Economics, BALAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Economics
Undergraduate Degree Programs in Economics
For further information, please visit the Economics undergraduate program page.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Economics
A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Please see your advisor.
Departmental distinction: A student must have a grade point average of at least 3.25 overall and at least 3.5 in economics; complete a research project (e.g., complete ECON 399); and be recommended by the faculty research adviser.
General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements including the campus general education language requirement.
Minimum required major and supporting course work: Normally equates to 55-56 hours including a minimum of 30 hours of economics courses excluding ECON 199, ECON 220, ECON 398, and ECON 399. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level in the major must be taken on this campus.
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Economics Courses including: | 30 | |
| Microeconomic Principles | ||
| Macroeconomic Principles | ||
| Economics at Illinois | ||
| Economic Statistics I | ||
| Economic Statistics II | ||
| Inter Microeconomic Theory | ||
| Inter Macroeconomic Theory | ||
11 additional hours of economics at the 300- or 400-level 1 | ||
| Mathematics: | 7-8 | |
| Calculus | ||
or MATH 221 | Calculus I | |
| Calculus II | ||
Additional mathematics courses are recommended | ||
| Supporting course work. 18 hours of courses outside economics but related to the student’s major interest in economics (see www.economics.illinois.edu/programs/undergrad for details). | 18 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Economics
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Free elective course | 1 | General Education course | 3 |
| ECON 102 or 103 | 3 | ECON 103 or 102 | 3 |
| MATH 220 or 221 | 4 | MATH 231 | 3 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 | General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | Language Other than English (4th level) | 4 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ECON 202 | 3 | ECON 203 | 3 |
| ECON 198 | 1 | ECON 302 | 3 |
| Supporting Coursework | 3 | Supporting Coursework | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| 13 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ECON 303 | 3 | ECON 300-400 level course | 3 |
| ECON 300-400 level course | 3 | ECON 300-400 level course | 3 |
| Supporting Coursework | 3 | Supporting Coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ECON 300-400 level course | 2 | Supporting Coursework | 3 |
| Supporting Coursework | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 4 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Economics
- Analytical Skills/Problem-Solving: ECON students will effectively visualize, conceptualize, articulate, and solve complex problems or address problems that do not have a clear answer, with available information, through experimentation and observation, using microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, as well as calculus and statistical tools.
- Critical Thinking: ECON students will apply economic analysis to everyday problems helping them to understand events, evaluate specific policy proposals, compare arguments with different conclusions to a specific issue or problem, and assess the role played by assumptions in arguments that reach different conclusions to a specific economic or policy problem.
- Quantitative Reasoning: ECON students will understand how to apply empirical evidence to economic arguments. Specifically, they may obtain and/or collect relevant data, develop empirical evidence using appropriate statistical techniques, and interpret the results of such analyses.
- Specialized Knowledge and Practical Application: ECON students will develop deeper analytical, critical, and quantitative skills in specialized areas by applying economic concepts to real world situations.
- Interdisciplinary Knowledge, Diverse Issues, and Global Consciousness: ECON students will broaden their global and disciplinary knowledge, enhancing their understanding of the world around them both within economics and beyond.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Economics
Department of Economics website
Economics faculty
Economics advising
Overview of College Admissions & Requirements: Liberal Arts & Sciences