Economics, Major - Liberal Arts

Economics, Major - Liberal Arts, B.A. or B.S.

The following is a sample degree plan, based on the current catalog. It is based on the 120-credit graduation requirement and assumes no transferred credits, no requirements waived by placement tests, no courses taken in the summer or winter, no repeated courses, and no remedial courses that may be required. This sample degree plan is intended for first-year students entering UW-Eau Claire in the fall semester. Your own degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). UW-Eau Claire cannot guarantee all courses will be offered as shown, but will provide a range of courses that may enable prepared students to fulfill their requirements in a timely period. This sample degree plan is just a guide. Please consult your advisor, your degree audit, and the catalog to create your own degree plan. Note: In order to earn the required minimum of 120 credits for the degree in four years, you should plan to take 15 credits each semester or 30 credits each year.

To earn a degree, students must fulfill all University Graduation Requirements, including the Liberal Education (LE) Core.  LE Core course work in the following sample degree plan uses abbreviations such as LE-K1, LE-S2, LE-R3, and LE-I1 to represent the learning outcomes students will meet via completion of their liberal education course work.  Please click here for a description of the Liberal Education Core outcomes and requirements.  Note that the LE Core may be completed through both course and non-course experiences.

Students in this major have the option to pursue either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree.  The degrees are distinguished by foreign language competency for the B.A. and a higher level of mathematics competency for the B.S.

FIRST YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
MATH 109Algebra for Calculus (LE-S2)4
101-level Language BA Requirement (LE-S1)4
SECOND SEMESTER
MATH 111A Short Course in Calculus 14
102-level Language BA requirement4
SOME TIME IN THE FIRST YEAR
ECON 103Principles of Microeconomics (LE-K2)3
ECON 104Principles of Macroeconomics (LE-K2)3
WRIT 114Intensive Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (LE-S1, 5 Credits)5
OR
Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (LE-S1, 5 Credits)
OR
Accelerated Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (LE-S1, 2 Credits)
OR
Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing for Transfer Students (LE-S1, 2 Credits)
TOTAL FIRST YEAR24-27
SECOND YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
MATH 246Elementary Statistics (LE-S2)4
SECOND SEMESTER
ECON 316Econometrics3
SOME TIME IN THE SECOND YEAR
ECON 303Intermediate Microeconomic Theory3
ECON 304Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory3
SOME TIME IN THE FIRST OR SECOND YEAR
LE Option: Knowledge 1 (LE-K1) Natural Sciences3
LE Option: Knowledge 3 (LE-K3) Humanities3
LE Option: Knowledge 3 (LE-K3) Humanities3
LE Option: Knowledge 4 (LE-K4) Fine Arts3
LE Option: Responsibility 1 (LE-R1) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity3
LE Option: Responsibility 1 (LE-R1, DDIV) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity with Design for Diversity3
Minor Course3
TOTAL SECOND YEAR34
THIRD YEAR
SOME TIME IN THE THIRD YEAR
ECON 300-level Elective Course3
ECON 300-level Elective Course3
ECON 300-level Elective Course3
LE Option: Skills 3 (LE-S3) Creativity3
LE Option: Integration (LE-I1)3
LE Option: Responsibility 2 (LE-R2) Global Perspectives3
Minor Course3
Minor Course3
Minor Course3
Minor Course3
TOTAL THIRD YEAR30
FOURTH YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
ECON 311History of Economic Thought (LE-I1)3
OR
Professional Internship (LE-I1)
SOME TIME IN THE FOURTH YEAR
ECON 300 or 400-level Elective Course3
ECON 300 or 400-level Elective Course3
LE Option: Knowledge 1 (LE-K1L) Natural Sciences with Lab4
LE Option: Responsibility 3 (LE-R3) Civic and Environmental Issues3
Minor Course3
Minor Course3
Minor Course3
Elective Credit to Reach 1200-3
Elective Credits to reach 1201
TOTAL FOURTH YEAR29

 Minimum total for the baccalaureate degree = 120 credits

1

Students who are considering graduate school in Economics are strongly encouraged to take additional math courses.  Students with grad school aspirations should take MATH 114. 

Note:  All students must complete the 30-hour Service-Learning Requirement via a non-credit or credit option (see University Graduation Requirements).

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HIGH IMPACT PRACTICES (HIPs) 
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire encourages all students to participate in High Impact Practices.  The following information identifies any specific recommendations that faculty in this major have concerning which HIPs might be most beneficial to students, and any recommendations about when those HIPs best fit into the degree plan. Students should also consult their faculty advisor for information on HIPs. There are many additional high impact opportunities available. Talk to your academic advisor for more information about incorporating HIPs like Study AbroadIntercultural ImmersionInternship, and/or Student/Faculty Collaborative Research into your time at UW-Eau Claire. 

The Department of Economics is highly active in the following areas. Please consult with the department chair to see how you might get more involved. 

  • Faculty/Student Research – over 40 researchers in economics every year. Students present at conferences regionally, nationally, and internationally, as well as co-author papers. 
  • International Immersions – At least 2 international immersion experiences available annually within the department of economics. 
  • Internships – Active class led internship program (ECON 498).

Liberal Education (LE) Core Guidance

Liberal Education Core (LE Core) 

The LE Core comprises 17 learning experiences across 11 learning outcomes. Students must complete a minimum of 36 credits in courses approved for the LE Core. 

  • K1 – Natural Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2). 

  • K2 – Social Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2). 

  • K3 – Humanities; two experiences. 

  • K4 – Fine Arts; one experience. 

  • S1 – Written and Oral Communication; two experiences (one experience must satisfy the University writing requirement). 

  • S2 – Mathematics; one experience (must satisfy the University math competency requirement). 

  • S3 – Creativity; one experience (can be fulfilled in a student’s major). 

  • R1 – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity; two experiences (one experience must meet the UW System Design for Diversity (DD) requirement). 

  • R2 – Global Perspectives; one experience. 

  • R3 – Civic and Environmental Issues; one experience. 

  • I1 – Integration; two experiences (one experience can be fulfilled in a student’s major). 

  • SL—Service Learning; 30 hours 

Additional LE Core Information 

  • Most LE Core learning experiences are course based, and many courses meet more than one learning outcome (e.g., K3 and R2 or K1 and R3). 

  • Some learning experiences can also be met outside of a traditional course (e.g., undergraduate research (S3), study abroad (I1)). 

  • S1 – An English placement score that fulfills the University writing requirement fulfills one S1 experience. 

  • S1 – A foreign Language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 102 level satisfies one S1 experience. 

  • S1, R2 – A foreign language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 202 level satisfies one experience in S1 and the R2 experience. 

  • S2 – A math placement score that qualifies the student to enter Math 111, 112, 113 or 114 fulfills the S2 experience. 

  • S3 – Completion of two credits from any approved music ensemble fulfills the S3 experience. 

  • I1 – Any semester long study abroad program can fulfill one I1 experience.