Learn from one of the most renowned economics departments in the world.
Economics is the study of how people make choices under conditions of scarcity and the results of those choices for society. The Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in the College of Letters & Science provides students the opportunity to develop knowledge of economics principles along with the skills to apply this knowledge.
Founded in 1903, the Department of Economics is well-known for being at the forefront of economics research, for its excellence in teaching, and for the prominent role that its faculty members and alumni play in influencing economic policy. Economics is one of the largest teaching and research departments at UC Berkeley, and has consistently been ranked among the top five economics departments in the world.
Highlights
- Join the Undergraduate Economics Association and other student groups.
- Gain an international view of Economics with study abroad.
- Challenge yourself with an honors thesis in Economics.
- Publish your work in the Berkeley Economic Review.
Curriculum
The Economics undergraduate curriculum is designed to provide students with a robust understanding of economic principles, as well as skills in critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, problem solving, specialized knowledge, communication, and lifelong learning. Students begin with foundational courses in calculus, microeconomics, and macroeconomics, followed by upper division coursework in intermediate economic theory and econometrics. Students tailor their studies through elective courses covering diverse economic topics such as development economics, international trade, and public economics.
Students planning to go to graduate school should take more quantitative courses than the minimum required for the major, and participate in research as an undergraduate including writing an honors thesis during their senior year.
Learn more at econ.berkeley.edu/undergrad
Course Snapshot
You will have access to a broad array of courses in the Economics undergraduate program. Examples include:
ECON C110 Game Theory
ECON 119 Psychology and Economics
ECON 121 Industrial Organization and Public Policy
ECON 133 Global Inequality and Growth
ECON 152 Wage Theory and Policy
ECON 157 Health Economics
ECON C181 International Trade
Declaring the Major
The Economics major is admission-based and students must meet the following requirements to declare the Economics major:
- Grades
- Prerequisite courses completion
- Apply within their eligibility window
Requirements differ for students who enter as freshmen and students who enter as transfers. All students pursuing the Economics major are encouraged to plan for an alternate major. We recommend meeting with an advisor in the College of Letters and Science to discuss alternate major options.
There is no limit to what you can do with a BA in Economics. Program alumni work in fields such as engineering, consulting, finance, and technology. They also pursue advanced degrees in business administration, computer science, economics, and finance, while others attain professional degrees such as accounting and law. Alumni also pursue post-graduate opportunities such as professional fellowships and public service programs.
UC Berkeley offers a number of career resources for students studying Economics. The Social Sciences Career Readiness Internship Program helps prepare students for internships and the job market. The College of Letters & Science offers advising for undergraduates pursuing medical or health professions programs, law school, or masters and PhD programs. Additionally, Berkeley Career Engagement provides career counseling, professional and graduate school advising, job and internship listings, and events such as career and graduate school fairs.
Employment
Alumni find employment in a variety of fields and industries after graduation. Examples include:
- Attorney
- Auditor
- Business Analyst
- Consultant
- Data Analyst
- Economic Analyst
- Financial Analyst
- Investment Banking Analyst
- Photo Artist
- Product Manager
- Professor
- Public Relations Director
- Research Director
- Software Engineer
- Stock Analyst
Graduate Study
Alumni pursue graduate education to gain more depth of knowledge in their field as well as prepare for jobs that require advanced degrees. Examples include:
- Accounting
- Business Administration
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Economics
- Education
- Finance
- Law
- Public Policy
- Statistics
Shrinidhi, class of 2024
Shrinidhi Gopal graduated with a double major in Economics and Data Science, and is a product manager at Palo Alto Networks.
How did double-majoring in Economics and Data Science prepare you? Economics in particular taught me how to think critically about trade-offs, incentives and how people make decisions—which has been super relevant as a product manager. A lot of the work comes down to understanding what users need, prioritizing limited resources and making thoughtful choices based on data and context.
What is your advice to other recent Cal grads? Don’t be afraid to apply to roles that you feel like you don't have a ton of experience in....Just try to shoot for the moon, even if you miss you’ll land among the stars.
First Year
Plan Your Studies
- Start exploring with L&S 1 and the L&S New Freshman Student Guide.
- Visit L&S Advising for help with major exploration and degree requirements.
- Familiarize yourself with the Economics major; check out sample program plans and begin lower division calculus (MATH 51 + 52 or 16A + 16B), electives, and ECON 1 or 2. (If interested in honors or a PhD in Economics, take ECON 2.)
- Join Berkeley Connect for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
- Consider a Freshman Seminar, Changemaker, or DeCal course.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Join a student organization like the Undergraduate Economics Association.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
- Familiarize yourself with tutoring services for core courses in the major.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major.
- Begin making a plan to get career ready.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
Second Year
Plan Your Studies
- Meet with your major and college advisor to discuss your academic plans.
- Enroll in intermediate economics theory courses (ECON 100A/101A , ECON 100B/101B, and intro to statistics); take ECON 101A + B if interested in honors or a PhD in Economics.
- Look into study abroad; see guidelines from the department and options for Economics abroad.
- Verify you have completed or are in process with major prerequisites, and apply to the major.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend department events such as Economics Seminars.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Explore research opportunities on the OURS and Economics websites; apply to URAP to work on a faculty research project.
