School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
Economics (B.A., B.S.)
Economists study how people make choices in life when scarcity limits what is available and the incentives to induce efficient behavior. They look at a society's financial, industrial, and labor organizations; its distribution of income and ownership rights; its governmental activities; and its political and economic philosophies, and analyze how these and other factors influence the goods an economy produces, the resources it uses in production, and the distribution of its output. They also look at how incentives affect decisions relating to human behavior, such as whether to obey the law, get married, or have children.
Economic analysis leads to explanations, predictions, and policy suggestions. How are wages and prices set? Why do some cities boom while others decline? Why do we have an energy crisis? How should we use our exhaustible resources? How will consumers and corporations react to a tax cut? How can the crime rate be reduced? If we are to use our resources efficiently, what antitrust and government regulations should be enforced? What can be done to reduce inflation and unemployment? To prevent excess pollution? To achieve economic growth? To distribute income more equitably? In examining these sorts of questions, economics helps us to understand more clearly the choices available to us and the consequences of our decisions.
There is an abundance of career opportunities for an economics major.
Careers in business include consulting, banking and other financial institutions, insurance, corporate strategic planning, real estate, journalism, management, marketing, and public utilities.
Careers in government include consulting, publicly owned utilities, planning and forecasting, regulatory agencies, management, needs assessment, legislative staffs, judicial agencies, and executive support.
Careers in the interfacing of business and government include labor arbitration, regulation, environmental planning, urban and regional planning, and interest representation.
Economics is an excellent preparation for a career in law.
Bachelor of Arts in Economics
Degree Requirements (120 hours)
I. Core Curriculum Requirements1: 42 hours
Communication (6 hours)
Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)3
Science (9 hours including at least one course with a substantial laboratory component)
II. Major Requirements: 46 hours
Major Preparatory Courses (7 hours beyond Core Curriculum)
Major Core Courses (12 hours)
- ECON 3304 Basic Techniques for Economic Research5
- ECON 3310 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
- ECON 3311 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
- ECON 4320 Public Sector Economics
One of the following:
Major Related Courses (27 hours)
- 27 hours upper-division ECON courses
III. Elective Requirements: 32 hours
Advanced Electives (6 hours)
All students are required to take at least six hours of Advanced Electives outside their major field of study. These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that have prerequisites.
Free Electives (26 hours)
This requirement may be satisfied with lower- and upper-division courses from any field of study. Students must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for graduation.
Minor in Economics (18 hours)
For a minor in Economics, students must take ECON 2301, ECON 2302, either ECON 3310 or ECON 3311, and nine hours of ECON electives. Electives may be any upper-division course with the ECON prefix with the exception of ECON 4V97, ECON 4V98, and ECON 4V99.
Bachelor of Science in Economics
Degree Requirements (120 hours)
I. Core Curriculum Requirements1: 42 hours
Communication (6 hours)
Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)3
Science (9 hours including at least one course with a substantial laboratory component)
II. Major Requirements: 54 hours
Major Preparatory Courses (12 hours beyond Core Curriculum)
- ECON 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics5
- ECON 2302 Principles of Microeconomics5
- MATH 2417 Calculus I2, 7
- or MATH 1325 Applied Calculus I5, 2
- MATH 2419 Calculus II7
- or MATH 1326 Applied Calculus II2
- or MATH 2414 Integral Calculus
- STAT 1342 Statistical Decision Making2
- or EPPS 3405 Introduction to Social Statistics with Lab (recommended)2, 7
Major Core Courses (15 hours)
- ECON 3310 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
- ECON 3311 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
- ECON 4320 Public Sector Economics
- ECON 4351 Mathematical Economics
- ECON 4355 Econometrics
One of the following:2
Major Related Courses (27 hours)
- 27 hours Economics upper-division ECON courses
Optional Major Core Concentrations (9 hours)8
Green Economics
One course from:
Two additional courses from:
International Economics
Both of the following:
Select one course from:
Business Economics
Three courses from:
III. Elective Requirements: 24 hours
Advanced Electives (6 hours)
All students are required to take at least six hours of Advanced Electives outside their major field of study. These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that have prerequisites.
Free Electives (18 hours)
This requirement may be satisfied with lower- and upper-division courses from any field of study. Students must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for graduation. Note: students may need more than 18 hours, depending on the mathematics sequence selected.
- Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parentheses are the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
- A Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Hours are counted in Core Curriculum.
- Students wishing to pursue Master's or Ph.D. degrees in economics should consult their advisor about appropriate mathematics and quantitative methods courses.
- Three hours are counted under Quantitative Reasoning core, and one hour is counted under Major Preparatory Courses.
- Indicates a prerequisite class to be completed before enrolling for upper-division classes in Economics and Finance.
- A Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Hours are counted in Core Curriculum above.
- Three hours are counted under Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning core, and one hour is counted under Major Preparatory Courses.
- Hours to be counted as part of major related courses.