Major Requirements

Listed below are the requirements for the Economics major. In addition to the requirements for the major, students must also satisfy all of the university general education requirements and the College of Letters & Science breadth and other degree requirements. Degree requirements will vary depending on when you took your first college class. You are strongly advised to consult both the economics advisor and your L&S Advisor to ensure you stay on track towards a degree. Read more about the degree requirements on the L&S Degree Requirements web pages.

Economics Major Requirements

To major in economics, students must earn grades of at least C in ECON 103 and ECON 104, attain at least a 2.0 GPA on all credits in the major attempted at UWM, and attain at least a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted when any transfer work is included along with the UWM work. The major in economics requires a minimum of 30 credits plus a research requirement including the following:

Required 1
ECON 103Principles of Microeconomics3
ECON 104Principles of Macroeconomics3
ECON 210Economic Statistics 23
ECON 301Intermediate Microeconomics3
ECON 302Intermediate Macroeconomics3
Electives 1
Select at least one course at the 400 level or above (excluding ECON 415).3
Select 12 additional credits in ECON, 3 of which must be in an approved research requirement course (see below).12
Total Credits30
1

At least 15 credits must be in upper-division (300 level and above) economics courses taken in residence at UWM.

2

BUS ADM 210 or MTHSTAT 215 may be substituted for ECON 210 and will count in the major GPA.

Research Requirement

All majors in economics must complete an independent research experience by selecting, from the list below, a 400- or 500-level course in which they will write and present a research paper. The contents of the paper and the presentation of the results will be arranged with the faculty member teaching the course.

Eligible courses include:

Economic Applications of Game Theory
Economic Forecasting Methods
Statistics for Economists
Public Economics
Industrial Organization
Labor Economics
Economics of Human Resources
International Trade
International Finance
Mathematical Economics I
Introduction to Econometrics
The Economics of Water
Independent Work

Optional Concentrations

The Department offers three optional concentrations within the major. While completing the major requirements outlined above, students may elect to complete one of the following sets of requirements:

International Economic Relations

Choose three of the following courses:
Introduction to International Economic Relations
Economic Development
International Trade
International Finance

Quantitative Methods

Choose three of the following courses:
Research Methods for Economics
Economic Forecasting Methods
Statistics for Economists
Introduction to Econometrics

Graduate Preparation

Choose two courses each from the quantitative methods module and the economic theory module as follows:
Statistics for Economists
Mathematical Economics I
Introduction to Econometrics
Mathematical Economics II

Additional Economics Modules

For courses that meet the requirements of the following modules:

  • General Economics;
  • Economic Theory;
  • The Economics of Public Policy;
  • Strategy, Law, and the Economy; and
  • Labor Economics

Please see below.

General Economics
Introductory Economics
Principles of Microeconomics
Principles of Macroeconomics
Economics of Personal Finance
First-Year Seminar:
Independent Study
Economic Statistics
Economics of Discrimination
Selected Topics in Economics:
Internship in Economics, Lower Division
Study Abroad:
Ad Hoc:
Honors Seminar:
Selected Topics in Economics:
Internship in Economics, Upper Division
Study Abroad:
Ad Hoc:
Independent Work
Economic Theory
Intermediate Microeconomics
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Economic Applications of Game Theory
Mathematical Economics I
Mathematical Economics II
The Economics of Public Policy
Money and Banking
Environmental Economics
Public Economics
Health Economics
The Economics of Water
Strategy, Law, and the Economy
Analysis of American Industries
Economics of Antitrust Laws
Industrial Organization
Labor Economics
Economics of Employment and Labor Relations
Labor Economics
Economics of Human Resources