UC San Diego’s Economics major provides a strong foundation in economic theory, data analysis, and quantitative reasoning. Students learn how markets function, how individuals and institutions make decisions, and how policies impact the economy. The curriculum emphasizes analytical skills through coursework in microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, and advanced electives exploring topics such as labor, finance, and international trade. With a focus on real‑world application and rigorous training, the program prepares students for careers in business, public policy, research, and graduate study.
Degree Programs
- Economics (BS)
- Economics (BA)
- Business Economics (BS)
- Mathematics and Economics (BS)
Program Highlights
- UC San Diego's Economics Department is ranked 7th in the country (US News and World Report).
- The Department of Economics offers a joint Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Master of Public Policy Program.
- The Department of Economics offers graduation with honors in all departmental majors.
Economics
This page is intended to give some highlights about the program. If you are interested in learning more about the major and its curriculum, visit the department website.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Co-curricular Programs
Learn how to make the most of your experience at UC San Diego within the context of your major.
Research
Conduct research in your field of study with one of the many research programs available. Research opportunities in this major include, but are not limited to:
Undergraduate-Graduate Economic Research Lab
- Available all quarters.
- Open to undergraduate students.
- Available all quarters.
- Open to undergraduate students.
- Available Winter, Spring and Summer term (8 weeks; 3 quarter commitment).
- Open to juniors and seniors.
- Stipend, course credit, and housing available.
For more details, eligibility, and to explore more programs, visit our Undergraduate Research website.
Internships
UC San Diego offers strong internship pathways for undergraduates through the Academic Internship Program (AIP) and the Research Experience and Applied Learning (REAL) Portal. AIP enables students to earn academic credit while gaining professional experience in fields across all majors, supported by faculty mentorship and an academic component. The REAL Portal serves as a centralized hub for finding research, internships, service learning, and other hands‑on opportunities on and off campus. Together, these resources help students explore career interests, build professional skills, and connect academic learning with real‑world experience.
Find a Program
- Academic Internship Program: https://aip.ucsd.edu
- REAL Portal: https://real.ucsd.edu
Study Abroad
Students are encouraged to explore study abroad opportunities which allow students to experience the culture and history of another country and gain a global perspective, all while earning academic credit toward their degree.
Learn more about study abroad opportunities for Economics.
Student Organizations
With over 600 student organizations, students are able to connect with other students who share similar interests. And, if you can't find something that interests you, it's easy to create a new one with just a few other students. Explore UC San Diego student organizations.
Be sure to check out these organizations related to your major:
- Undergraduate Economics Society
- Triton Consulting Group
- The Investor's Club
What can I do with this major?
Learn about how you can apply your major to various opportunities after you graduate. The information below is based on recent surveys from alumni in this (or similar) majors and is not an exhaustive list.
- Recent Employers - Top 10 employers alumni reported working for.
- Job Types - Industries and types of jobs that alumni reported.
- Skills - Common skills and skills specific to the major that alumni reported gaining from this major.
- Graduate Programs - The types of graduate programs alumni reported going to (if applicable)
Recent Employers
- University of California
- Deloitte
- Axos Bank
- Ernst & Young
- Northrop Grumman
- KPMG
- Amazon
- JPMorgan Chase
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
Job Types
- Management Consultants and Business Analysts
- Financial Analysis and Investment Specialists
- Accountants and Auditors
- Product and Marketing Specialists
- Research Assistants
- Software Developers and QA Testers
- General and Operations Managers
- Teaching Assistants
- Technical Data Analysts
- Financial Services Sales Agents
Graduate Programs
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
- Financial Mathematics
- Computer Science
- International Relations and Affairs
- Public Policy Analysis
- Accounting
- Public Administration
- Economics
- Business Administration and Analysis
Skills
Common
- Microsoft Excel
- Research
- Communications
- Customer Service
- Leadership
- Sales
- Management
Specific
- Marketing
- Data Analysis
- Accounting
- Finance
- Financial Analysis
- Financial Statements
- Project Management
- Market Research
- SQL
- Python