University of Oregon Department of Economics

Undergraduate Studies

Economics addresses the problem of using scarce resources to satisfy society's unlimited wants. The discipline is divided into two general areas--microeconomics and macroeconomics. Microeconomics explores questions about the way society allocates resources; it applies to public policy in such areas as urban, industrial organization, and labor economics. Macroeconomics considers such questions as the causes of inflation and unemployment; it applies to such areas as monetary development and international economics.

The Department of Economics offers an undergraduate major leading to a bachelor's degree. Undergraduate courses in economics provide broad knowledge of the field as a part of the program of liberal education offered by the College of Arts and Sciences. They also lay a solid foundation in economics to students interested in professional graduate training in economics or in careers in business, law, government, or journalism.

For more detailed information students are encouraged to inquire at the department office.

Preparation. Suggested preparation for freshmen is four years of high school mathematics. Prospective majors are strongly urged to satisfy part of their science group requirement with an introductory calculus sequence and the combination of mathematics and computer and information science required for the bachelor of science degree, to be taken in the freshman or sophomore year. Suggested preparation for second-year college transfers is (1) the equivalents of Introduction to Economic Analysis: Microeconomics (EC 201) and Introduction to Economic Analysis: Macroeconomics (EC 202) and (2) the equivalents of either Calculus for Business and Social Science I,II (MATH 241, 242) or Calculus I,II,III (MATH 251, 252, 253) as well as Introduction to Methods of Probability and Statistics (MATH 243). Student considering graduate school are urged to take MATH 251, 252, 253.

Undergraduate Resources. Rooms 405-407 in Prince Lucien Campbell Hall house the economics undergraduate resource center. Close to the department's main office and to faculty and graduate teaching fellow offices, this area has facilities for study-group meetings, research, and consultation with peer advisers. Its convenient location makes it easy to reach between classes or while waiting to see a faculty member. The undergraduate study room and peer-advising facility houses information on graduate schools, internships, career opportunities, and graduation requirements. This information is expanded on the peer advisers' web page; follow the links on the department's website. The resource room, which contains four computers that are networked to university computing facilities, contains another study area.

Online Courses. Three economics courses are offered online -- Introduction to Economic Analysis: Microeconomics (EC 201), Introduction to Economics Analysis: Macroeconomics (EC 202), and International Economic Issues (EC 380). These courses are self-paced; the examinations are administered in the Social Sciences Instructional Laboratory for on-campus students and online for off-campus students. The courses, which must be completed within a standard ten-week term, are open to enrolled and community-education students and to high school students who want accredited university course work. More information is available from the department.

Careers. Career opportunities in economics are found in federal, state, and local government agencies; private industry; various nonprofit organizations; and journalism. A bachelor's degree in economics provides an excellent background for graduate admission in law, business, and public policy. Students with superior undergraduate academic records frequently go on to graduate work in economics, which leads to careers in higher education, economic research organizations in government, and private industry.

Major Requirements

Introduction to Economic Analysis: Microeconomics (EC 201) and Introduction to Economic Analysis: Macroeconomics (EC 202). Should be completed by the end of the sophomore year.
Calculus for Business and Social Science I,II (MATH 241, 242) or Calculus I,II (MATH 251, 252). Should be completed by the end of the sophomore year.
Introduction to Methods of Probability and Statistics (MATH 243) or Econometrics (EC 423) for students who have completed MATH 253. Should be completed by the end of the sophomore year.
Intermediate Microeconomic Theory (EC 311) and Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory (EC 313) or Advanced Microeconomic Theory (EC 411) and Advanced Macroeconomic Theory (EC 413). Should be completed by the end of the junior year.
Introduction to Econometrics (EC 420, 421) or Econometrics (EC 423, 424, with 425 also recommended). Should be completed by the end of the junior year.
Additional 28 credits in economics courses numbered 300 or above, with at least 20 credits in courses numbered 400 or above. At least 12 of the 28 credits must be taken at this university, and no more than 8 of the 28 may be in courses numbered 401, 404, 405, or 408.
Grades of C- or better in courses taken to satisfy the major requirements. Exceptions are courses offered P/N only -- EC 401, 404, 405, and 408. No more than 8 credits graded P/N may be applied to the economics major.

Professional Concentrations

Given the breadth of a degree in economics, students are encouraged to choose one or more professional concentrations that are consistent with their career goals. Suggested course work for seven professional concentrations is described below. Sample programs for each concentration, descriptions of career possibilities, and recommendations for additional preparation are available in the undergraduate resource center and the department office.

