Economics BA

The economics major trains students to have strong technical skills and to be well-versed in policy analysis and implementation. Throughout the curriculum, we discuss managing and allocating scarce natural, human, and financial resources, environmental policies and sustainable economic growth.

Learning Outcomes for Economics Majors

B.A. in economics graduates of the University of Portland will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate critical understanding of the key concepts and models of microeconomics and macroeconomics.
    1. Describe the key advantages of competitive markets and the types of market and government failure that can occur in economic systems.
    2. Articulate how regulation and policy addresses market failure, in theory and in practice.
  2. Appropriately apply economic theory and methods to current issues within particular economic fields.
    1. Identify and utilize economic analysis to evaluate field specific problems.
    2. Analyze and propose specific solutions to problems, including policy prescriptions as appropriate.
  3. Appropriately use economic theory and statistical methods to analyze and draw conclusions from data.
    1. Construct and interpret statistical evidence, including estimating economic relationships and hypothesis testing.
    2. Examine economic analyses for faulty logic, unrealistic assumptions or inappropriate methods.
  4. Effectively communicate economic ideas, problems, and findings.
    1. Present economic analysis clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
    2. Write up economic analysis clearly in report and research paper formats, utilizing data a graphs as appropriate.

University Core Requirements - 39 hours

See Core Curriculum

College Requirements - 21-33 hours

See College Requirements B.A.

Major Requirements - 30 hours

BUS 101Software Applications Workshop

1

ECN 120Principles of Macroeconomics

3

ECN 121Principles of Microeconomics

3

MTH 121Calculus for Business and Social Science

3

MTH 141Finite Mathematics

3

MTH 161Elementary Statistics

3

ECN 310Econometrics

3

ECN 319Intermediate Microeconomics

3

ECN 320Intermediate Macroeconomics

3

ECN 325/ENV 325Metrics for Sustainability

3

ECN 429Development Economics

3

General Electives - 14-26 hours

Major Electives - 9 hours

9 hours from the following list
ECN 322Environmental Economics

3

ECN 424Income Inequality

3

ECN 426Comparative Economics

3

ECN 427Sports Economics

3

ECN 428Public Finance

3

ECN 430Psychology & Economics

3

ECN 440International Economics

3

BUS 431Financial Markets and Institutions

3