Economics (BA)
Supplying in-demand economic theories and applications
As an economics major, you’ll learn how to analyze production, consumption and distribution decisions. As you work toward your Bachelor of Arts in economics, you’ll gain the theoretical, quantitative and analytical skills necessary to understand business and policy issues.
The curriculum for the Bachelor of Arts in economics encourages you to think critically and analytically, gives you the necessary skills to analyze data and the ability to communicate findings effectively to a wide array of constituents, and focuses on microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. As an economics major, you’ll become confident in your ability to diagnose complex problems, develop innovative solutions and make a business case for those solutions in a changing national and global economy.
DePaul’s economics department is located at the Loop campus in downtown Chicago, in the center of the city’s financial district, gives you opportunities to intern and work professionally with leading companies in the business sector.
Our combined bachelor’s + master’s degree programs include a combined bachelor’s + master’s degree in Economics and Economics Policy Analysis or Secondary Education Social Science. Both programs allow you to complete a bachelor’s degree and a graduate degree in as few as five years.
We also offer the 3+3 BA/JD Program to Bachelor of Arts in economics students, which allows high-achieving first-year undergraduate students to be admitted simultaneously to the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (LAS) and the College of Law (LAW). You’ll complete your first three years in LAS and your final three years in LAW.
Classes
Coursework
- Principles of Micro/Macroeconomics
- Global Economies
- International Trade
- Urban Economics
- Economic History
- Economics and Financial Policy
- Business and Economic Forecasting
Resources
Career Options
Common Career Areas
- Business
- Banking
- Consulting
- Public administration
- Insurance
- International business
- Data analysis and research
92%
of Economics graduates were employed, continuing their education or not seeking employment after graduation.
Major Requirements
Course Requirements
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECO 105 | PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS | 4 |
| ECO 106 | PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS | 4 |
| ECO 304 | ANALYTICS FOR ECONOMICS | 4 |
| ECO 305 | INTERMEDIATE MICROECONOMICS | 4 |
| ECO 306 | INTERMEDIATE MACROECONOMICS | 4 |
| Select eight additional 300-level or higher Economics Electives. ECO 101, ECO 250, ECO 393, and ECO 395 may not be used as Economics Electives towards a major or minor in Economics. | 32 | |
| MAT 137 | BUSINESS STATISTICS (or an equivalent statistics course approved by an Economics advisor) | 4 |
Focus Areas for Economics Majors/Minors
The Economics major requires students to complete principles of micro- and macroeconomics, intermediate micro- and macroeconomic theory, 1 term of statistics, and Economic Analytics. While the program does not require students to select a particular concentration for their studies, students may want to focus the selection of their economics electives to match their academic and future career interests. The department recommends the following Focus Areas as an advising tool for students to use in their course selection. In addition to the courses listed below, the department offers Special Topics courses [ECO 398] that may be relevant to one or more of the Focus Areas.
| Focus Area | Description | Occupations |
|---|---|---|
| Business Strategy | For students interested in understanding how market competition and government regulation affects the behavior of business. | Pricing/Revenue Analyst; Business Development Analyst; Consulting; Risk Analyst |
| International Economics | For students interested in understanding how international markets work, how businesses handle international operations, and how countries develop trade and development policies. | International Trade Analyst; International Business Development; Positions with multinational companies related to their overseas operations |
| Data Analytics | For students interested in enhancing their data analytical skills beyond the basic statistic requirement. This FA is a good complement to all other FAs as data analytics is used in many types of occupations. | Consulting; Data Analyst; Research Analyst |
| Economic Policy and Market Analysis | For students interested in government policy and its effect on the economy. | Economics Analyst (federal, state, and local government agencies); Policy Analyst; Legislative Liaison |
| *Health Economics | For students interested in policy and analysis of healthcare delivery and insurance markets | Healthcare Analysts; Business Consulting; Healthcare Actuary |
| Macroeconomic Policy Analysis | For students interested in developing knowledge of how macroeconomic indicators are used in business decisions and policy making | Federal Reserve Bank Research Analyst; Business Development Analyst; Financial Market Analyst; Bureau of Economic Analysis Economist |
| Preparation for PhD in Economics | For students interested in pursuing a PhD in Economics | A Ph.D. in Economics is needed for academic and research-based employment in think tanks and government agencies |
Relevant Coursework
Business Strategy
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MANAGERIAL DECISION MAKING | ||
| BUSINESS STRATEGY | ||
| MARKET STRUCTURE AND REGULATION OF BUSINESS 1 | ||
| SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES FOR ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT | ||
| GAME THEORY 1 |
| 1 |
For students participating in the Economics Honors Track, this course can be used to satisfy the Advance Elective requirement [courses carrying a prerequisite of ECO 305, ECO 306, or ECO 304]. |
International Economics
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EUROPEAN ECONOMIC HISTORY | ||
| RADICAL RESPONSES TO CAPITALISM | ||
| TOPICS IN GLOBAL ECONOMIES | ||
| UNDERSTANDING CHINA'S ECONOMY | ||
| DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT 1 | ||
| ECONOMICS OF LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES | ||
| INTERNATIONAL TRADE | ||
| INTERNATIONAL MONETARY ECONOMICS |
| 1 |
For students participating in the Economics Honors Track, this course can be used to satisfy the Advance Elective requirement [courses carrying a prerequisite of ECO 305, ECO 306, or ECO 304]. |
Note: Students may want to add a language to this FA.
Data Analytics
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANALYTICS FOR ECONOMICS | ||
| EXPLORING ECONOMICS & STATISTICS THROUGH SPORTS | ||
| TIME SERIES ANALYSIS 1 | ||
| ECONOMIC ANALYTICS USING SAS & R |
| 1 |
For students participating in the Economics Honors Track, this course can be used to satisfy the Advance Elective requirement [courses carrying a prerequisite of ECO 305, ECO 306, or ECO 304]. |
Economic Policy and Market Analysis
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| URBAN ECONOMICS | ||
| THE CHICAGO ECONOMY | ||
| ECONOMICS OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1 | ||
| AMERICAN ECONOMIC HISTORY | ||
| LABOR ECONOMICS AND ORGANIZATION | ||
| LAW & ECONOMICS | ||
| BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS 1 |
| 1 |
For students participating in the Economics Honors Track, this course can be used to satisfy the Advance Elective requirement [courses carrying a prerequisite of ECO 305, ECO 306, or ECO 304]. |
Health Economics
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HEALTH ECONOMICS | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS (The Business of Health) | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS (Topics in Health Economics) |
Macroeconomic Policy Analysis
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| INTRODUCTION TO MONEY AND BANKING | ||
| FINANCIAL MARKET REGULATION | ||
| INTERNATIONAL MONETARY ECONOMICS | ||
| TIME SERIES ANALYSIS | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS (Modern Analysis of Economic Indicators & Trends) | ||
| CURRENT ECONOMIC ISSUES (FED CHALLENGE (not applicable to major/minor)) |
Preparation for PhD in Economics
- Data Analytics courses
- Courses from any other FA would be appropriate especially advanced electives1
- Regular calculus sequence (MAT 150/MAT 151/MAT 152) rather than the business calculus sequence (MAT 135/MAT 136).
- Note: students may want to consider the combined bachelor's/master's program to take graduate economics course in their senior year.
ECO 101, ECO 250, ECO 393 and ECO 395 may not be used as Economics Electives towards a major or minor in Economics.
Open Electives
Open elective credit also is required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours.
Students are encouraged to use their open electives to minor or double major in a complementary field of study. A student’s specific interest in economics will dictate the best choice of a minor or double major.?
