Through the study of economics, students learn how to look at a complex world and make sense of the wide variety of behaviors they observe. Students majoring in economics learn the analytical skills used to understand how households, firms and governments make economic decisions, comparing costs and benefits in an effort to maximize their impact.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.
Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan
Overview
Students will learn the critical skills used to determine the implications of economic decisions for the allocation of society's scarce resources, the pricing of goods and services, the distribution of income, the behavior of macroeconomic variables, and the effect of government intervention.
Classes within the economics major include, among others, international trade, law and economics, economics of sports, game theory, and public choice. The analytical skills students develop are useful preparation for careers in business, law, government, public policy and academia. A degree in economics is also appropriate for students intending to pursue advanced degrees in the social sciences and in professional schools.
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Coursework for the Major
The major requires 37-39 credits. Students must achieve minimum grades of C in each required foundation and economics course, including the economics electives and outside substitutes.
Required Foundation Coursework
- MAC 2233 Survey of Calculus or
MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1, 3-4 credits
- STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1, 3 credits
- ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics, 4 credits
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics, 4 credits
ECO 3101 Intermediate Microeconomics *, 4 credits, and
ECO 3203 Intermediate Macroeconomics, 4 credits
* Complete ECO 3101 early in the sequence, because it is a prerequisite for some economics electives.
Required Upper-Level Coursework
Four economics elective courses (defined as any 3000 or 4000 level course with an ECO, ECP, or ECS prefix; not including ECO 3101, ECO 3203, ECO 4905, or ECO 4941), 15-16 credits. Course prerequisites are strictly enforced.
Students may also take one of the following as part of the 15-16 credits of electives:
- AEB 3450 Introduction to Natural Resource and Environmental Economics
- AEB 4931 Agricultural Macroeconomics
- FIN 3403 Business Finance
- GEO 3502 Economic Geography
This substitute cannot double count toward the CLAS 3000-level elective requirement.
Recommended Coursework
Students planning to pursue graduate study in economics should consider a minor in mathematics or statistics or take the following mathematics and statistics courses:
- ECO 4934 Econometrics or STA 4210 Regression Analysis
- MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1, MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2, and MAC 2313 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3
- MAP 2302 Differential Equations
- MAS 3114 Computational Linear Algebra or MAS 4105 Linear Algebra 1
- STA 4321 Introduction to Probability and STA 4322 Introduction to Statistics Theory.
Students taking advanced statistics might not be required to take STA 2023.
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Overseas Studies
Students are encouraged to spend a semester abroad. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the International Center offer several excellent study abroad programs that allow students the opportunity to go abroad and still make progress toward their degree. Contact an academic or study abroad advisor for more information.
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Research
Working on research can be a valuable part of an undergraduate education. There are a limited number of spots for undergraduates to work with a faculty member on research and/or assist with a class. Students should ask their professors about this possibility; however, before doing so, students should have completed ECO 3101 and at least one economics elective. Students selected for these limited positions must have very strong economics grades. More formally, ECO 4935 Honors Empirical Research, is available to honors students and seniors who have high grades and are interested in research and/or graduating with honors.
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Critical Tracking
Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.
For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
Semester 2
- Complete 1 of 4 courses from ECO 2013, ECO 2023, MAC 2233 and STA 2023 with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA, excluding ECO 3101
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete 1 additional course of the 4 with a 2.75 critical-tracking GPA, excluding ECO 3101
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete 2 additional courses of the 4 with a 3.0 critical-tracking GPA, excluding
ECO 3101
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete ECO 3101 with a minimum grade of C
- Maintain a 3.0 critical-tracking GPA, excluding ECO 3101
- 2.0 UF GPA required
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Model Semester Plan
Students are expected to complete the writing requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another general education course (typically, GE-C, H or S).
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.
This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.
| Semester 1 |
Credits |
|---|
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics
GE-S |
4 |
IUF 1000 What is the Good Life
GE-H |
3 |
Composition
State Core GE-C; WR |
3 |
| Foreign language |
4-5 |
| Total |
14-15 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1
GE-M |
3 |
Biological or Physical Science
Area not taken in semester 2; GE-B or P |
3 |
Elective
Or foreign language if 4-3-3 option |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
Humanities
State Core GE-H |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
Composition
GE-C; WR |
3 |
| Electives |
6 |
Humanities
GE-H |
3 |
Physical Science
GE-P |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
ECO 3101 Intermediate Microeconomics
GE-S |
4 |
Biological Science
GE-B |
3 |
| Electives |
9 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
Economics courses
Two at 3000 level or above |
8 |
| Elective |
3 |
Electives
3000 level or above, not in major |
6 |
| Total |
17 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| ECO 3203 Intermediate Macroeconomics |
4 |
Economics course
3000 level or above |
4 |
Electives
3000 level or above, not in major |
6 |
| Total |
14 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
Economics course
One at 3000 level or above |
4 |
| Electives |
5 |
Electives
3000 level or above, not in major |
6 |
| Total |
15 |
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