What are my options for specialization within the Economics major?
The Economics department offers three courses of study in addition to the regular Economics major: an Emphasis in International Economics, an Emphasis in Preprofessional Studies, and a Specialization in Quantitative Analysis.  Either of the two Emphases will appear on your diploma; the Specialization in Quantitative Analysis does not (but will be on your transcript).

What do I need to do before I can declare one of these specializations?
Impaction standards for the Economics major, and all specializations and emphases, went into effect in 2002-03.  Requirements will depend on your catalog year.  For the 2005 catalog year, you will need a 2.4 GPA (cumulative), and a C or better in all lower-division requirements except Social Science 201A.  Students must also complete the B.A. requirement for foreign language (i.e., third semester or equivalent) before declaring the International Economics Emphasis. 

What are the required classes for the International Economics Emphasis?
Beginning in 2005-06, all majors must take:
(Courses marked with * must be passed with a C or better to meet impaction standards) 

• Economics 101* and 102*

• Accountancy 230* (Renumbered from Accountancy 201 in 2005)

• Economics 201* OR Statistics 119*

• Math 120* OR Math 121* OR Math 150*

• IDS 180* OR Social Science 201B, 201C and 201D* OR Social Science 201C and a computer course of at least two units*

• Social Science 201A (As of the 2005-2006 catalog, you need a C or higher to satisfy the preparation for the major, but not for impaction)

• Economics 301 - Collection and Use of Data in Economics

• Economics 320 - Intermediate Macro Theory

• Economics 321 - Intermediate Micro Theory

• At least 4 International courses, chosen from Economics 330, 336, 360, 365, 464, 465, 489, 561, 565, 592

• Up to 2 electives chosen from Economics 311, 338, 380, 382, 401, 406, 422, 441, 452, 453, 454, 458, 489, 490

• Finance 323 and 329 OR Marketing 370 and 376 OR Management 350 and 357

Plus:

• FOURTH semester of a foreign language OR a C or better in a 3-unit upper-division foreign language course OR competency at the ACTFL-ETS intermediate, mid-level [students with background and certain languages may be able to test out]

• Upper-division writing requirement [must pass a "W" course with C or better, or can test out]

• Economics 495, Economics 496, or Economics 596 may be used to substitute for upper-division economics courses (except Economics 301, 320, 321) with department approval of international content.

• Completion of online survey in final semester

• 12 units of coursework abroad OR 6 units of internship abroad OR 9 units of coursework and 3 units of internship abroad [students who graduated high school outside the United States are exempt]
   

[Note: If your catalog year is prior to 2005, see your Degree Audit or catalog for degree requirements]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the International Economics Emphasis?
Adding this Emphasis can signal to future employers that you have a strong interest and solid training in international issues.  The main disadvantages are the additional required classes (6 more units than the regular major, plus an additional semester of language) and less flexibility in choice of classes.

What are the required classes for the Preprofessional Studies Emphasis?
All majors must take:
(Courses marked with * must be passed with a C or better to meet impaction standards) 

• Economics 101* and 102*

• Accountancy 230* (Renumbered from Accountancy 201 in 2005)

• Economics 201* OR Statistics 119*

• Math 120* OR Math 121* OR Math 150*

• IDS 180* OR Social Science 201B, 201C and 201D* OR Social Science 201C and a computer course of at least two units*

• Social Science 201A (As of the 2005-2006 catalog, you need a C or higher to satisfy the preparation for the major, but not for impaction)

• Communications 160

• Economics 301 - Collection and Use of Data in Economics

• Economics 320 - Intermediate Macro Theory

• Economics 321 - Intermediate Micro Theory

• Finance 323

• At least 4 Preprofessional courses, chosen from Economics 311, 338, 380, 382, 401, 406, 422, 441, 452, 453, 454, 458, 490

• At least 1 International courses chosen from Economics 330, 336, 360, 365, 464, 465, 561, 565, 592

Plus:

• Third semester of a foreign language [4 years of high school classes or foreign high school graduation/background is equivalent, can test out]

• Completion of online survey in final semester

• Upper-division writing requirement: must pass an approved "W" course with C or better.  Note that Preprofessional Studies majors may NOT test out of this requirement and must satisfy the requirement with a course approved by the Economics department (currently those courses are English 508W or 584W, Linguistics 305W, Rhetoric and Writing Studies 500W or 503W).

• Economics 495, Economics 496, or Economics 596 may be used to substitute for upper-division economics courses (except Economics 301, 320, 321) with department approval of preprofessional content.

[Note: If your catalog year is prior to 2005, see your Degree Audit or catalog for degree requirements]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Preprofessional Studies Emphasis?
This Emphasis is intended for students who know that they want to go to business school or law school.  Thus, the courses for this Emphasis provide additional training in the communication and analytic skills that will be most useful in law school or business school.  The main disadvantages are the additional required classes (9 more units than the regular major) and less flexibility in choice of classes. 

What are the required classes for the Quantitative Specialization?
All majors must take:
(Courses marked with * must be passed with a C or better to meet impaction standards) 

• Economics 101* and 102*

• Accountancy 230* (Renumbered from Accountancy 201 in 2005)

• Economics 201* OR Statistics 119*

• Math 150 [NOTE that Quantitative majors must take Math 150, not 120 or 121]

• IDS 180* OR Social Science 201B, 201C and 201D* OR Social Science 201C and a computer course of at least two units*

• Social Science 201A (As of the 2005-2006 catalog, you need a C or higher to satisfy the preparation for the major, but not for impaction)

• Economics 301 - Collection and Use of Data in Economics

• Economics 320 - Intermediate Macro Theory

• Economics 321 - Intermediate Micro Theory

• Economics 441 - Econometrics

• Economics 507 - Mathematical Economics

• 4 upper-division Economics electives, at least 2 of which must be from 400 or 500 level

Plus:

• Third semester of a foreign language [4 years of high school classes or foreign high school graduation/background is equivalent, can test out]

• Completion of online survey in final semester

• Upper-division writing requirement [must pass a "W" course with C or better, or test out]

• Economics 495, Economics 496, or Economics 596 may be used to substitute for upper-division economics courses (except Economics 301, 320, 321, 441 or 507) with department approval of quantitative content.

[Note: If your catalog year is prior to 2005, see your Degree Audit or catalog for degree requirements]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Quantitative Specialization?
This Specialization provides the quantitative skills that are imperative for graduate work in economics.  It also provides somewhat more flexibility in choice of elective courses within economics.  Students who choose this emphasis must have a strong interest and aptitude for math.