathematics. This is especially important for students who are interested in pursuing an advanced degree in economics.

EC 320 (or EC 423) is a prerequisite for almost all 400-level courses. EC 311 and sometimes EC 313 are as well. Because MATH 242 and STAT 243z are prerequisites for EC 320, it is important for students to take those courses early.

Either of EC 320 and EC 423 fulfills the first part of the econometrics requirements and fulfills the prerequisite for 400 level economics courses. EC 423 is the Advanced Econometrics course, which is recommended to students who are considering graduate school.

Both courses have their own prerequisites:

• EC 320: MATH 252 or 242. Additionally, one of DSCI 102, DSCI 345, MATH 343, MATH 345 or STAT 243z.
• EC 423: MATH 281, 341; MATH 282 and 461 strongly recommended.

EC 407 and EC 410 are repeatable when the course topic changes and may be counted towards the economics major up to three times. Students may not get credit for multiple attempts at the same course topic.

Incoming Freshmen

Suggested preparation for freshmen is four (4) years of high school mathematics. Prospective majors are strongly urged to satisfy part of their science group requirement with an introductory calculus sequence and the combination of mathematics and computer and information science required for the Bachelor of Science degree, to be taken in the freshman or sophomore year.

Transfer Students

Suggested preparations for second-year college transfers include the following courses or their equivalencies:  

• EC 201 - Introduction to Economic Analysis: Microeconomics
• EC 202 - Introduction to Economic Analysis: Macroeconomics 
• Either Calculus for Business and Social Science I,II (MATH 241, 242) or Calculus I,II,III (MATH 251, 252, 253*)  
• STAT 243Z - Elementary Statistics

*Students considering graduate school are urged to take the complete calculus series: MATH 251, 252, 253, along with the STAT 243Z statistics course. Calculus III does not count towards the economics major, but is a prerequisite for certain advanced courses.