Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Economics

Economics places you at the juncture of social science, business and social policy. This fascinating subject helps explain the behavior of individuals, groups and organizations.

As an economics student, you will study how markets work to determine what is produced, how it is produced and how income is distributed. You will explore subjects like the role and impact of international trade, the effect of monopolies on the economy and the problems of unemployment and inflation.

This work will help you develop a strong understanding of businesses, markets and financial organizations. This means that you’ll graduate prepared for careers in the private, public and academic sectors.

Earn either a bachelor of science (B.S.) or a bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree in economics depending on your strengths in mathematics and quantitative skills (B.S.) or foreign language (B.A.).

What I love about my major

In this video, UD Lerner College students majoring in economics discuss why they chose their major – why it is unique and opportunities they’ve had that will prepare them for their careers.
Watch the video

Program Highlights

Research Opportunities

Economics research opportunities are available during the summer and academic year. Summer research programs are a very good stepping stone to a successful senior thesis or project. More details are available at the Undergraduate Research Program website.

Honors in Economics

The honors program at UD offers a scholarly and enriching community that extends well beyond graduation. You’ll enjoy smaller, more challenging classes and the opportunity to engage in research and assume leadership roles.

The honors degree requires:

1. All requirements for the B.A. or B.S. in economics (B.A. in economics education).
2. All of the University’s generic requirements for the honors baccalaureate degree.

ECON 301 and ECON 304 must be taken in honors sections. Courses in economics at the 600-level or higher may be considered as Honors courses.

STEM OPT Program

The B.S. in economics degree is a STEM-designated degree program and provides international students 24 months of OPT (Optional Practical Training) in addition to the original 12 months. (The B.A. in economics is not STEM-designated.)

Program Requirements

The B.A. and B.S. degrees in economics differ in the quantitative and language requirements:

Language

• B.A. degree students must earn a passing grade in an intermediate level course (107 or 112) offered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. Students with four or more years of high school work in a single foreign language may attempt to fulfill the requirement in that language by taking an exemption examination.
• B.S. degree students do not have a language requirement.

Quantitative

• B.S. degree students are required to demonstrate proficiency in quantitative methods. This involves successfully completing intermediate-level theory courses with calculus (ECON 301 and ECON 304) and an upper level econometrics course (ECON 422). Note: quantitative skills are an important part of more advanced study in economics, and several 400-level courses in economics require calculus.
• B.A. degree students may take intermediate-level theory courses either with calculus (ECON 301 and ECON 304) or without calculus (ECON 300 and ECON 303). An upper-level econometrics course (ECON 422) is recommended but not required.

B.S. Economics – Suggested Course Sequence

B.A. Economics – Suggested Course Sequence

Career Opportunities

Within 6 months of graduating, for the class of 2021, 96% of Lerner’s BS economics graduates are employed (earning a mean starting salary of $58,997) or pursuing further education and 94% of Lerner’s BA economics graduates are employed (earning a mean starting salary of $46,094) or pursuing further education.

For more information on career resources please visit the Lerner Career Services Center.

Top Employers

Some of the top employers of Lerner’s B.S. economics graduates include:

• JPMorgan Chase
• M&T Bank
• Protiviti
• BlackRock
• Citi
• Deloitte
• S&P Global Market Intelligence

Some of the top employers of Lerner’s B.A. economics graduates include:

• Vanguard
• JPMorgan Chase
• Bank of America
• M&T Bank
• Citi

Top Jobs

Job titles of recent graduates with a B.S. in economics degree include:

• Account Executive
• Financial Analyst
• Client Service Associate
• Credit Analyst
• Forecast Analyst
• Financial Advisor

Job titles of recent graduates with a B.A. in economics degree include:

• Financial Analyst
• Consultant
• Client Associate
• Executive Recruiter
• Financial Control Analyst
• Fraud Analyst

Visit the Career Outcomes of Lerner B.S. economics students and Career Outcomes of Lerner B.A. economics students to see more top employers, job titles, salaries and locations.

News

• Lifelong Lerner: Gabriella Cammarata - Gabriella Cammarata, honors accounting and finance double major with a minor in economics from Manalapan, New Jersey, is a member of the UD Lerner Class of 2023.
• Lifelong Lerner: Amanda Schimmel - A native of Hillsborough, New Jersey, University of Delaware Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics Class of 2023 graduate Amanda Schimmel is an honors economics and English double major with a minor in Spanish.
• What is a STEM Degree - What are the advantages of STEM degrees? What are STEM-designated degrees? And, how can foreign students harness them to optimize their education and professional experiences in the U.S.?
• Lifelong Lerner: Rafi Turitz-Sweifach - Rafi Turitz-Sweifach, a member of UD’s Lerner Class of 2022, shared his favorite UD memories, how he has grown during his time at UD and his plans following graduation.
• Lifelong Lerner: Ted Cebulski - Ted Cebulski, a member of UD’s Lerner Class of 2022, shared his favorite UD memories, how he has grown during his time at UD and his plans following graduation.

Learn More

If you have any questions about the major requirements, contact Professor Elizabeth Bayley, Undergraduate Program Advisor.
Browse course descriptions (Select ECON as the subject).

Admissions Information

Learn more about undergraduate admissions requirements, deadlines, tuition and financial aid available to you.

Admissions & Financial Aid