# 2025-2026 General Catalog

**Source**: https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/departments-programs-degrees/economics/economics-ab/
**Parent**: https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/departments-programs-degrees/#programsanddegreestext

[Office & Contact Information](https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/departments-programs-degrees/economics/)

The Department of Economics at UC Davis trains students from diverse backgrounds in pursuit of solutions to society’s most pressing economic problems using research and interdisciplinary ideas at the frontier of knowledge.

## The Program

Economics majors all complete core courses that include principles, intermediate theory, quantitative methods and economic history. In addition to these core courses, students are free to take a variety of classes according to their own individual interests across the discipline. Some students choose to specialize in behavior and strategy, data analytics and economic analysis, economic history, international macro-finance, policy, or poverty and inequality.

### Major Advisors

Contact Department office at [eheadvisingcenter@ucdavis.edu](mailto:eheadvisingcenter@ucdavis.edu) or 530-752-9142.

### Internships & Career Alternatives

Internships for economics majors have been arranged at banks, brokerages, other business enterprises, and governmental units. The internships must complement the student's course work. A degree in economics is excellent preparation for students who want to go on to law school, business school, advanced work in economics, or graduate work in international relations. It is also a good background for careers in management and positions with the government.

### Course Limits

Students are expected to take [ECN 100A](https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/search/?P=ECN%20100A "ECN 100A"), [ECN 100B](https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/search/?P=ECN%20100B "ECN 100B"), and [ECN 101](https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/search/?P=ECN%20101 "ECN 101") at UC Davis.

Students may receive one specialization only for the major.

Except under extraordinary circumstances, not more than two economics courses should be taken in any one quarter. In special cases, the department will accept a limited number of related upper division courses from other departments in satisfaction of the economics upper division course requirements. Approval from a departmental advisor is required in all such cases.

Graduation with High or Highest Honors. To be eligible for departmental recommendation for High or Highest Honors in Economics at graduation, a student must take all upper division courses in Economics for a letter grade, earn at least a 3.500 grade point average in those courses, and complete at least eight units of course work that result in the submission of an Honors project. Consult the College of Letters and Science section of this catalog and contact the Department for more information.

### Study Abroad

The Economics Department wishes to accommodate students who would like to complement their economics degree with a study abroad experience. Up to 20 units of upper division credit from foreign campuses (excluding  [ECN 100A](https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/search/?P=ECN%20100A "ECN 100A"), [ECN 100B](https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/search/?P=ECN%20100B "ECN 100B"), and [ECN 101](https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/search/?P=ECN%20101 "ECN 101")) may be used towards the completion of the degree. To ensure that foreign courses will apply towards the economics degree, students need to select courses from the pre-approved list at the UC Davis Study Abroad office or seek pre-approval in the economics department for the foreign courses they wish to complete.

### Recommended

Students considering graduate study in economics are strongly urged to take [MAT 021A](https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/search/?P=MAT%20021A "MAT 021A")-[MAT 021B](https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/search/?P=MAT%20021B "MAT 021B")-[MAT 021C](https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/search/?P=MAT%20021C "MAT 021C") and [MAT 022A](https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/search/?P=MAT%20022A "MAT 022A").

### American History & Institutions

This University requirement can be satisfied by completion of [ECN 111A](https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/search/?P=ECN%20111A "ECN 111A"), [ECN 111B](https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/search/?P=ECN%20111B "ECN 111B"); see also under [Bachelor’s Degree Requirements](https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/undergraduate-education/university-degree-requirements/american-history-institutions-requirement/).

## Graduate Study

Students who meet the admission requirements of Graduate Studies and the Department of Economics may pursue studies leading to M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. Fields of emphasis for graduate study include: Microeconomic Theory, Macroeconomic Theory, Econometrics, Economic Development, Economic History, Industrial Organization, International Economics, Labor Economics and Public Economics. For information on admission to graduate study, degree requirements, and financial aid, consult the Graduate Announcement and [Department of Economics](https://www.econ.ucdavis.edu/graduate-program).

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