Economics

Economics BA Learning Outcomes

The Economics major has the following learning outcomes:

• Application of economic analyses to everyday life, and visualization of economics in real-world situations
• Application of learning to policy-relevant issues
• Ability to understand current events
• Ability to assess the likely impact of specific policies put forth by government entities
• Evaluation of the role played by assumptions in arguments made for and against economic and policy issues
• Use of quantitative evidence and economic models to assess the validity of economic and policy-relevant arguments
• Understanding of statistical methodology and interpretation of statistical evidence
• Use of data to construct quantitative economics arguments, and to understand the statistical problems associated with interpreting the results
• Understanding of the role of sample selection/endogeneity in affecting results, and how to correct for these issues
• Formulation of written arguments that state assumptions and hypotheses, and evaluation of their pros and cons based on evidence
• Oral presentation of a carefully reasoned economic argument, and response to related questions
• Graphic presentation of a carefully reasoned economic argument by means of graphs, figures, charts, and presentation software
• Working knowledge of information databases, and knowledge of how to use the Web in gathering reliable information
• Location and use of primary data sources such as surveys
• Use of knowledge gained to understand and evaluate current economic events and new economic ideas

Application for the Economics major should be filed at the undergraduate counselors office in 2263 Bunche Hall. 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 be enrolled in UCLA regular session at the time of application.

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

Required: Economics 1, 2, 11, 41; one Writing II course or English Composition 129B; Mathematics 31A, and 31B or 31E. Each course must be taken for a letter grade. A 2.0 (C) grade is required in each premajor course. To enter the major, students must have a minimum 2.5 grade-point average in the economics and mathematics preparation courses and a GPA of at least 2.0 in any upper-division courses taken for the major before applying.

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 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, and one English critical reading and writing course. Transfer students must successfully complete all premajor requirements within their first three registered terms at UCLA.

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: Ten upper-division economics courses as follows: Economics 101, 102, 103, 103L, and six Economics Department upper-division elective courses. No more than two of the elective courses may also be selected from Management 120A, 120B, 122, 127A, 130A, 180 (real estate finance only).

Each course must be taken for a letter grade. Former courses 100, 110, and 120 may not be included among the 10 upper-division courses. Transfer credit 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 at least a 2.0 grade-point average in their upper-division major courses, with grades of C− or better in Economics 101, 102, 103, and 103L.

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.