Economics (B.A., B.S.)

Economists study how people make choices in life when scarcity limits what is available. They look at a society’s financial, industrial, and labor organizations; its distribution of income and ownership rights; its governmental activities; and its political and economic philosophies, and analyze how these and other factors influence the goods an economy produces, the resources it uses in production, and the distribution of its output. They also look at how incentives affect decisions relating to human behavior, such as whether to obey the law, get married, or have children.

Economic analysis leads to explanations, predictions, and policy suggestions. How are wages and prices set? Why do some cities boom while others decline? Why do we have an energy crisis? How should we use our exhaustible resources? How will consumers and corporations react to a tax cut? How can the crime rate be reduced? If we are to use our resources efficiently, what antitrust and government regulations should be enforced? What can be done to reduce inflation and unemployment? To prevent excess pollution? To achieve economic growth? To distribute income more equitably? In examining these sorts of questions, economics helps us to understand more clearly the choices available to us and the consequences of our decisions.

There is an abundance of career opportunities for an economics major.

Careers in business include consulting, banking, and other financial institutions, insurance, corporate strategic planning, real estate, journalism, management, marketing and public utilities.

Careers in government include consulting, publicly owned utilities, planning and forecasting, regulatory agencies, management, needs assessment, legislative staffs, judicial agencies, and executive support.

Careers in the interfacing of business and government include labor arbitration, regulation, environmental planning, urban and regional planning, and interest representation.

One option of specialization offered by the Economics program to students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree is a double major with a Bachelor of Science in Finance with the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) track. The CFA® program, administered by the CFA® Institute, is a globally recognized standard for measuring the competence and integrity of financial analysts. Three levels of examination measure a candidate’s ability to apply the fundamental knowledge of investment principles at a professional level. The CFA® examinations are administered annually in more than 70 nations worldwide. For information about registering in the CFA® program, see the CFA® web site at http://www.cfainstitute.org/. The Economics Program, in conjunction with the Finance Program in the School of Management, offers a number of courses that help prepare for these examinations. Specific information is provided in the section on requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Economics below.

Bachelor of Arts in Economics
Degree Requirements (120 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements¹: 42 hours
    A. Communication (6 hours)
        3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
        3 hours Communication Elective ( ECO 4346 or ECO 4382)²
    B. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
        6 hours Government (GOVT 2301 and 2302)
        6 hours American History
        3 hours Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective (SOC 1301, SOC 2319, CJS 1301, or CJS
            1307)²
    C. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
        3 hours Fine Arts (ARTS 1301)
        3 hours Humanities (HUMA 1301)
    D. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)³
        3 hours Mathematics (at or above the level of College Algebra)
        3 hours Quantitative Reasoning (STAT 1342 or SOCS 3305)²
    E. Science (9 hours including at least one course with a substantial laboratory component)

¹ Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parenthesis are the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at U.T. Dallas.

II. Major Requirements: 46 hours
    Major Preparatory Courses (6 hours)
        ECO 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics*
        ECO 2302 Principles of Microeconomics*
    Major Core Courses (22 hours)
        ECO 3304 Basic Techniques for Economic Research
        ECO 3310 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
        ECO 3311 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
        STAT 1342 Statistical Decision Making
            or SOCS 3305 Introduction to Social Statistics²
        One of the following:
            ECO 4346 Technology, Economy and Society
            ECO 4382 International Finance
        Distributive Justice Course :
            ECO 4320 Public Sector Economics
        And one of the following:
            ECO 3370 The Global Economy
            ECO 4360 International Trade
            ECO 4362 Development Economics
            ECO 4382 International Finance
        Major Related Courses (24 hours)
            24 hours Economics upper-division ECO courses

² A Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Hours are counted in Core Curriculum above.
³ Students wishing to pursue Master’s or Ph.D. degrees in economics should consult their advisor about appropriate mathematics and quantitative methods courses.
* Indicates a prerequisite class to be completed before enrolling for upper-division classes in Economics and Finance.

III. Elective Requirements: 32 hours
    Advanced Electives (6 hours)
        All students are required to take at least six hours of advanced electives outside their major
        field of study. These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that
        have prerequisites.
    Free Electives (26 hours)
        This requirement may be satisfied with lower- and upper-division courses from any field of
        study. Students must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for
        graduation.

Bachelor of Science in Economics
Degree Requirements (120 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements¹: 42 hours
    A. Communication (6 hours)
        3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
        3 hours Communication Elective ( recommended ECO 4346 or ECO 4382)²
    B. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
        6 hours Government (GOVT 2301 and 2302)
        6 hours American History
        3 hours Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective (SOC 1301, SOC 2319, CJS 1301, or CJS
            1307)²
    C. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
        3 hours Fine Arts (ARTS 1301)
        3 hours Humanities (HUMA 1301)
    D. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)³
        3 hours Mathematics (MATH 2417 recommended, or MATH 1325)
        3 hours Quantitative Reasoning (STAT 3360)²
    E. Science (9 hours including at least one course with a substantial laboratory component)

¹ Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education.
² The courses listed in parenthesis are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at U.T. Dallas.

