Are Economic majors generally difficult?

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>I might be considering an Econ major in college. I know Economic majors require a lot of analytic reasoning and logical thought, as well as Math. Around how many credits do you need for an Econ major?</p>

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<p>I’ll be interested in the answers as well…</p>

3

<p>At my college, you don’t need many credits for an economics degree –</p>

<p>Intro to Microeconomics (100)
Intro to Macroeconomics (100)
Economic Statistics (200)
Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis (300)
Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis (300)
Econometrics (300)</p>

<ul>
<li>Two other 200 Levels and One 300 Level Econ courses and Calculus I // Calculus II</li>
</ul>

4

<p>It is generally conisdered a difficult major though. My class average in both macro and micro were around 76-78 range. I considered minoring in it since I aced macro and will have an A in micro as long as I get around a 73 on my final, and am only 12 credits away. Then I read the course descriptions for the upper level course and saw that they begin to apply calculus. No thank you, I got enough on my plate with my major, so Ill just stick with underwater basket weaving like courses for my free electives.</p>

5

<p>My physics teacher in high school graduated with an economics degree and said that it didn’t require many credits but was, as you said, very math heavy as you apply a lot of calculus in upper level courses. My uncle was an Information Technology major who had take microeconomics twice because he failed it the first time around. I guess for some folks it’s hard, but I plan on majoring in it. Loved AP Macro and Micro too much. ;)</p>

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<p>I was thinking of doing an interdisciplinary. International Studies/Economics or International Studies/History. Maybe I’ll just stick with I.S. and try to minor or get a double major in a foreign language.</p>

7

<p>My college’s econ requirements are similar to sligh_anarchist list:
Macroeconomics (4 credits)
Microeconomics (4 credits)
Macro Theory (4 credits)
Micro Theory (4 credits)
Statistics (4 credits)
Calculus I (4 credits)
Empirical Methods (4 credits)
3 Econ Electives (4 credits each)</p>

<p>Total: 40 credits for a degree in Econ</p>

<p>However, there’s three different approaches to the Econ BS:
-Mathimatical- requires upper level calc; if u want to do graduate work in econ, u should take this route
-Business- combines some biz classes. focus more on industry, labor, etc
-International- more focused on global trade, developping countries, etc. at my school, study abroad/second language encouraged.</p>

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<p>to transfer to UCLA to get a BS in Math/Econ I need:</p>

<p>Calc I-III: 12 units, 3 classes
Differential Equations: 3 units
Linear Algebra: 3 units
Discrete Math: 3 units
C++ Programming: 3 units
Principles of Macroeconomics: 3 units
Principles of Microeconomics: 3 units</p>

<p>And that’s not including what I need after I transfer.</p>

9

<p>Undergrad Econ is generally not difficult, although it varies from college to college. The only math you’ll need is Calc I/II, Stats I/II, and Econometrics (i’ve heard this is hard). Grad Econ is very difficult from what I’ve heard, most Econ PhD’s do Math in undergrad, not Econ. </p>

<p>Econ is a flexible major, it can be as hard or easy as you make it. If you do the minimum required classes, it’ll be easy. But if you take Game Theory and other advanced classes - it can be difficult (Nash equilibrium, anyone?). Overall it’s an average major, not difficult or easy. Imo it’s the most difficult liberal arts major to do well in though. (philosophy is harder but you can totally not understand it and still get an A)</p>

<p>It’s also pretty interesting, International Economics was one of my favorite classes so far. It might give you a new perspective on the global economy and international affairs. Plus the economy is a hot button topic right now, it’s good to be informed.</p>

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<p>It’s all about perspective. A student used to other social sciences may find it far more rigorous. A student with a math background probably won’t find it too challenging.</p>

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<p>I agree, molly. I’m planning (note emphasis on planning) on going beyond the minimum requirements for the economics major. I’m mainly interested in labor economics, but I couldn’t see myself getting a Ph.D. in economics. I really like the idea of MA in applied economics though (I’m thinking of moving back home to North Carolina after college and going to Duke for econ MA because of their really diverse MA econ program).</p>

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<p>Oh, hello there Molly.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p><em>waits for ranting to continue</em></p>

