Program Overview

Economics Major

The Economics Major provides a rigorous toolkit for thinking about the economy and about economic policy. In recent years, the number of majors has been growing at an unprecedented pace and our program has been significantly improving in ways that will enhance the educational experience of our undergraduate students.

Program Overview

We introduced numerous new courses as well as improved existing offerings to provide a coherent and comprehensive program of study for a wide variety of career and learning paths. We also took additional steps, including adding new quantitative courses, to encourage undergraduate participation in economic research and provide students with the quantitative tools needed on the job market.

Career Paths

Graduates from our department pursue a wide variety of career paths. While some choose careers in finance, banking, the energy or medical sector, or other private industries, others work in the government or non-profit sector. Some attend graduate school in economics or other professional schools, especially law, public policy, and business schools.

Admission Requirements

To declare a major in Economics, the following must be met:

• First-time-in-college students may declare Economics as their major if they meet the qualifications required for admission to the University of Houston.
• UH students who wish to change their majors to Economics must have a minimum 2.25 cumulative GPA on all coursework taken at UH.
• Students who transfer from other colleges or universities must have a cumulative 2.25 GPA in previous coursework.
• All students beyond their freshman year must enroll in, and remain enrolled in, one of the following courses:
  • ECON 2302 - Microeconomic Principles (Credit Hours: 3.0)
  • ECON 2301 - Macroeconomic Principles (Credit Hours: 3.0)
  • ECON 3332 - Intermediate Microeconomics (Credit Hours: 3.0)
  • ECON 3334 - Intermediate Macroeconomics (Credit Hours: 3.0) unless all of these courses have been satisfactorily completed.

Degree Requirements

Students who choose to major in Economics must meet the University of Houston core requirements, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) core requirements, and the following:

• 33 ECON hours (at least 27 advanced) to include:
  • ECON 2302 - Principles of Microeconomics (Credit Hours: 3.0)
  • ECON 2301 - Principles of Macroeconomics (Credit Hours: 3.0)
  • ECON 3320 - Introduction to Economic Data Analysis (Credit Hours: 3.0)
  • ECON 3332 - Intermediate Microeconomics (Credit Hours: 3.0)
  • ECON 3334 - Intermediate Macroeconomics (Credit Hours: 3.0)
  • ECON advanced courses (electives) (Credit Hours: 18.0)
• 9 MATH hours to include:
  • MATH 1314 - College Algebra (Credit Hours: 3.0)
  • MATH 1342 - Elementary Statistical Methods (Credit Hours: 3.0)
  • Either MATH 2413 - Calculus 1 or MATH 1325 - Calculus for Business & Social Sciences (Credit Hours: 3.0)

Additional Information

Bachelor of Science candidates must take the following as one of their advanced courses: ECON 3370 - Introduction to Econometrics (Credit Hours: 3.0). Students considering graduate study in Economics are strongly urged to take MATH 2413 rather than MATH 1325 and to take additional courses in mathematics.