Information and Policies
Introduction
The major in economics and mathematics is designed to meet the needs of undergraduate students who plan to pursue doctoral study in economics or business, or who wish to pursue a career as an actuary or other professional requiring a sophisticated understanding of economics and mathematics. The major combines the main undergraduate content of both economics and mathematics within a programmatic structure that joins the two disciplines. It provides a coursework combination required to prepare for an economics doctoral (Ph.D.) program, or for a group of technically demanding professional careers.
Program Learning Outcomes
Program learning outcomes for economics, economics and mathematics, business management economics, and global economics majors:
Critical Thinking Skills: Students are expected to be able to apply economic analysis to everyday problems in real world situations, to understand current events and evaluate specific policy proposals, and to evaluate the role played by assumptions in arguments that reach different conclusions to a specific economic or policy problem.
Quantitative Reasoning Skills: Students are expected to understand how to use empirical evidence to evaluate the validity of an economic argument, use statistical methodology, interpret statistical results, and conduct appropriate statistical analysis of data.
Problem-Solving Skills: Students are expected to be able to solve problems that have clear solutions and to address problems that do not have clear answers and explain conditions under which these solutions may be correct.
Specialized Knowledge and Application of Skills: Students are expected to develop critical and quantitative thinking skills specific to business and accounting.
Communication Skills: Students are expected to be able to communicate effectively in written, oral, and graphical form about specific issues, and to formulate well-organized written arguments that state assumptions and hypotheses supported by evidence.
Academic Advising for the Program
The Economics Department office is located at 401 Engineering 2. There are four staff undergraduate advisors, peer advisors (except summer), as well as a faculty field study coordinator and faculty director for the Economics Department's undergraduate programs. Our faculty, staff advisors and peer advisors play an important role in advising on all aspects of the major and assisting you to maximize your educational opportunities. Please check the department website for more information about drop-in hours.
Getting Started in the Major: Frosh
The economics curriculum begins at the introductory level: no specific high school preparation is required.
This is a course-intensive and sequential program, and students who intend to pursue this major must begin taking classes for the major in their first year at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Math placement is required for one or more of the foundational courses for this major. For more information, please review the Math Placement website.
All majors study a substantial core of economic theory and statistical methods and they then choose among a wide variety of subfields.
Transfer Information and Policy
Transfer Admission Screening Policy
The following courses or their equivalents are required prior to transfer, by the end of the spring term for students planning to enter in the fall:
One of these courses:
| AM 11A | Mathematical Methods for Economists I | 5 |
| MATH 11A | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
| MATH 19A | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
Students with credit in MATH 11A or AM 11A as their first calculus course must have a grade of "B" or better in order to qualify for the next calculus course in the sequence for this major, MATH 19B.
And both of these courses:
| ECON 1 | Introductory Microeconomics: Resource Allocation and Market Structure | 5 |
| ECON 2 | Introductory Macroeconomics: Aggregate Economic Activity | 5 |
A minimum GPA of 2.8 must be obtained in the courses listed above. The admissions office screens transfer applicants for meeting major qualification criteria.
Prospective students are encouraged to prioritize required and recommended major preparation, and may additionally complete courses that articulate to UC Santa Cruz general education requirements as time allows.
In addition, it is recommended prior to transfer to complete of the calculus sequence (MATH 22, or MATH 23A and MATH 23B) to ensure timely graduation.
Getting Started in the Major: Transfer Students
The department requests that new transfer students send unofficial transcripts of any previously completed coursework to econ_ugrad_coor@ucsc.edu. For coursework completed outside of a California community college, submitting course syllabi for articulation purposes is required. The advisors will then be able to make course recommendations for fall quarter or summer session courses prior to the first fall quarter.
All transfer students must complete the three-course senior comprehensive requirement (ECON 100A, ECON 100B, ECON 113) and the DC requirement at UC Santa Cruz. Economics/mathematics majors must take at least one of their upper-division economics electives at UC Santa Cruz. Courses taken for credit elsewhere may not be repeated for credit here.
