UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR IN ECONOMICS

The Economics major requires 24 credits including:

ECO 211
ECO 212
ECO 301
ECO 302
and 12 elective credits.

Students from the School of Business and the College of Arts and Sciences may major or double-major in Economics.
Students from the Schools of Communication, Education, and International Studies may double-major in Economics.
Students from the College of Engineering may second-major in Economics.
Note: Economics 302, a required course for economics majors, has as a pre-requisite MAS 110 (required of all business students) or MTH 109. Therefore, economics majors from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Communication, Education, and International Studies must take either MAS 110 or MTH 109.

The Economics minor for students from the business school requires 18 credits including:

ECO 211 Economic Principles and Problems
ECO 212 Economic Principles and Problems
ECO 302 Micro Economic Theory
and 9 credits electives.

For students from all other schools, the Economics minor requires 12 credits including:

ECO 211 Economic Principles and Problems
ECO 212 Economic Principles and Problems
or ECO 301 Macro Economic Theory
ECO 302 Micro Economic Theory
and 6 elective credits.

Sample Electives:

What can you do with a major in Economics?

Jobs for bachelor's degree economists: Economics majors are hired by many types of institutions, including financial institutions (banks, investment firms), research institutions (policy research, business information services), corporations, newspapers and periodicals, government organizations (Federal Reserve Banks, U.S. Department of Commerce), and multi-national organizations (International Monetary Fund, World Bank).

Graduate School preparation: Economics majors frequently go on to attend law school, business school, medical school, graduate school in economics, and graduate school in public policy.

Recent News About the Economics Major:

Starting salaries in 2006 for economics majors were $51,631 versus $47,905 for finance majors, $41,323 for marketing majors, $43,523 for Business Administration majors, and $46,508 for accounting majors.  NACE's Winnter 2007 issue of Salary Survey.

"Economics is the leading major at many top schools, including Harvard, where 15% of undergraduates major [in economics]".  "Economists Gain Star Power,"  Wall Street Journal, February 22, 2005.

"'Economics ranks in the top four or five consistently year after year for both applicants and offers made,' said ... director of admissions at the University of California Berkeley law school."  "Out of a possible LSAT score of 180, economics majors average about 155, ranking highest in a study of the most common majors for law school applicants."  "Economics, Once a Perplexing Subject, Is Enjoying a Bull Run at Universities," Wall Street Journal, November 30, 1998.

Sample Electives by Student Interest

Banking, investment banking, finance: Eco 403, Eco 430, Eco 441, Eco 442.

International focus, international studies double majors: Eco 371, Eco 441, Eco 442, Eco 420.

Business, MBA prep: Eco 430, Eco 460, Eco 311, Eco 511.

Public policy focus, graduate school in public policy, interest in working for government or non-profit: Eco 307, Eco 345, Eco 386, Eco 403.

Law school prep: Eco 307, Eco 345, Eco 460, Eco 532.

Engineering Double Majors: Eco 430, Eco 460, Eco 311, Eco 510.

Medical School prep double majors: Eco 307, Eco 386, Eco 430, Eco 510.

Economics Graduate School Prep: Eco 430, Eco 510, Eco 512, and Eco 520, Eco 521, or Eco 533. Additional math courses are also advised. See below.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN PURSUING A GRADUATE DEGREE IN ECONOMICS OR FINANCE?

In recent years economics has become increasingly dependent on mathematical methods, and the mathematical tools it employs have become more sophisticated. Graduate programs in economics and finance require strong undergraduate preparation in mathematics for admission.

Mathematically competent economists, with bachelor's degrees and with advanced degrees, are also needed in industry and government.

If you want to find out what math classes you should take for properly preparing yourself for graduate school and for jobs that require strong quantitative skills, contact the Economics Department Undergraduate Director at 517-K Jenkins Building or by email at: jfoley@miami.edu . Graduate school applications are due in January, so contact us during your Sophmore year.

For more information regarding the undergraduate program, contact:
James W. Foley
521 Jenkins Building
School of Business
Tel. 305.284.6159
Fax 305.284.2985
jfoley@exchange.sba.miami.edu

For information on applying to the undergraduate program, contact:
Eunice Perry
Undergraduate Academic Services
104 Merrick Blgd.
Tel: 305-284-4641
Fax: 305-284-2985