Business Economics

Business Economics BA

The Business Economics BA program offers a major for students seeking a business orientation in their study of economics. It does not replicate the traditional undergraduate business school curriculum. Instead, it offers a more tightly focused curriculum that is guided by the rigorous logic and integrative perspective of economics. It is designed to prepare students for graduate education in business, economics, and law. The program requires students to include specific courses offered by the department and the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management (see The Major).

The Business Economics major has the following learning outcomes:

• Understanding, through application of microeconomics, of the interaction of individuals and organizations in markets; and of the role of public policy in shaping those interactions
• Understanding, through application of macroeconomics, of the functioning of market economies at regional, national, and global levels; and of the role of public policy in shaping those interactions
• Understanding and application of accounting principles to analysis of business problems
• Acquisition and use of data to evaluate hypotheses with tables, charts, and statistical analyses
• Use of appropriate analytical perspectives and approaches to frame problems involving the interaction of people, organizations, markets, and society; identify effective strategic approaches to problem solving; and gather and organize key information to facilitate problem solving

Enrollment in the program is limited. Applications for admission are handled exclusively by the Department of Economics. To apply, students must have completed at least 72 quarter units (but no more than 135 quarter units), one 12-unit term in residence in regular session at UCLA, and all courses listed under Preparation for the Major. In addition, they must (1) be enrolled in UCLA regular session at the time of application, (2) have a 2.0 (C) minimum grade in each preparation course, (3) have a minimum 3.0 (B) overall average in all preparation courses except the writing course, and (4) have a minimum 2.0 (C) grade-point average in their upper-division courses taken for the major before applying (Economics 101 applies on the major preparation grade-point average).

The requisite grade-point averages plus completion of the preparation for the major courses do not guarantee admission to the program. Admission is on a competitive basis, using the above qualifications as minimum standards for consideration.

While students are completing the preparation courses for the major, they may be classified as Business Economics premajors.

Transfer students who wish to enter UCLA as Business Economics premajors must meet the admission screening requirements. For information, contact Undergraduate Admission.

Required: Economics 1, 2, 11, 41, 101; one Writing II course; Management 1A, 1B; Mathematics 31A, and 31B or 31E. Each course must be taken for a letter grade.

Repetition of more than one preparation course or of any preparation course more than once, including equivalent courses taken elsewhere, results in automatic denial of admission to the major.

Transfer applicants to the Business Economics major with 90 or more units must complete the following introductory courses prior to admission to UCLA: one microeconomics course, one macroeconomics course, two calculus courses from the mathematics/physical sciences sequence, one English critical reading and writing course.

Transfer students are required to take Economics 41 at UCLA rather than prior to transfer.

Transfer credit for any of the above is subject to department approval; consult with an undergraduate counselor before enrolling in any courses for the major.

Refer to the UCLA transfer admission guide for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.

Required: Economics 102, 103, 103L, and at least two courses from the 106 series; English Composition 131B; five upper-division elective courses in economics and management (no more than three management courses from Management 108, 120A, 120B, 122, 123, 124, 126, 127A, 127B, 130A, 140 may be applied toward the elective requirement). In addition to Economics 103 and 103L, at least two economics courses with laboratories must be completed and may be selected from either the Economics 106 series or an economics elective.

Each upper-division major course must be taken for a letter grade. Transfer credit for any of the major courses is subject to department approval; consult with an undergraduate counselor before enrolling in any courses for the major. Laboratory courses are required for all upper-division economics courses when they are offered and listed as mandatory corequisite.

To graduate, students must have a minimum 2.0 grade-point average in their upper-division major courses, with at least a C− in each course. (Economics 101 applies on the preparation for the major, therefore requiring a minimum grade of C.)

An intercampus dual degree program between UCLA and UC Santa Cruz allows students to obtain a BA in Economics from UCLA and an MS in Applied Economics from UC Santa Cruz in five years. Contact the economics undergraduate counselor for additional information.