Academic Advising Updates
Autumn 2025 Admission Cycle (for 2026 Winter Quarter Admission) Updates: Registration for the Autumn quarter RTW assessment is now closed. The Economics Major Application is now open and will close at 11:59pm on Friday, October 3. Login with a UW email is required to access the form. Students will receive admissions decisions via email by October 29, in time for Winter quarter registration.
Studying Economics
Economics studies the institutions and arrangements that are used to create, protect, and allocate scarce resources that have alternative uses. It advances our understanding of the behavior of individuals, firms, governments and other organizations. Economics’ deep intellectual roots, rigorous analytic methods, and powerful ability to explain and evaluate social phenomena make it an exceptionally rewarding field of study.
The Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Economics is for students who are intrigued by economic problems and questions and are attracted to economists’ challenging and analytical approach to explaining social phenomena. The BA 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 business.
The Bachelor of Science with a Major in Economics requires a more intensive background in math and statistics, reflecting the distinctive quantitative character of modern economics. It is especially suitable for students intending to go on to graduate study in economics and related fields such as finance.
Both the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science majors are designated Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) undergraduate programs.
Special programs for undergraduates include a departmental honors program; study abroad programs in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, and Thailand; a mentorship program; and certificate programs in four areas of specialization: international economics, economic theory and quantitative methods, quantitative managerial economics, and environmental and natural resource economics.
For more information, see our department learning goals and attend a Prospective Student Information Session.