Program Overview

Bachelor of Arts in Economics

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Economics program at UAlbany prepares students to participate productively in the economy through careers in business firms, financial institutions, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Students learn about economic and social problems facing workers, consumers, businesses, and governments, and study major issues such as unemployment, trade imbalances, the environment, education, healthcare, migration, poverty, financial crises, inflation, and debt.

Additional Program Information

• Combined Master's
• Career Outcomes
• Economics Home

Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Options

Students can save time and money by beginning their graduate degree coursework while still enrolled as an undergraduate student. Up to 12 academic credits, billed at the undergraduate rate, will count towards both degrees – so students will complete their combined program in only 5 years and spend less than they would if they completed each program separately. Choose to combine the Economics undergraduate degree with the following graduate programs:

• MPA in Public Administration and Policy: This top-ranked master’s program prepares students to help solve complex socioeconomic problems with concentration areas including non-profit management and leadership, public policy, healthcare management, information technology management, public economics and finance, and homeland security.
• MS in Information Science: This ALA-accredited master's program covers a broad range of interdisciplinary topics related to library science, information processing, information management, and data analysis.

Career Outcomes

With a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, students will develop decision-making skills and data analysis abilities that are highly valuable for careers in businesses, non-profit institutions, all levels of government activity, financial institutions, health institutions, and international and non-profit agencies. As an economist, tasks may include computing, analyzing, and reporting data to explain economic phenomena, studying the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, and formulating recommendations, policies, and plans.

International Students

This degree is designated as a STEM program. International students maintaining F-1 status are allowed to apply for up to 12 months of post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) following completion/graduation from their degree program. Currently, this degree program is also designated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as an eligible degree for the F-1 STEM OPT work authorization extension; students who secure qualifying employment may be eligible to apply for the STEM OPT extension for a cumulative total of up to 36 months of F-1 OPT work authorization.

Student Learning Objectives

• Understand the economic issues and problems faced by individuals, organizations, and society; the economic principles that help explain behavior; the operation of markets; the gains from trade; and the range of institutions that affect the allocation of resources.
• Be able to apply methods of economic analysis (such as supply and demand, equilibrium, constrained optimization, and dynamic analysis) to decision-making, behavior, and economic outcomes.
• Have the ability to apply statistical methods in the empirical analysis of economic data and models.
• Be able to communicate economic analysis and empirical conclusions in the discussion of social phenomena and public policy.
• Develop understanding of issues and methods of analysis in specific fields of economic study such as labor, money and banking, public finance, international trade and finance, development, health, and the environment.

Minors

A minor consists of 18–24 graduation credits which must include a minimum of 9 graduation credits of advanced coursework at or above the 300 level. Most undergraduate degrees require completing a minor, and it has to have a different title from the major. Some available minors include:

• Acting
• Africana Studies
• Anthropology
• Art
• Art History
• Atmospheric Science
• Bioethics
• Biology
• Broadcast Meteorology
• Business
• Chemistry
• Chinese Studies
• Cognitive Science
• Communication
• Computer Science
• Creative Writing
• Criminal Justice Studies
• Cybersecurity
• Documentary Studies
• East Asian Studies
• Economics
• Educational Studies
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Electronics
• Film Studies
• Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity
• English
• Forensic Science
• French
• Game Design and Development
• Geographic Information Science
• Geography
• Globalization Studies
• Hebrew
• History
• Informatics
• Instrumental Performance
• International Studies
• Italian
• Japanese Studies
• Journalism
• Judaic Studies
• Korean Studies
• Latin American and Caribbean Studies
• Law and Philosophy
• Leadership
• Legal Studies
• LGBTQ Studies
• Library and Information Science
• Linguistics
• Machine Learning
• Mathematics
• Medical Anthropology
• Music
• Musical Performance
• Musical Theatre
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Political Science
• Portuguese
• Pre-Education
• Psychology
• Public Health
• Public Policy
• Religious Studies
• Russian
• Russian and Eastern European Studies
• Social Welfare Studies
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Statistics
• Sustainability
• Theatre
• Theatrical Design/Technology
• Urban Studies and Planning
• U.S. Latino Studies
• Vocal Performance
• Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies