Introduction

The Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Economics provides an excellent preparation for employment in the private and public sectors, and for graduate study in a variety of fields, such as law and MBA programs.

The importance of economics among the social sciences, and its appeal to many students who choose it as a major, reflects its deep intellectual roots, its rigorous analytical methods, and its powerful ability to explain social phenomena. An economics major trains students not only in deductive methods of logic, but also in inductive methods of reasoning using statistical methods and a variety of social and economic data. A firm foundation in economics is essential to a meaningful training in business administration, public administration, or social science.

Admission Requirements

If you have questions about admissions requirements or the economics major, email an economics adviser at econadv@uw.edu or visit the office during drop-in hours.

Courses Required to Apply and Admission Standards for the Major

1. A minimum of 45 college or university credits completed including:
   • ECON 200 Introduction to Microeconomics
   • ECON 201 Introduction to Macroeconomics
   • STAT 311 Introduction to Economic Statistics
     • Acceptable substitutes for STAT 311: Q SCI 381, STAT 340, STAT 341, STAT 390. [See below for temporary exception made for STAT 221.]
     • IND E 315 is acceptable, for students also pursuing College of Engineering disciplines.
     • PSYCH 317 & 318 are acceptable, if both are completed, for students also pursuing Psychology.
     • Not acceptable: STAT 220, STAT 321, STAT 394, Q METH 201, PSYCH 315.
   • One of the following: MATH 112**, MATH 124, MATH 134, or MATH 145 (MATH 124 preferred)
   • One English Composition course 
     
   • Completion of the RTW assessment 
2. Achieve a minimum GPA of 2.5 for the four prerequisite courses above, with no less than 2.0 in each course.
3. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 for all prior college work including transfer credits, and a minimum GPA of 2.5 for coursework taken at UW.
4. A grade must be recorded for all of the courses above prior to admission. Each of these prerequisite courses can only be repeated once. We will take into account the better of the two grades. Academic credits earned from AP, IB, and A-Level exams are acceptable.

**Starting in spring 2019, MATH 112 will no longer be accepted as a calculus prerequisite for the application to the Economics Bachelor of Arts degree; students must complete MATH 124 to meet this requirement. Starting Winter 2020, we will no longer grandfather in the use of MATH 112; students must take MATH 124 in order to apply to the BA in Econ.  

An exception will be made for students who complete MATH 112 (if completed between the 2017 winter Quarter and the 2019 winter Quarter).  An exception will also be made for STAT 221 (if completed prior to the 2019 autumn Quarter).

Beginning autumn 2019, students pursuing the Economics Bachelor of Arts degree will be required to complete one of the following statistics courses: STAT 311, Q SCI 381, or an approved substitute. 

The requirements for the Bachelor of Sciences have not changed.

Application for Admission

See the How to Apply page for application instructions and details.

Courses Required to Graduate

1. Admission to the economics major
2. ECON 300* Intermediate Microeconomics. Grade of 2.0 or higher required.
3. ECON 301* Intermediate Macroeconomics.Grade of 2.0 or higher required.
4. ECON 382* Introduction to Econometrics (Note: A student may use a higher-level econometrics course -- ECON 424, 482, 483, or 484 -- to fulfill this requirement. To reach 50 ECON credits, an additional ECON 4XX-level course may be required. See chart below.) 
5. Five ECON courses at the 400 level (25 credits not including ECON 496, 497, or 499.)
6. You must complete at least 50 credits in economics courses (courses with the prefix ECON), and you must have an average of 2.0 or higher in these 50 credits. See the chart below for a guide.
7. ECON 300, 301, and 382 must be taken at UW. A minimum of 15 credits of 400-level ECON courses must be taken at UW.
8. You must complete all University and College of Arts and Sciences requirements and 180 credits total for the undergraduate degree.
9. You must make an appointment with an advisor to apply to graduate (no later than the end of the third week of the quarter in which you wish to graduate). To receive Graduating Senior Priority (GSP) registration, apply 2 ½ quarters before graduation.

For prerequisites see the UW Course Catalog.

For College and University Graduation Requirements, refer to the website or the Bachelor’s Degree Planbook from the Undergraduate Advising Center in 171 Mary Gates Hall.

Both the General Catalog and the Quarterly Time Schedules are available online in the Student Guide Section of the UW home page.