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Economics is the science of choice! It is the study of how people, firms and governments make choices in the face of scarce resources.

These choices can be personal:

  • Do I go to class or not?
  • Should I eat Ramen noodles tonight or take my significant other out for a nice dinner?
  • Or should I accept a job at one firm or another?

They can involve crucial public policy questions:

  • Do we provide public health care?
  • Should we increase the age of Social Security eligibility?
  • Should interest rates increase?

It is a rigorous discipline, but it combines many different skills – theory, statistics, math, history, public policy and business decisions. This makes it valuable for analyzing the choices.

We are often asked “What can I do with my Economics Degree?” The economics degree makes great preparation for many different careers. Economics majors are employed by a wide variety of businesses (financial services companies, tech companies, retail, and real estate to name a few), nonprofits and government agencies. See our undergraduate alumni page for some sample jobs in which our graduates have been employed.

Contact Us

Prospective Students (not yet enrolled at UWM)

Prospective students, contact our admissions counselor at let-sci@uwm.edu or 414-229-7711.

Current Students

General questions such as how to declare, how to change a major, general education requirements, etc. should be directed to the college advising office at ls-advising@uwm.edu or 414-229-4654.

Specific questions about Economics, such as research opportunities, internship opportunities, major requirements, etc., should be directed to Vivian Lei, Director of Undergraduate Studies or Rebecca Neumann.

Undergraduate Programs

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MinorOn Campus, Online
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Ready to Declare?

Select the declaration that’s right for you, and you will find more instructions on how to declare and what to expect.

Recommended Resources for Economics Students

Academic Advising
Understand who your advisors are and the ways they help you successfully navigate college life.
Visit Advising
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Internships
Experience matters just as much as a degree. Learn more about internships.
Visit Internships
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Online Options
The Economics major and minor are available for completion entirely online. Learn more about how the online program works
Visit Online Options
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Study Abroad
Opportunities abound around the world for students to live and study outside of the U.S. for a few weeks, a semester or a full year.
Visit Study Abroad
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Independent Study
Student-led independent study is available with pre-approval of a faculty member who will supervise the independent study.
Visit Independent Study
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Scholarships & Awards
Understand how to create a scholarship application and sources of funding.
Visit Scholarships & Awards
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Honors
Earn graduation honors or join the UWM Honors College.
Visit Honors
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Career Resources and Job Outcomes
See what our alumni have done with their Economics degree.
Visit Resources & Outcomes
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Student Organizations
Find friends with similar interests through career-oriented organizations, social clubs, and community activities.
Visit Organizations
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Academic Help
Tutoring, accommodations, mentor programs, and more.
Visit Help
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Undergraduate Economics Courses
See all the options for electives and sample syllabi.
Visit Courses

Campus Resources

UWM offers a wide range of on-campus resources, such as academic support and mental health resources. Students also find community within our student centers.

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UWM Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge in Milwaukee that we are on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk and Menominee homeland along the southwest shores of Michigami, North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida and Mohican nations remain present.   |   To learn more, visit the Electa Quinney Institute website.