Curriculum

The Economics major is designed to enable students to:

  1. find and describe information about basic economic ideas, institutions and phenomena
  2. explain the use of basic economic ideas and tools, and identify applications of them
  3. analyze in depth a social, governmental, or organizational issue or idea, and alternative means of addressing it
  4. discuss the breadth of the economics discipline, its boundaries and where its boundaries blur with those of related disciplines
  5. relate basic economic ideas to their own lives. Students are also encouraged to develop their interests and abilities beyond the classroom through co-curricular activities and service.

The major helps prepare students for success in business, government and nonprofits, and excellence in graduate and professional school. It also provides students with plenty of room to pursue other academic interests, participate in campus life and prepare for a career.

Degrees

Major

Economics (B.A.)

Minor

Students who wish to complement their studies in another major with a solid grounding in economics may find the Economics minor, which requires 18 hours, attractive.

Concentrations

Students choose from two courses of study each of which requires 34 hours in economics and 4 hours of statistics:

  • General Economics, for those who desire a broad overview of economic processes and thought.
  • Economics with Teacher Licensure, for those who seek careers in secondary education. Teacher licensure students also take an array of courses to meet licensure requirements.

Curriculum Focuses

Majors work closely with their economics advisor to create an Economics experience consistent with their individual interests and career goals. Here are three of many possible examples showing how students may focus their major.

  • For students who wish to investigate economic issues and policies in relation to the environment and natural resources, we recommend an Environmental Economics experience that includes: Economics of Food (ECON 242), Land Economics (ECON 245), Environmental and Natural Resource Economics and Policy (ECON 339) or Economic Growth & Development (ECON 314). Additional special topic courses that provide valuable perspective are Energy Economics (ECON 274), Public Economics & Government Finance (ECON 274), or Climate Finance (ECON 359). It is suggested that students take additional courses in Environmental Studies to complement this experience.
  • For students who wish to explore the international dimensions of economics and economic development, we recommend an International Economics experience that includes: Immigration Economics (ECON 260), Economic Growth and Development (ECON 314), Poverty and Human Capital (ECON 317), and International Trade and Finance (ECON 350).  Additional courses that provide valuable perspective are Morality and Material Progress (ECON 338) or Money and the Financial System (ECON 342). It is suggested that students take additional courses in International Studies, Political Science, Sociology or related disciplines to complement this experience.
  • For students who wish to better understand the monetary and financial aspects of the economy, we recommend a Monetary Economics and Finance experience that includes: Investments (ECON 305), Corporate Finance (ECON 306) and Money and the Financial System (ECON 342).  Additional courses that provide valuable perspectives are International Trade and Finance (ECON 350), and courses such as Public Economics & Government Finance (ECON 274), or Climate Finance (ECON 359). It is suggested that students take additional courses in Accounting or Statistics to complement this experience.

Course Requirements

Review the course requirements in the UNC Asheville Catalog for each of the Economics concentrations and minor.

ECON 365 – Econometrics

Economics majors complete one course in Econometrics, ECON 365. Econometrics is an applied statistical method commonly used by economists. In the course, students are introduced to basic econometric models and design their own econometric model, gather data, estimate the model and report their findings in a paper. Paper topics range widely as students are encourage to study something that interests them; many students choose topics related to school, employment, sports, or other hobbies.

Declaration of Major or Minor

Students can declare their major or minor online.