II. Major Requirements: 52-53 hours
    Major Preparatory Courses (14 hours)
        ECO 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics*
        ECO 2302 Principles of Microeconomics*
        MATH 2417 Calculus I (recommended)
            or MATH 1325 Applied Calculus I*²
        MATH 2418 Linear Algebra (recommended)
            MATH 2333 Matrices, Vectors and Their Application
        MATH 2419 Calculus II (recommended)
            or MATH 1326 Applied Calculus II
    Major Core Courses ( 24 hours)
        ECO 3310 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
        ECO 3311 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
        ECO 4351 Mathematical Economics
        ECO 4355 Econometrics
        STAT 3360 Probability and Statistics for Management and Economics²
    One of the following: ²
        ECO 4346 Technology, Economy and Society
        ECO 4382 International Finance
    Distributive Justice Course:
        ECO 4320 Public Sector Economics
    And one of the following:
        ECO 3370 The Global Economy
        ECO 4360 International Trade
        ECO 4362 Development Economics
        ECO 4382 International Finance
    Major Related Courses (15 hours)
        15 hours Economics upper-division ECO courses

² A Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Hours are counted in Core Curriculum.
³ Students wishing to pursue Master’s or Ph.D. degrees in economics should consult their advisor about appropriate mathematics and quantitative methods courses.
* Indicates a prerequisite class to be completed before enrolling for upper-division classes in Economics and Finance.

III. Elective Requirements: 25 hours
    Advanced Electives (6 hours)
        All students are required to take at least six hours of advanced electives outside their major
        field of study. These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that
        have prerequisites.
    Free Electives (19 hours)
        This requirement may be satisfied with lower- and upper-division courses from any field of
        study. Students must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for
        graduation. Note: Students may need more than 19 hours, depending on the mathematics         sequence selected.

Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance (Double Major) with an Emphasis in CFA®
Degree Requirements (126 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements¹: 42 hours
    A. Communication (6 hours)
        3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
        3 hours Communication Elective (BA 4305)²
    B. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
        6 hours Government (GOVT 2301 and 2302)
        6 hours American History
        3 hours Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective (ECO 2301)²
    C. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
        3 hours Fine Arts (ARTS 1301)
        3 hours Humanities (HUMA 1301)
    D. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)³
        3 hours Mathematics (MATH 1325)
        3 hours Quantitative Reasoning (STAT 3360)²
    E. Science (9 hours including at least one course with a substantial laboratory component)

¹ Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education.
² The courses listed in parenthesis are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at U.T. Dallas.

II. Major Requirements: 48 hours
    Major Preparatory Courses (18 hours)
        AIM 2301 Introductory Financial Accounting
        AIM 2302 Introductory Management Accounting
        BA 2301 Business and Public Law
        ECO 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics*
        ECO 2302 Principles of Microeconomics*
        MATH 1325 Applied Calculus I
        MATH 1326 Applied Calculus II
        MATH 2333 Matrices, Vectors and Their Application
    Major Core Courses (30 hours)
        BA 3341 Business Finance
        BA 3351 Introduction to Management Information Systems
        BA 3352 Production Management
        BA 3361 Organizational Behavior
        BA 3365 Principles of Marketing
        BA 4305 Strategic Management
        BA 4371 International Business
        ECO 3310 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
        ECO 3311 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
        ECO 4355 Econometrics
        ECO 4382 International Finance
        STAT 3360 Probability and Statistics for Management and Economics

² A Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Hours are counted in Core Curriculum.
³ Students wishing to pursue Master’s or Ph.D. degrees in economics should consult their advisor about appropriate mathematics and quantitative methods courses.
* Indicates a prerequisite class to be completed before enrolling for upper-division classes in Economics and Finance.

III. Elective Requirements: 36 hours
    AIM (12 hours)
        AIM 3320 Financial Information Management
        AIM 3331 Intermediate Financial Accounting I
        AIM 3332 Intermediate Financial Accounting II
        One of the following:
            AIM 3341 Cost Management Accounting
            AIM 3351 Individual Taxation
            AIM 4336 Financial Statement Analysis
            AIM 4337 Business Valuation
    Finance (12 hours)
        BA 4345 Money and Capital Markets
        BA 4346 Investment Management
        BA 4347 Applied Corporate Finance
        One of the following:
            AIM 3351 Individual Taxation
            AIM 4336 Financial Statement Analysis
            BA 4348 Options and Futures Markets
            BA 4349 Management of Financial Institutions
            BA 4350 Individual Financial Management and Planning
    Economics (12 hours)
        12 hours of Economics and Finance upper-division ECO courses

Minor in Economics (18 hours)

For a minor in Economics , students must take ECO 2301, ECO 2302, ECO 3304, either ECO 3310 or ECO 3311, and six hours of ECO electives. Electives may be any upper-division course with the ECO prefix with the exception of ECO 4V97, ECO 4V98, and ECO 4V99.

The University of Texas at Dallas 2006-2008 Undergraduate Catalog
Volume 31, Number 1
Copyright © The University of Texas at Dallas

This catalog is a general information publication only. It is not intended to nor does it contain all regulations that relate to students. The provisions of this catalog do not constitute a contract, express or implied, between any applicant, student or faculty member and The University of Texas at Dallas or The University of Texas System. The University of Texas at Dallas reserves the right to withdraw courses at any time, to change fees or tuition, calendar, curriculum, degree requirements, graduation procedures, and any other requirements affecting students. Changes will become effective whenever the proper authorities so determine and will apply to both prospective students and those already enrolled.

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The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. In accordance with federal and state law, the University prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, and veteran status. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is also prohibited pursuant to University policy.