Economics
College of Social and Behavioral Science
28
Average
Class Size
378
Declared
Majors
Bennion
Center
Capstones
Program
Learning Abroad
Office of
Undergraduate Research
Courses
Getting Started
- Take ECON 2010 or ECON 2020 to learn foundational topics and satisfy a Gen Ed requirement
- Complete college algebra (MATH 1050 or MATH 1090) to get a head start
- Consider a learning community: LEAP or Honors College
Making Progress
- Enroll in upper division ECON courses to study the labor market, current economic problems, and investigate trade with China
- Add classes for second majors or minors into your schedule to diversify your degree path
- Check out the Statistical Analysis Emphasis or Business Economics & Analytics Emphasis as an option to customize your degree and add a quantitative edge
- Continue with major, minors, upper division general education, and requirements planned in your road map
Finishing Up
- Take relevant grad school prerequisites or entrance exams
- Meet with your advisor to review graduation requirements and apply for graduation the semester before you plan to graduate
Community
Getting Started
- Attend CSBS Welcome Week and the Get Involved Fair to learn about student groups
- Meet with an Involvement Ambassador and join at least one student group
- Follow ECON, CSBS and other campus groups on Instagram and Twitter to stay informed (@econuofu)
Making Progress
- Attend ECON dept events, like panel discussions with the Hinckley Institute to connect what you’re learning to the real world
- Knock on the door of faculty and get to know them better. Faculty are great mentors for your educational and career pathways
- Consider a leadership role within a student group to develop valuable leadership experience
- Attend or create a study group with your peers
Finishing Up
- Join the Alumni Association to stay connected to the U and give back
- Email your favorite ECON instructor or advisor and let them know what you are doing
Knowledge & Skills
Getting Started
- Consider a second major, minor, or certificate; attend major exploration events
- Use the degree audit system regularly to track your progress
- Utilize support resources like the Marriott Library’s Knowledge Commons, the Writing Center, and Learning Center
Making Progress
- Choose electives that align with potential career paths
- Explore research opportunities through OUR, and attend its Education Series
- Take UGS 2950 University Research Experience to learn about the research process and its role in multiple disciplines
- Explore internship opportunities at the Hinckley Institute or CSBS Internships
Finishing Up
- Create an ePortfolio to showcase and archive your most significant learning as an undergraduate student
Transformation
Getting Started
- Identify ECON courses that interest you and meet with an advisor to explore your interests
- Explore programs like Solution Scholars, Bennion Center Scholars, and Learning Abroad to engage and make connections
Making Progress
- Create a four-year roadmap to customize and to complete a degree, and adjust as needed
- Apply for an award or scholarship through CSBS or the ECON department
- Schedule an appointment with a coach from the Financial Wellness Center for help budget ing while you’re in school
- Conduct research with a faculty mentor; apply for an award through UROP
Finishing Up
- Complete pre-professional requirements (leadership, research, community service, etc.)
- Participate in commencement and convocation ceremonies to celebrate completing your undergraduate degree
Impact
Getting Started
- Consider taking a Community Engaged Learning (CEL) course
- Participate in a Legacy of Lowell service day hosted by the Bennion Center
Making Progress
- Apply to be an ECON Ambassador or join the Women in ECON Student Group and cultivate a stronger sense of community within the ECON Department
- Apply to be a CSBS Ambassador, a peer mentor, or Solutions Scholar
- Volunteer in the community with organizations that align with your personal or professional interests
- Go on a spring or fall Alternative Break trip
Finishing Up
- Present or publish your research (independently or with a faculty mentor)
- Write a capstone project or honors thesis based on your CEL, learning abroad, or internship experiences
Careers
Getting Started
- Meet with your career coach in the CPDC to identify your professional interests
- Take UGS 1950- Career Exploration to learn about the career development process
- Consider taking a career exploration course such as SBS 2700
- Create LinkedIn and Handshake profiles
Making Progress
- Take advantage of CPDC tools and resources
- Draft a resume and continue to update it throughout your degree
- Conduct informational interviews with professionals to explore career possibilities
- Complete a local, national, or international internship through the Hinckley Institute or through CSBS Internships to learn to apply your education
- Attend Career Fairs hosted by the CPDC to make connections with future employers
Finishing Up
- Take UGS 3950 - Job and Internship Search to learn career development strategies
- Meet with a career coach to practice interviewing and salary negotiation
- Apply for grad school or a job at least 6 months before graduation
- Visit the Financial Wellness Center and create a budget for after graduation
Start Your Career Journey
Find support at the Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC)
About the Major
The economy is a social system that serves the purpose of production and distribution of goods and services. Economists study these systems, focusing on issues related to decision-making in governments, social and economic institutions, firms and industries. Our world is shaped in a fundamental way by economic forces. High unemployment, financial uncertainty, and the delivery of healthcare present great challenges for all of us. The environmental impact of economic activity is becoming ever more apparent, and sustainable solutions urgently need implementation. Studying economics will facilitate a deeper understanding of these challenges and give you tools to help solve these problems.
An education in economics will prepare you for many careers. Economics majors earn higher starting salaries than students who major in any other social science field. At the University of Utah, most of our graduates move directly into the labor market, entering fields like investment banking, financial services, health care administration, and market research, as well as public-sector and non-profit work. About one-third of our recent majors have gone directly into graduate or professional school, with many of them entering prestigious programs.
An education in economics will prepare you for many careers. Economics majors earn higher starting salaries than students who major in any other social science field. At the University of Utah, most of our graduates move directly into the labor market, entering fields like investment banking, financial services, health care administration, and market research, as well as public-sector and non-profit work. About one-third of our recent majors have gone directly into graduate or professional school, with many of them entering prestigious programs.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the world – our societies, institutions therein, and connections to the natural world – through the lens of economic theory.
- Acquire the crucial skills to think critically and communicate effectively, and in the process hone writing and presentation skills.
- Develop skills in scientific reasoning, including quantitative literacy to describe and analyze the society and economy with mathematical and statistical tools.
- Apply economic theory and gain knowledge of the role of policy in a variety of areas, including within current debates concerning inequality, globalization and sustainability.
Plan & Prepare
At the U, we plan for our students to have an exceptional Educational Experience identified by four broad categories we call the Learning Framework: Community, Knowledge & Skills, Transformation, and Impact. This major map will help you envision, explore, design, and plan your personalized Exceptional Education Experience with the Learning Framework at the core. In addition to assisting you in planning your coursework and navigating the requirements of your major, this map will help you incorporate other kinds of experiences to expand your knowledge, support your development, and prepare you for the future you want.