2020-21 Catalogs

BA in Economics

The undergraduate program in economics provides practical preparation for a variety of careers as well as for graduate study in economics, business administration, public policy, and law. Economics is a social science and as such is best studied in the context of broader exposure to the liberal arts and sciences.

Economics is a marketable liberal arts degree. Liberal arts majors (social sciences and humanities) develop excellent writing and research skills, and increase a student's knowledge of the world. These majors also help students build a stronger and more informed sense of identity and values. Economics at USM also provides students critical thinking and analytical (including statistical) skills.

BA in Economics

Track A Liberal Arts (37 credits)

Major Requirements (19 credits)

     ECO 101 Introduction to Macroeconomics
     ECO 102 Introduction to Microeconomics
     ECO 103 Critical Thinking About Economic Issues (a 120 or above ECO course may be substituted for ECO 103)
     ECO 301 Intermediate Macroeconomics
     ECO 302 Intermediate Microeconomics
     ECO 304 Research Methods in Economics
     ECO 400 Capstone (1 credit) to be taken in conjunction with an approved ECO 300-level elective

Major Electives (18 credits)

You must take at least six major elective courses; a minimum of four must be from the following ECO courses:
     ECO 220 U.S. Economic and Labor History
     ECO 305 Econometrics
     ECO 310 Money and Banking
     ECO 312 U.S. Economic Policy
     ECO 315 Economic Development
     ECO 316 Case Studies in International Development
     ECO 319 Macroeconomics: Debt and Finance
     ECO 321 Understanding Contemporary Capitalism
     ECO 323 U.S. Labor and Employment Relations
     ECO 326 Environmental Economics
     ECO 327 Natural Resource Economics
     ECO 333 Economics and Happiness
     ECO 335 The Political Economy of Food
     ECO 340 History of Economic Thought
     ECO 350 Comparative Economic Systems
     ECO 370 International Economics
     ECO 399 Special Topics in Economics
     ECO 450 Readings in Economics
     ECO 490 Independent Readings and Research in Economics

You may select up to two (of the six required courses) from the following list:
     CRM 216 White-Collar Crime
     CRM 225 Crimes Against the Environment
     GEO 302 Gender, Work, and Space
     GEO 303 Economic Geography
     POS 340 The Politics of Developing Nations
     SOC 348 Sociology of Work
     SOC 358 Sociology of Women's Work
     WGS 365 Topics in Gender and Institutions II
     WGS 465 Topics in Gender and Institutions III

Track B Math Intensive (39 credits)
     (recommended for graduate study in economics or related fields)

Major Requirements (16 credits)

     ECO 101 Introduction to Macroeconomics
     ECO 102 Introduction to Microeconomics
     ECO 301 Intermediate Macroeconomics
     ECO 302 Intermediate Microeconomics
     ECO 304 Research Methods in Economics
     ECO 400 Capstone (1 credit) to be taken in conjunction with an approved ECO 300-level elective

Math Requirements (11 credits)
     MAT 152 Calculus A
     MAT 153 Calculus B
     MAT 380 Probability and Statistics

Major Electives (12 credits)

Select four courses from the above list of ECO major elective courses.