Advising Information
Economics Major & Minor
The Economics major at UNC will prepare you for your future career and allow you to apply what you learn to real-world situations. You can choose from a wide selection of courses and focus your studies in an area of economics that interests you. A major in Economics provides options for pursuing possibilities in a broad spectrum of careers including economic consulting, banking, finance, management, insurance, law, nonprofit organizations, and government.
Our department offers a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. You may choose either to (1) major in economics with a general liberal arts concentration, OR (2) select an concentration Area that matches best with your interests and aspirations.
Regardless of your choice among the options above, during your first two years as an economics major you will take core courses such as Principles of Microeconomics, Principles of Macroeconomics, Intermediate Microeconomics, and Intermediate Macroeconomics. After you have completed these courses, you will encounter a wide selection of elective courses from which to choose, again depending on the choice among concentration Areas that you may make as described above. In addition, there are two required core courses that you will plan to take in your final year of the Major. These two “capstone” courses provide the finishing touches to an education that helps you better understand and contribute in exceptional ways to society and the environment, formulate effective arguments grounded in economic concepts, employ analytical thinking to help yourself and others make better decisions, and hone your abilities to communicate verbally and in writing.
Program Admission Requirements:
All students must achieve an overall cumulative GPA of 2.25 in order to be admitted to the economics major. First-semester freshmen and transfer students will be admitted on a probational basis and must achieve an overall cumulative GPA of 2.25 after their first semester at UNC in order to continue in the major.
Economics B.A. - Business Economics Concentration
This concentration Area is particularly well suited for students who intend either to seek an MBA or employment with a business enterprise following graduation. Under this concentration Area, you are able to complete a portion of your required coursework by selecting classes in areas such as Accounting, Computer Information Systems/Software Engineering, Finance, Management and Marketing.
2022-2023 Economics and Business Double Major Plans
Economics B.A. - Environmental Economics Concentration
This concentration Area is particularly well suited for students who intend to seek graduate degrees in areas such as environmental economics, agricultural economics, natural resource management, and others. It also is well tailored for students seeking employment (in any sector – government, private or nonprofit) in topics such as natural resources, energy, water, public health, transportation, etc. Under this concentration Area, you are able to complete a portion of your required coursework by selecting classes in areas such as Environmental and Sustainability Studies and Geography & GIS.
Economics B.A. - International Economics Concentration
This concentration Area is particularly well suited for students who intend either to seek advanced degrees in international affairs or work with international organizations. Under this concentration Area, you are able to complete a portion of your required coursework by selecting classes in areas such as Geography & GIS, History, and Political Science - among others.
Economics B.A. - Liberal Arts Concentration
Learn the traditional tools and concepts of economics, theories and quantitative procedures applicable to economics and related disciplines, and techniques and methodologies employed by economics practitioners.
Economics Minor
The Economics Minor is a strong complement to many majors, including but not limited to Anthropology, Business, Environmental and Sustainability Studies, Geography & GIS, International Affairs, Mathematics, Political Science, and Sociology. The Minor in Economics is a good option for students who intend to pursue careers or further education in fields that require background in economics - such as business, law, public policy, public health, public administration or urban and regional planning - among others.
