Economics Degree

Program type:

Major

Format:

On Campus

Est. time to complete:

4 years

Credit Hours:

120

Develop insight into how the economy impacts people's everyday lives.

At its heart, economics is the study of decision-making, and many decisions focus on the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. An economics degree will make you much more marketable when you begin the process of looking for a job.

Requirements Additional Requirements Tuition & Aid How to apply

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Why Earn an Economics Degree?

A recent study by the Department of Labor indicates that economics jobs in industry are projected to increase by 27 percent. A degree in economics can also make you more employable on the international scene. Studies indicate that economics majors are earning substantially higher starting salaries than other social science and humanities majors.

In the introductory courses, you’ll learn about basic market processes and how income, inflation and unemployment are determined at the national level. Areas you’ll explore in upper-level courses are:

Development of economic thought since the Middle Ages
Decisions that allow firms to maximize profit
Economic issues of the developing world
Effects of free trade and protectionism
How nonrenewable resources can be efficiently managed
How to get the most useful information out of economic data
Why cities exist and how they develop
Why markets fail and strategies to correct that failure

Marketable Skills

Critical thinking
Data analysis
Supply and demand analysis
Oral and written communication
Understanding current/past economic performance
Quantitative analysis
Understanding of market equilibrium/adjustment
Analysis of data using Excel

Economics Degree Highlights

We are a large enough department that we can offer a wide variety of courses, including electives on topics such as health care economics, international trade, third-world development, money and banking, and many more.

Our faculty members provide individual attention so you develop a clear understanding of how to apply economic theory to real-world policy issues.

Besides the internship and career services provided by the university, we have a dedicated job placement officer who locates internships and job openings and helps prepare you for interviews.

You may gain research experience by working on a project conducted in the Center for Economic Education, the Center for Environmental Economic Studies and Research, or the Economics Research Group.

Our faculty members are well-known experts who have written hundreds of articles and books on general topics and specific fields in economics. They also have worked on projects in Thailand, Poland, Egypt, Mexico, central Africa, and South Africa.

You can meet other students who share your interest in economics through the UNT Economics Club or the student chapter of the Omicron Delta Epsilon International Honor Society.

What Can You Do With an Economics Degree?

About 50 percent of the nation’s economists work for private firms in banking, consulting, financial services, health care, insurance, international trade, labor relations and marketing.

Possible career fields and employers include:

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, Federal Aviation Administration or Federal Trade Commission
International roles in the federal government, the United Nations, international or nonprofit organizations, and international business and banking firms
Education such as teaching in secondary schools

Some of our graduates work for Citigroup, Texas Instruments, GEICO and Buxton. Other graduates are pursuing graduate studies in Economics or are enrolled in some of the nation’s top law schools.

Economics Degree Courses You Could Take

Economic thought since the Middle Ages.

Focuses on time series analysis and forecasting methodologies applied to problems typically encountered in economics and finance. Computer applications will be used to reinforce the theoretical models.

Application of economic theory and analysis to the financing and delivery of medical care. Emphasis on the use of economic concepts to understand health care markets and public policy issues.

Examines the role of market structure on firm behavior, including profit maximization through strategic behavior. Additional topics addressed include the role of regulatory agencies and governments in markets, and non-price issues (such as social and environmental concerns). Empirical and theoretical models as well as case studies are used to analyze firm interactions within market structures.

Emphasizes relationships between structure, conduct and performance of industries. Topics include concentration, barriers to entry, pricing, mergers, product differentiation, technical change, antitrust and regulation. Case studies of selected American industries illustrate theory and public policy.

Uses economic analysis to understand the development of cities and regions and how economic activity in the areas is organized. Explores the economics of transportation and urban problems such as poverty, segregation, crime and congestion.