Business Economics--Banking and Finance

Complete major requirements including

Money and Banking (EC 370) or Monetary Policy (EC 470)
Issues in Industrial Organization (EC 360), Theories of Industrial Organization (EC 460), Industrial Organization and Public Policy (EC 461), or Multinational Corporations (EC 484)
International Economic Issues(EC 380) or International Finance (EC 480), or International Trade (EC 481)

Complete a minor or approved equivalent in business administration

Business Economics--Management, Marketing, and Accounting

Complete major requirements including

Labor Market Issues (EC 350) or Labor Economics (EC 450)
Urban and Regional Economics (EC 430), Economy of the Pacific Northwest (EC 432), or Public Economics (EC 440)
Issues in Industrial Organization (EC 360), Theories of Industrial Organization (EC 460), Industrial Organization and Public Policy (EC 461), or Multinational Corporations (EC 484)

Complete a minor or approved equivalent in business administration

Economics and Public Policy and Administration

Complete major requirements including

Issues in Public Economics (EC 340) or Public Economics (EC 440)
Urban and Regional Economics (EC 430) or Economy of the Pacific Northwest (EC 432)
Issues in Industrial Organization (EC 360), Theories of Industrial Organization (EC 460), Industrial Organization and Public Policy (EC 461), or Multinational Corporations (EC 484)
Labor Market Issues (EC 350) or Labor Economics (EC 450).

Complete a minor or equivalent in political science or planning, public policy and management

Environmental Economics

Complete major requirements including

Resource and Environmental Economic Issues (EC 333) or Resource and Environmental Economics (EC 433)
Issues in Public Economics (EC 340) or Public Economics(EC 440)
Issues in Industrial Organization (EC 360), Theories of Industrial Organization (EC 460) or Industrial Organization and Public Policy (EC 461)

Complete the environmental studies minor or an approved equivalent

Graduate Preparation in Economics and Mathematical Economics

Complete major requirements including

Advanced Microeconomic Theory (EC 411) and Advanced Macroeconomic Theory (EC 413)
Calculus I,II (MATH 251, 252)
Econometrics (EC 423, 424)
Games and Decisions (EC 427) or Behavioral and Experimental Economics (EC428)

Complete a minor in mathematics

International and Development Economics

Complete major requirements including

International Finance (EC 480) and International Trade (EC 481)
Problems and Issues in the Developing Economies (EC 390), or Economic Growth and Development (EC 490), or Issues in Economic Growth and Development (EC 491)
Issues in Industrial Organization (EC 360) or Theories in Industrial Organization (EC 460) or Multinational Corporations (EC 484)
Money and Banking (EC 370) or Monetary Policy (EC 470)

Complete a minor or the equivalent in business administration, political science, history, international studies, or an area studies program

Law and Economics and Political Economy

Complete major requirements including

Issues in Public Economics (EC 340) or Public Economics (EC 440)
Labor Market Issues (EC 350) or Labor Economics (EC 450)
Issues in Industrial Organization (EC 360), Theories of Industrial Organization (EC 460), Industrial Organization and Public Policy (EC 461), or Multinational Corporations (EC 484)
International Economics (EC 380) or International Trade (EC 481)
Games and Decisions (EC 427)

Complete a minor or equivalent in political science

Departmental Honors

Qualified students may apply to graduate with honors in economics. Two requirements must be met:

Completion of upper-division economics courses with at least a 3.50 grade point average.
Completion of a research paper, written under the guidance of a faculty member, for 4 credits in Research (EC 401). A copy of the completed paper, approved by the faculty adviser, must be presented to the department by Friday of the week before final examinations during the term the student plans to graduate.

Students who intend to satisfy these requirements should notify the director of undergraduate studies early in the term in which they intend to graduate.

Minor Requirements

A minor in economics requires 24 credits distributed as follows:

Introduction to Economic Analysis: Microeconomics (EC 201)	4
Introduction to Economic Analysis: Macroeconomics (EC 202)	4
Intermediate Microeconomic Theory (EC 311)	4
Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory (EC 313)	4
Two additional upper-division 4-credit courses in economics	8
Total	24

Two of the four upper-division 4-credit courses must be taken freom the UO economics department. All courses applied to the economics minor must be completed with grades of C- or better.

Kindergarten through Secondary Teaching Careers

Students who complete a degree in economics are eligible to apply to the College of Education's fifth-year licensure program in middle-secondary teaching or the fifth-year licensure program in elementary teaching. More information is available in the College of Education Section of the UO catalog.