2103 University Hall (UH)
(312) 996-2683
uicecon@web.econ.uic.edu
http://www.uic.edu/cba/cba-depts/economics/
Administration: Head of the Department, Barry R. Chiswick
Undergraduate Programs, 1118 UH
Director of Undergraduate Studies, Evelyn L. Lehrer
The Department of Economics offers a Bachelor of Science in Economics degree for students in the College of Business Administration. The program provides instruction on economic institutions and a rigorous foundation in the analytical tools and applied areas of economics, relying on mathematical and statistical techniques. Students learn how the price system operates; how consumers, firms, and government institutions allocate scarce resources; and the determinants of national output, inflation, unemployment, economic growth, and international trade. Laws, regulations, and institutions that influence economic activity are also studied. After learning the basic tools of microeconomics and macroeconomics in the introductory courses, students go on to study various applied areas of economics in the more advanced courses.
The program provides a strong grounding for many careers in banking, insurance, service and manufacturing firms, labor unions, business associations, government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations. It also gives an excellent background to students who intend to continue their education. In particular, it provides a solid preparation for law school, an MBA program, and graduate studies in economics, business, public administration, and public policy.
Students are encouraged to contact the director of undergraduate studies of the Economics Department for further information on the field of economics and career options for economics majors.
Note: Beginning with the Spring 2009 semester, students planning to major in Economics should apply to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ BA with a Major in Economics program. The College of Business Administration is no longer accepting applications to the BS in Economics program.
To earn a Bachelor of Science in Economics degree from UIC, students need to complete University, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Economics degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Business Administration section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
| BS in Economics Degree Requirements | Hours |
| General Course Requirements | 60 |
| Business Core | 33 |
| Major Requirements | 18 |
| Business Electives | 9 |
| Total Hours—BS in Economics | 120 |
General Course Requirements
See General Course Requirements in the College of Business Administration section for the list of courses needed to meet this requirement.
Business Core
See Business Core in the College of Business Administration section for the list of courses needed to meet this requirement.Major Requirements
| Courses | Hours |
| ECON 221—Macroeconomics in the World Economy: Theory and Applications | 3 |
| Fifteen hours of 300- or 400-level economics courses | 15 |
| Total Hours—Major Requirements | 18 |
Students may choose any 300- or 400-level courses (except ECON 441 and 442) for the 15 hours required above. The groups of courses at the end of this section are offered as guidance to students who may have an interest in one of the career/educational paths shown below.
Economics majors are required to take ECON 346—Econometrics to fulfill the Advanced Quantitative Skills requirement and this course does not count as one of the five elective 300- or 400-level courses. Economics majors may take ECON 495—Competitive Strategy to satisfy the integrative course requirement in the Business Core, but this course will not count as one of the five elective 300- or 400-level courses.
Business Electives
| Courses | Hours |
| Nine hours at the 300- or 400-level chosen from courses in the College of Business Administration | 9 |
| Total Hours—Business Electives | 9 |
Course Suggestions for Various Careers in Economics
Business/Financial Economics
Courses
ECON 322—Managerial Economics
ECON 323—Business Conditions Analysis
ECON 450—Business Forecasting Using Time-Series Methods
ECON 333—International Economics
ECON 329—Industrial Organization
ECON 339—Monetary Theory
ECON 365—Economics of Risk and Insurance
Human Resources
Courses
ECON 331—Labor Economics
ECON 334—Economic Development
ECON 353—Economic Demography
ECON 354—Health Economics
ECON 351—Economics of Education
Urban Economics/Real Estate
Courses
ECON 332—Urban Economics
ECON 342—Regional Economics
ECON 371—Introduction to Urban Real Estate
ECON 370—Environmental Economics
ECON 331—Labor Economics
ECON 472—Real Estate Finance
ECON 475—Real Estate Markets and Valuation
International Studies
Courses
ECON 333—International Economics
ECON 334—Economic Development
ECON 323—Business Conditions Analysis
ECON 339—Monetary Theory
ECON 353—Economic Demography
Pre-Graduate School in Economics/Business/Public Policy/Public Administration
Courses
ECON 436—Mathematical Economics
ECON 331—Labor Economics
ECON 329—Industrial Organization
ECON 333—International Economics
ECON 328—Public Finance
ECON 324—Economic History of the United States
ECON 334—Economic Development
ECON 332—Urban Economics
ECON 326—History of Economic Thought
Pre-Law
Courses
ECON 320—Law and Economics
ECON 330—Government and Business
ECON 328—Public Finance
ECON 329—Industrial Organization
ECON 324—Economic History of the United States
ECON 365—Economics of Risk and Insurance
ECON 331—Labor Economics
ECON 354—Health Economics
See Sample Business Major Curriculum in the College of Business Administration section.
See Academic Honors in College of Business Administration section.