Students who were admitted under a different proposed major and have advanced standing when they come to UCSC require permission from the department to change into the major. Admission to the major is not guaranteed.
Students who have met all lower-division requirements through articulations before transferring will need at least six economics and five mathematics upper-division courses at UC Santa Cruz to complete the major.
Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process
Major Qualification
The Economics Department administers four undergraduate majors: economics, business management economics, global economics, and economics/mathematics. The qualification requirements for major declaration are the same for all four.
Students must complete three courses, with combined GPA of 2.8 or higher, to qualify for entry to the economics/mathematics major:
Take all of the following courses:
| ECON 1 | Introductory Microeconomics: Resource Allocation and Market Structure | 5 |
| ECON 2 | Introductory Macroeconomics: Aggregate Economic Activity | 5 |
| MATH 19A | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
All classes included for major qualification determination must be taken for a letter grade. If students have not taken a letter grade, they must appeal by submitting a letter to the Economics Department.
Students should submit a petition to declare as soon as they complete the major qualification requirements or reach their declaration deadline quarter (whichever comes first). Students receiving a grade of NP, C-, D+, D, D-, or F in one of the courses required for qualification to the major may only declare once they have passed the same or equivalent course with a grade of C or better. Students who receive two grades of NP, C-, D+, D, D-, or F in the qualification courses are not eligible to declare the major.
Equivalent courses may be taken at other universities or community colleges. Students should check on assist.org to determine whether a transfer course is designated as equivalent to ECON 1, ECON 2 or the first required calculus course. Transfer students are strongly encouraged to ask the department to review such courses prior to matriculation at UC Santa Cruz, since an offer of admission to UCSC does not automatically imply admission to the economics major.
Students can receive course credit for Advanced Placement (AP) examinations in Micro (ECON 1), Macro (ECON 2), and the first calculus class toward major qualification criteria according to the AP chart.
The Economics Department uses the AP score internally to determine whether students meet the 2.8 required GPA to qualify for the major. For economics, a score of 5 on the AP exam counts as an “A” , a score of 4 counts as a “B”, and a score of 3 earns unit credit only but no course credit toward major qualification (i.e., does not count). For calculus AB and calculus BC, a score of 4 or 5 on the AP exam counts as an "A" and a score of 3 counts as a "B".
A score of 5 on the IBH Mathematics exam counts as a "B" and scores of 6 or 7 count as an "A."
Please consult with an advisor if you have questions.
Appeal Process
Students who have a grade point average (GPA) lower than 2.8 combined in ECON 1, ECON 2, and the calculus course are not eligible to declare an economics major. Students not eligible to declare an economics major should appeal by submitting a letter to the Economics Department as soon as the qualification courses are completed. Students who have not declared by their sixth quarter and who do not meet the GPA requirement should submit their declaration petition along with an appeal letter to make their case so that the department can take into consideration the full context of the student's situation. We recommend meeting with an economics advisor to learn more about the appeals process. Please email econ_ugrad_coor@ucsc.edu for further information on declaring an economics major or appealing ineligibility and deadlines.
How to Declare a Major
Timing: Students should submit a petition to declare as soon as they complete the major qualification (MQ) courses (ECON 1, ECON 2 and the calculus course) or reach their declaration deadline quarter, whichever comes first. Transfer students can petition to declare their major as early as the first day of instruction during their first quarter at UCSC.
How: Students can initiate the major declaration process by completing the Petition for Major/Minor Declaration and the Academic Planning forms and by supplying evidence of their grades in the three pre-major courses. Candidates must meet major qualifications listed above under "Major Qualification" prior to declaring the major.
Declaration sessions are mandatory for those seeking to declare the major/minor. If you cannot attend a workshop, you must meet with an economics peer advisor first before obtaining signatures from a staff advisor. Workshop schedules and drop-in advising hours are available on the department's website, on our bulletin board outside the office, and in the department office. All students are advised to bring verification of their grades, which can be printed from the student portal, to the declaration of major advising session. Students who do not bring in verification of their grades could have the approval of their petition for major declaration delayed by up to two working days.