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<p>

Hah yep the students in my bio, chem, and physics classes think of econ as easy but i’ve noticed my friends who are humanities/social sci majors think it’s hard! It’s pretty flexible, Sligh_Anarchist will probably load up on difficult classes whereas someone doing the bare minimum will have it easy.</p>

<p>@LogicWarrior - LOL but I’m not getting into an argument about econ with you! I’m practically a bio major :slight_smile: But because I like watching you rant…:p</p>

<p>all liberals are a bunch of good for nothing lazy, tree hugging, pot smoking, veggie munching pussies who cry about everything being unfair and want to rob hardworking americans of their dollars, and are too pathetically stupid to get real jobs and instead pop out 8 babies and cry for welfare, want a commie nanny government, want to kill babies but save convicted felons and care more about saving manatees than fighting terrorists</p>

<p><em>waits for Logic to implode</em> :mad::):D;):(:o</p>

<p>ps - if anyone else reading this actually gets mad then all I have to say is <a href=“http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GBTx28zuA4s/SHo_SVFpZnI/AAAAAAAADS4/AYt5r2Gcj8M/s400/BUTTON+NOT+THE+BRIGHTEST+CRAYON+IN+THE+BOX.jpg[/url]”>http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GBTx28zuA4s/SHo_SVFpZnI/AAAAAAAADS4/AYt5r2Gcj8M/s400/BUTTON+NOT+THE+BRIGHTEST+CRAYON+IN+THE+BOX.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Maybe someone can help me out-</p>

<p>My heart wants me to major in economics but my brain doesn’t. I plan on going to law school after college and, because of this, I need to major in something where I can keep my GPA in the 3.7-3.9 range. Economics worries me because of the math involved. It’s not that I’m bad at math, it’s that I really don’t know my aptitude. I never took any AP math courses in highschool (more focused on humanities), so I’m not sure how I’d handle it. </p>

<p>Any advice?</p>

<p>Edit: “and care more about saving manatees than fighting terrorists” lol</p>

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<p>Ronnie - Don’t worry, I didn’t take AP Calc in HS, but I did pretty well in college calc. I’m majoring in Econ and pre-med, so I also need a high GPA. Econ is a great subject, and I say go for it, don’t underestimate yourself. Freshman year start with Intro Micro and Intro Macro, those just involve pre-calc. If you do well, move on to more advanced classes. If not, find another major that also interests you (politics?) :slight_smile: But at least give Econ a shot, it would be a shame if you were too scared to take it, and it’s really not that hard. I found it a lot easier to get A’s in than say, Orgo. And a 3.5+ is not hard with an econ major, a 3.7+ shouldn’t be too hard if you’re genuinally interested in the subject and willing to put in effort. My college has a strong econ program but people here do pretty well.</p>

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<p>Thanks :)</p>

<p>That’s reassuring. It’s between econ and philo, both of which I am deeply interested in. I’ll be going to a cc first, so that will be a perfect opportunity to find out which I prefer. </p>

<p>Also, If you call me Ronnie ever again, I will cyber-punch you…</p>

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<p>“all liberals are a bunch of good for nothing lazy, tree hugging, pot smoking, veggie munching pussies who cry about everything being unfair and want to rob hardworking americans of their dollars, and are too pathetically stupid to get real jobs and instead pop out 8 babies and cry for welfare, want a commie nanny government, want to kill babies but save convicted felons and care more about saving manatees than fighting terrorists”</p>

<p>this is pretty much true, not sure why you’d expect a rant</p>

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<p>philosophy is a difficult subject, especially upper level classes, i found econ easier and more interesting (I got an A- in philo because I write well, but didn’t truly understand it).
well you always call me molly! hate that name.</p>

<p>hahah logic</p>

19

<p>Philosophy may be more difficult to some, but I think it plays to my academic strengths. Also, I find it as extremely unique and interesting.</p>

<p>I could just call you Molly… But I’d rather do this!</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.livepencil.com/images/WALLPAPERS/wallpapers-download/fist-1024.jpg[/url]”>http://www.livepencil.com/images/WALLPAPERS/wallpapers-download/fist-1024.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I agree molly. Im a bio major who seriously considered changing to an econ major, simply because it took me half the effort to get an A in macro as it did in bio. Thankfully I didnt as intro to micro for me is like slamming my head against a wall, very boring.</p>