The goal of undergraduate programs is to provide students with a basic understanding of economic theory, an appreciation for the methodology and purpose of economic research, and a firm grasp of economic institutions in an international context. The department contributes to achieving this goal in several ways: by providing a selection of degree plans and courses that allow to students to explore wide-ranging interests in economics; through its participation in interdisciplinary programs; and by providing a large service course component for first-year students.
The Department of Economics offers four separate undergraduate degree plans: B.A., B.S., B.S. with Systems Analysis, or B.S. with Finance Applications. While all four degrees share a common core curriculum – Principles of Microeconomics (ECO 1311), Principles of Macroeconomics (ECO 1312), Intermediate Microeconomics (ECO 3301), Intermediate Macroeconomics (ECO 3302) , introductory calculus (MATH 1309 or 1337), and basic statistics (STAT 2301, 2331, or 4340) – each of these degree programs contains a distinct bundling of economics and supplementary (accounting, computer science, etc) courses and places a different emphasis on topics covered and skills developed. In addition to the several choices of degree plans, the department offers a wide variety of upper level economics classes (4000-level and above).