Undergraduate Major in Economics
Economists study how individuals, families, companies and nations confront difficult choices about how to use limited resources to meet various needs and wants. Evaluating these choices in terms of criteria such as efficiency, equity and stability, economists search for alternative forms of economic organization that might produce a desirable distribution of material well-being. In the major in economics, students understand the basic concepts, theories and techniques of economics and become familiar with the way economists think about problems and devise solutions to them.
Through introductory and intermediate courses in macroeconomics, the study of national income and price determination, and microeconomics, the study of consumers and producers within the larger economic system, the major provides students with the tools to learn a variety of economic problems. That foundation is complemented by the study of econometrics and advanced courses in macroeconomics and banking, international finance and trade, taxation and public spending, behavioral economics, the economics of developing countries, health care and the environment, as well as in economic theory and methods. Economics majors acquire analytical and critical thinking skills valuable for employment and graduate studies in economics and a wide range of fields and disciplines.
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Economics Major Goals & Curriculum
Program Goals
Graduates will be prepared to:
- Demonstrate a basic knowledge of macroeconomics, microeconomics and international economic concepts
- Apply economic analysis to evaluate everyday problems and specific policy proposals
- Understand how to use empirical evidence to evaluate an economic argument
- Conduct statistical analysis of data and use qualitative and quantitative research methods
- Communicate effectively in written, spoken, and graphical form about economic issues
- Understand and evaluate current economic events and new economic ideas
- Organize, interpret and present quantitative data and communicate complex concepts in speech and writing
Curriculum
Choose from two degree programs for the economics major. The bachelor's degree requirements are 45 units total and include distribution, writing, and elective courses, and the major requirements.
Economics major requirements
- ECON 201 Introduction to Macroeconomics
- ECON 202 Introduction to Microeconomics
- ECON 281 Applied Econometrics
- ECON 310-A Microeconomics I
- ECON 310-B Microeconomics II
- ECON 311 Macroeconomics
- 6 additional 300-level economics courses
- MATH 220-A Single-Variable Differential Calculus (as of Fall 2019; was MATH 220)
- STAT 202 Introduction to Statistics & Data Science
- 3 additional courses in the social sciences, mathematics or statistics
Undergraduate Economics Courses
View Undergraduate Economics Courses for descriptions, locations, and schedules. Classes are held on Northwestern's Evanston or downtown Chicago campuses, and meet once weekly in the evening or on Saturdays.Major in Economics Admission & Transfer Policy
Application to Northwestern University School of Professional Studies bachelor's degree programs is completed online. Once admitted, many students create a shorter path to degree completion by applying transfer credit. View detailed application instructions and transfer credit policies on the Admission & Transfer Policy page.
Economics Tuition & Financial Aid
The School of Professional Studies offers competitive tuition rates for undergraduate courses. The Tuition & Financial Aid page lists current per-course tuition rates in addition to financial aid and scholarship opportunities.
Registration for Economics Majors
Registration for courses opens 8 to 10 weeks before each quarter and is accessed CAESAR, Northwestern's online student records system. View course registration timelines and instructions on the Registration Information page.
Career Options for Economics Majors
The study of economics provides a solid preparation for a variety of jobs in government, industry, finance, consulting, banking, and more, as well as for MBA and MPA programs or law school. For details, see the Economics Career Options page.
Find out more about the Major in Economics