Program Overview

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Economics Major, B.S.

The B.S. degree in economics provides an overview of methods for studying activity and outcomes in market settings and beyond, considers the impact of public policy and business activity through the lens of economic models, and covers techniques in quantitative and data analysis that are the foundation of modern economic analysis. Relative to the B.A. degree in economics, the B.S. degree puts a greater emphasis on quantitative methods and student-conducted economic research, and it includes additional training beyond the B.A. degree. The B.S. degree is interdisciplinary, with required courses from mathematics, statistics, and computer science. The B.S. major is classified as a STEM program with CIP code 45.0603.

Objectives

This major provides the opportunity to achieve one or more of the following objectives:

• General education for intelligent citizenship with special emphasis on economic principles and the quantitative methods that economists use in applied analysis.
• Preparation for private employment, including finance, marketing, consulting, and data analytics.
• Preparation for government employment, with emphasis on methods to analyze the impacts of public policy.
• Preparation for graduate programs in economics, business administration, data analytics, international studies, law, health and hospital administration, city planning, public policy, and other fields.
• Creation of double majors and interdisciplinary majors with other STEM disciplines.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the economics program, students should be able to:

• Define common economic concepts
• Apply these concepts to understand and analyze observed economic phenomena
• Demonstrate the ability to use empirical and econometric methods in economic analysis
• Evaluate the impact of economic phenomena on welfare and standard of living

Requirements

In addition to the program requirements, students must:

• earn a minimum final cumulative GPA of 2.000
• complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses
• take at least half of their major core requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill
• earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major core requirements. Some programs may require higher standards for major or specific courses.

Course List

Course List Code	Title	Hours
Gateway Requirement
ECON 101	Introduction to Economics (with a grade of C or better)	4
Core Requirements
ECON 400	Introduction to Data Science and Econometrics (with a grade of C or better)	4
ECON 410	Intermediate Microeconomics (with a grade of C or better)	4
ECON 420	Intermediate Macroeconomics	3
ECON 470	Econometrics	3
Five ECON courses at the 400, 500, or 600 level, with at least two numbered 500 or higher		15
Additional Requirements
MATH 231	Calculus of Functions of One Variable I	4
MATH 232	Calculus of Functions of One Variable II	4
MATH 233	Calculus of Functions of Several Variables	4
or MATH 235	Mathematics for Data Science
Select two of the following:		6
COMP 110	Introduction to Programming
or COMP 116	Introduction to Scientific Programming
MATH 347	Linear Algebra for Applications
MATH 381	Discrete Mathematics
or COMP 283	Discrete Structures
STOR 415	Introduction to Optimization
STOR 435	Introduction to Probability
or STOR 535	Probability for Data Science
Total Hours		51

Sample Plan of Study

Sample plans can be used as a guide to identify the courses required to complete the major and other requirements needed for degree completion within the expected eight semesters. The actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Students should meet with their academic advisor to create a degree plan that is specific and unique to their interests.

Plan of Study Grid

First Year

• Fall Semester:
  • ECON 101: Introduction to Economics
  • MATH 231: Calculus of Functions of One Variable I
• Spring Semester:
  • MATH 232: Calculus of Functions of One Variable II
  • ECON 400: Introduction to Data Science and Econometrics

Sophomore Year

• Fall Semester:
  • ECON 410: Intermediate Microeconomics
  • MATH 233: Calculus of Functions of Several Variables
• Spring Semester:
  • ECON 420: Intermediate Macroeconomics
  • ECON 470: Econometrics

Junior Year

• Fall Semester:
  • ECON elective course
  • ECON elective course
• Spring Semester:
  • ECON elective course
  • Non-ECON elective course

Senior Year

• Fall Semester:
  • ECON elective course
  • Non-ECON elective course
• Spring Semester:
  • ECON elective course

Total Hours: 51

Notes

• The ECON elective courses must be at the 400-level and above, including two at the 500-level.
• 200- and 300-level courses do not count toward the major.
• ECON 698 will count for 400-level credit only if ECON 384 has been taken; ECON 698 alone will not count toward the major in economics.
• ECON 493 does not count for 400-level credit.
• Students may not receive credit for both ECON 470 and ECON 570.

Department Programs

• Major:
  • Economics Major, B.A.
  • Economics Major, B.S.
• Minor:
  • Economics Minor
  • Entrepreneurship Minor
• Graduate Programs:
  • M.S. in Economics
  • Ph.D. in Economics
• Courses:
  • Economics (ECON)

Department of Economics

The Department of Economics offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in economics, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of economic principles, theories, and methods. The department is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service, and strives to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment for all students.

Faculty and Staff

• Chair: Brian McManus
• Director of Undergraduate Studies: Luca Flabbi
• Undergraduate Student Advisor: Geetha Vaidyanathan
• Undergraduate Student Services Manager: Kelly Finn

Contact Information

• Address: 107 Gardner Hall, CB# 3305
• University: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Additional Information

For more information about the Department of Economics, its programs, and its faculty, please visit the department's website. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Catalog is updated once yearly during the early spring and is published on June 1. For archiving and legal purposes, it serves as a static record of the upcoming academic year.