- Browse grants from the Center for Race and Gender and Institute for the Study of Societal Issues.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields; look into the Social Sciences Career Readiness Internship Program.
- Browse graduate school resources from the Graduate Division, L&S Advising, Economics, and BCE; look into the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship.
Third Year
Plan Your Studies
- Enroll in an econometrics course (ECON 140/141) and begin upper division electives; take ECON 141 if interested in honors, research, or a PhD in Economics.
- Review your degree progress with your major and college advisor.
- Spend a term off-campus through UCDC or the Intercampus Visitor Program.
- Consider applying to the Economics Honors Program; look into the Haas Scholars and SURF programs.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Help other students as an Economics Peer Advisor.
- Check out the Public Service Internship, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by facilitating your own DeCal course.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
- Join a professional association such as the American Economic Association.
- Interested in public service careers? Consider applying to the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, or Truman Scholarship.
Fourth Year
Plan Your Studies
- Finish all upper division requirements and electives.
- Enrich your studies with a certificate or minor such as Global Poverty and Practice or Data Science.
- Develop your writing and critical thinking in an Art of Writing seminar.
- Join a thesis writing workshop at the Student Learning Center.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Get published! Submit your work to the Berkeley Economic Review or Berkeley Undergraduate Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Connect with alumni groups such as UC Berkeley Economics.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs.
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Learn about alumni career services.
Summer
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course like ECON 1, 100A, or 100B.
- Go abroad through UCEAP or Berkeley Study Abroad.
- Join the AEA Summer Training and Scholarship Program if considering a PhD in Economics.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate—check out programs in Data Science and Sustainability.
- Consider a summer internship with Cal in the Capital, Cal in Sacramento, or Berkeley Global Internships.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
First Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Get your bearings with L&S 198 Transitioning to Cal and the L&S New Transfer Student Guide.
- Review info for transfer students and sample program plans; meet with your major and college advisor to discuss your academic plans.
- Join Berkeley Connect for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
- Verify you have completed or are in process with major prerequisites (including intro to statistics and one course from intermediate economics theory), and apply to the major.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Join a student organization like the Undergraduate Economics Association.
- Connect with the Transfer Student Center or Re-entry Student Program.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
- Familiarize yourself with tutoring services for core courses in the major.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
- Apply to the Social Sciences Career Readiness Internship Program.
Second Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Complete remaining two courses from intermediate economics theory; if interested in honors or a PhD in Economics, we recommend the quantitative versions (e.g. ECON 101A/101B/141).
- Look into study abroad; see guidelines from the department and options for Economics abroad.
- Explore new interests in a Berkeley Changemaker or DeCal course.
- Consider applying to the Economics Honors Program; look into the Haas Scholars and SURF programs.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend department events such as Economics Seminars.
- Check out the Public Service Internship, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Explore research opportunities on the OURS and Economics websites; apply to URAP to work on a faculty research project.
- Browse grants from the Center for Race and Gender and Institute for the Study of Societal Issues.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields.
- Browse graduate school resources from the Graduate Division, L&S Advising, Economics, and BCE.
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
Third Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Enroll in upper division electives.
- Review your degree progress with your major and college advisor.
- Develop your writing and critical thinking in an Art of Writing seminar.
- Spend a term off-campus through UCDC or the Intercampus Visitor Program.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Help other students as an Economics Peer Advisor or Transfer Peer Advocate.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by facilitating your own DeCal course.
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Join a professional association such as the American Economic Association.
- Interested in public service careers? Consider applying to the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, or Truman Scholarship.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs.
Fourth Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Finish all upper division requirements and electives.
- Enrich your studies with a certificate or minor such as Global Poverty and Practice or Data Science.
- Join a thesis writing workshop at the Student Learning Center.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Get published! Submit your work to the Berkeley Economic Review or Berkeley Undergraduate Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Connect with alumni groups such as UC Berkeley Economics.
- Learn about alumni career services.
Summer
- Get ready for Berkeley with RHETOR 100 Writing at the University.
- Thinking about a PhD? Apply to the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship before your first semester.
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course like ECON 100A, 100B, or 140.
- Go abroad through UCEAP or Berkeley Study Abroad.
- Join the AEA Summer Training and Scholarship Program if considering a PhD in Economics.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate—check out programs in Data Science and Sustainability.
- Consider a summer internship with Cal in the Capital, Cal in Sacramento, or Berkeley Global Internships.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
Undergraduate Advising
Have questions about Economics or the College of Letters & Science?
The Department of Economics offers undergraduate advising for students planning to major in Economics. Peer Advisors are available on a drop-in basis to help with course selection and schedule planning for the major, navigating campus and department resources, making advising appointments, and sharing their experiences in the major. Undergraduate Advisors are available for drop-in and appointment advising on major requirements and admission policies, scheduling and course selection, academic and career goals, and academic difficulty issues. For advising schedules and location, visit econ.berkeley.edu or email ugrad@econ.berkeley.edu.
The College of Letters & Science helps students with non-major-specific academic topics, including major exploration, general program planning, finding campus resources, and pre-professional graduate programs. L&S College Advisors are available for in-person and virtual meetings. Visit lsadvising.berkeley.edu or email asklns@berkeley.edu.
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