2026-2027 Course Catalog
Source: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/economics-balas/ Parent: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences in Economics
Students in the Economics major learn about central issues and analytical concepts in economics, including consumer choice, profit-maximization, banking and finance, healthcare, education, fiscal and monetary policy, abstract economic modeling, and data analysis for economics. The major is customizable to students’ interests based on the variety of advanced economics electives offered every semester in each of three fields: microeconomics, which explores how people and firms consume and produce goods and services; macroeconomics, which explores countries’ economic growth, fiscal and monetary policy, and international trade; and econometrics, which are quantitative methods for analyzing data. This latter field also includes mathematical modeling of economic behavior. Economics graduates can apply these skills in nearly every field, from banking and finance to environmental issues to healthcare, education, and government.
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 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.
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.
Minimum hours 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 courses in the major must be taken on this campus.
University Requirements
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Composition I | | 4-6 | | Advanced Composition | | 3 | | Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | | 6 | | Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | | 6 | | Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | | 6 | | fulfilled by ECON 102 and ECON 103 | | | | Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | | 6-10 | | fulfilled by ECON 202, MATH 220 or MATH 221, MATH 231 | | | | Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English, or completion of the third semester in two different languages other than English is required) | | 0-20 |
Major Requirements
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Economics Courses including: | | 30 | | ECON 102 | Microeconomic Principles | | | ECON 103 | Macroeconomic Principles | | | ECON 198 | Economics at Illinois | | | ECON 202 | Economic Statistics I | | | ECON 203 | Economic Statistics II | | | ECON 302 | Inter Microeconomic Theory | | | ECON 303 | Inter Macroeconomic Theory | | | 11 additional hours of economics at the 300- or 400-level 1 | | | | Mathematics: | | 7-8 | | MATH 220 | Calculus | | | or MATH 221 | Calculus I | | | MATH 231 | 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 |
1 : Excluding ECON 398 and ECON 399.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences 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 |
| Free Elective course | 1 |
| ECON 102 or 103 | 3 |
| MATH 220 or 221 | 4 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 |
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| General Education course | 3 |
| ECON 103 or 102 | 3 |
| MATH 231 | 3 |
| General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| Language Other Than English (4th level) | 4 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| ECON 202 | 3 |
| ECON 198 | 1 |
| Supporting Coursework | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 13 | |
| Total Hours 13 |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| ECON 203 | 3 |
| ECON 302 | 3 |
| Supporting Coursework | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| ECON 303 | 3 |
| ECON 300-400 level course | 3 |
| Supporting Coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| ECON 300-400 level course | 3 |
| ECON 300-400 level course | 3 |
| Supporting Coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| ECON 300-400 level course | 2 |
| Supporting Coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 4 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| Supporting Coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
Total Hours: 120
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences 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 in Economics
Department of Economics
Economics faculty\ Economics advising
Overview of College Admissions & Requirements: Liberal Arts & Sciences