Why Major in Economics?
Whether you realize it or not, you already have a rich
personal experience with economics. You make dozens of economic
choices every week: how much to study, sleep, work, spend
(or save); what courses to take; which snack to buy; and
what to do Saturday night. An Economics Major draws
on that experience to help you understand how the economy
works, not only for you personally but across the region,
the nation, and even the world. Economic theory helps
you cut through the buzz of everyday events, in order to
focus sharply on how people make choices, at what costs,
and with what effects on their own lives and those of others.
Learning how to find and work with economic data enables
you to monitor real economic activity and to test theoretical
ideas about causes and effects.
Ultimately, studying economics prepares you to deal with
a rapidly changing world. Not surprisingly, employers value
such skills.
A bachelor’s degree in Economics prepares you for
a career in any number of occupations --
in business, banking, the non-profit sector, journalism,
international relations, education, and government. Below,
we suggest some course groupings for an economics major that
would be especially apt for particular careers.
An Economics degree is also excellent preparation
for graduate study -- in the law, business,
economics, government, public administration, environmental
studies, health-care administration, labor relations, urban
planning, diplomacy, and other fields. Your Advisor
can suggest specific courses for your Major that will prepare
you for your intended graduate field.
Advising
The department holds informational meetings for prospective
or current majors. Watch for announcements posted around
the department, or check the Storrs website, (www.econ.uconn.edu). Meetings
provide information about completing major and minor requirements,
fields within economics, and careers available to economists.
When you declare your major you will be assigned an Academic
Advisor. You may ask for a particular Economics faculty
member as your advisor, or we will choose one for you.
The role of your advisor is to help you to meet your academic
goals and complete the major or minor requirements. Thus,
it is important that you take the time to discuss your goals
and concerns with your advisor, so that he/she can provide
you with the best advice on meeting these goals. You,
however, are ultimately responsible for your academic progress.
Before meeting with your advisor, read through the Course
Descriptions Catalog. The advising session will be more productive
the better informed and prepared you are beforehand. The
first time you meet with your advisor, complete a Preliminary
Plan of Study to
help plan your course of study. Discuss
this with your advisor at subsequent meetings and keep it
updated with any changes.
At the beginning of your last semester, you must file with
the Degree Auditor’s Office of the Registrar a Final
Plan of Study as an indication of your intent to graduate. (Your
advisor has to sign this before submitting it). You
may give this Final Plan of Study to the Undergraduate Program
Coordinator, who will make the appropriate copies and forward
the original to the Degree Auditor.
In order to register for courses each semester, your advisor
must lift the Advising Bar on PeopleSoft for you. It
is best not to wait until the last minute to register,
as your advisor may not be available. |
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