Letter Grade Policy
All classes included for major qualification determination must be taken for a letter grade. If students have not taken a letter grade, they must appeal by submitting a letter to the Economics Department.
The Economics Department allows classes toward major requirements taken for the Pass/No Pass (P/NP) grade notification. We recommend no more than two courses in the major be taken P/NP. Overall no more than 25 percent of a student's UC Santa Cruz classes can be taken P/NP.
Course Substitution Policy
For courses not already articulated through assist.org, students must present their transfer credit summary (available on the student portal) and course syllabi or descriptions to an Economics Department advisor. The department approves courses applicable for economics prerequisites and major requirements. The course substitution form can be found on the department website under "EconomicsUndergraduate Forms."
Study Abroad
UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) is the University of California's official study abroad program and a global leader in international education for more than 50 years. All the benefits of home—UC credit, grades, and financial aid—travel with you. Approximately 600 UC Santa Cruz students study abroad on UCEAP every year.
Students can petition UCEAP courses to count toward their major or minor requirements. In addition, there are scholarships available and financial aid can be applied to UCEAP programs. UCEAP provides opportunities in:
- 46 countries around the world
- 420 summer quarter, semester or yearlong programs
- Internships, volunteer work, and research programs
Economics at the Autonomous University of Barcelona--Direct Exchange Program
Located in Spain, the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) is an institution known for its excellent research and teaching. Unlike UCEAP, this direct exchange program through the UC Santa Cruz Economics Department offers the opportunity for students to enroll in three courses that will fulfill economics major requirements and one course outside of economics. Students must take a total of four courses and will receive transfer credit for all courses. Along with enrolling in courses, students may enjoy the renowned architecture, food, and art. This program is open to students who are economics majors in junior or senior class standing and have a 3.0 cumulative GPA or above. Students must also be in good academic standing and 18 years of age or older at the time of departure to Barcelona. Economics courses at UAB may also be taken in Spanish if students have completed two years of university-level Spanish with a minimum GPA of 2.85 in those language courses.
Honors
The Economics Department awards honors and highest honors to students who have completed a major program with superior or exceptional academic work. All students are reviewed for honors during the quarter in which they graduate. Honors decisions are made based on performance in upper-division economics courses with particular emphasis on performance in the three core courses (ECON 100A, ECON 100B, and ECON 113). Typically, honors are awarded to between 10 and 15 percent of each year's graduating class.
Independent Study
Students are encouraged to petition for independent study on topics of special interest to them. ECON 199, Tutorial, may be used as only one of the upper-division courses required for the major or minor.
Field-Study Program
The Economics Department offers its majors the opportunity to integrate their academic knowledge with career-related work in areas connected to economics or business. Students secure field-study internships under the supervision of a faculty sponsor and a professional at the workplace. Students can participate in a wide variety of field-study opportunities such as with accounting firms, community non-profits, government agencies, brokerage firms, marketing agencies, banks, and businesses in Santa Cruz and beyond. Students apply for field-study a quarter in advance. Participation in the field-study program requires at least junior standing, completion of courses ECON 100A (or ECON 100M), ECON 100B (or ECON 100N), and ECON 113 as well as good academic standing. Students may earn a maximum of 10 academic credits and complete up to two quarters in a field placement. A 5-credit field study requires 12-14 hours per week spent working on internship duties (a 2-credit field study requires 5-6 hours per week spent on internship duties) and completion of an academic project supervised by a faculty sponsor. Time spent toward the academic requirements set by the faculty sponsor is not included in the 12-14 internship hours spent at the field placement.
Along with the training and supervision by a professional at the workplace, students receive guidance from a faculty sponsor who directs their academic project. Students earn credit through the completion of this project and the job supervisor’s evaluation of performance. Economics field-study courses do not satisfy any upper-division requirements for the major and are available as Pass/No Pass only.
Interested students should make an appointment or email econintern@ucsc.edu for assistance.
Combined Majors
The Economics Department offers the following combined majors: economics/mathematics and environmental studies/economics. Requirements for these majors may be reviewed under their separate entries in this catalog.