Undergraduate Program
SAMPLE STUDY PLANS FOR ALL MAJORS
An understanding of economics is a vital component of a liberal arts education and a necessity for anyone
interested in such areas as business, environmental policy, welfare reform, international trade and finance,
or globalization.
The programs offered by the UCSC Economics Department are designed to acquaint students with the broad range
of issues studied by economists and the tools they use. The department offers three majors:
A minor in economics is also available, as is a combined major of economics with mathematics, a combined major of economics with enviornmental studies, and a
combined major of global economics with Latin American and Latino studies.
The economics curriculum begins at the introductory level; no specific high school preparation is required. All
economics majors study a substantial core of economic theory and mathematical and statistical methods, and
are then able to choose among a wide variety of upper-division electives. Economics majors may combine their
upper-division elective choices in a variety of ways to achieve specialization in a number of possible areas.
Highly qualified seniors may take appropriate graduate courses and earn an M.S. as well as a B.A. degree in five
years through the Dual Degree Pathway Program.