Read this page in its entirety for details on the Economics major admissions process.
As an impacted major in high demand, declaration of the Economics major is admission-based and students must meet specific criteria in order to be admitted.
Why Economics? View this Virtual Roundtable to hear from a wide range of economists on why they became economists, how they effect change, and their powerful visions for the future (with you in it!). [Hosted by UMBC Department of Economics]
Spring 2024 Application (Now Closed)
Our Spring 2024 application is now closed. The deadline to submit this application was Wednesday, February 14 at 4pm (PST). For applicants that qualify for early review, notifications will be sent before the Phase 1 enrollment period for Fall 2024. For regular review applicants, notifications will be sent out in mid-June 2024 after Spring 2024 grades are made available and all applications are reviewed.
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There are four steps to the Economics admission process: Review each step below to learn about the prerequisites, GPA requirement, timeframe/deadline to apply, and admission notifications. Students who successfully meet these admission requirements will be admitted into the Economics major. NOTE: Requirements differ for students who enter as FRESHMEN and students who enter as TRANSFERS. Please also review those respective pages for further details. |
All students pursuing the Economics major are encouraged to plan for an alternate major in case any of these steps do not work out. Information about majors can be found at http://guide.berkeley.edu/.
Economics Undergraduate Advisors are available to discuss alternate major planning. We also recommend meeting with an advisor in the College of Letters and Science to discuss alternate major options.
Questions? Review our FAQ, Economics Undergraduate Admissions Policies, and/or email us at ugrad@econ.berkeley.edu
| Transfer Students | Four-Year Students | |
|---|---|---|
| GPA/Grade |
Minimum C (2.0) grade in each prerequisite course |
Minimum C (2.0) grade in each prerequisite course |
| Prerequisite Courses |
Introduction to Economics [choose one] - Econ 1 or Econ 2 Calculus [choose one from both A & B series] - Math 1A or Math 16A [choose one] and - Math 1B or Math 16B [choose one] Introduction to Statistics [choose one] - Stat 20, Stat 21, Stat W21, or Stat 88/Data C88S - Stat C131A, Stat 135, or Stat/Data C140 Intermediate Economics Theory (Core Courses) [choose one] - Econ 100A or Econ 101A - Econ 100B or Econ 101B or UGBA 101B^ - Econ 140 or Econ 141 |
Introduction to Economics [choose one] - Econ 1 or Econ 2 Calculus [choose one from both A & B series] - Math 1A or Math 16A [choose one] and - Math 1B or Math 16B [choose one] Introduction to Statistics [choose one] - Stat 20, Stat 21, Stat W21, or Stat 88/Data C88S - Stat C131A, Stat 135, or Stat/Data C140 Intermediate Economics Theory (Core Courses) [choose two; must be from different subjects] - [Microeconomics] Econ 100A or Econ 101A - [Macroeconomics] Econ 100B or Econ 101B or UGBA 101B^ - [Econometrics] Econ 140 or Econ 141 |
| Eligibility Window | Must finish prerequisite courses & apply by the 1st term at Berkeley. Summer terms do not apply. | Must finish prerequisite courses & apply by the 5th term at Berkeley. Summer terms do not apply. |
TAKE THE COURSES: Prerequisites for the Economics major
There are six prerequisites for admission to the Economics major; all of which must be completed or in-progress at the time of application for admission. All prerequisites must be taken for a letter grade.
- ONE course required of Introduction to Economics (choose one):
- ECON 1 or ECON 2
- TWO courses required of Calculus*:
- MATH 1A or MATH 16A and
- MATH 1B or MATH 16B
- ONE course required of Introduction to Statistics (choose one)*:
- STAT 20, STAT 21, STAT W21, STAT 88/DATA C88S, STAT C131A, STAT 135, or STAT/DATA C140**
- TWO course required of Intermediate Economic Theory (Macroeconomics or Microeconomics) or Econometrics*** (choose two for admission, all three must be completed for graduation.):
- ECON 100A or ECON 101A
- ECON 100B or ECON 101B^
- ECON 140 or ECON 141***
*At least one prerequisite in math or statistics must be completed at UC Berkeley.
**Effective Fall 2019, STAT 135 or STAT C140 may be used to fulfill the statistics prerequisite for the Economics major. Starting Spring 2020, STAT/COMPSCI/INFO C8, STAT 134, and IEOR 172 may no longer be used to meet the statistics prerequisite for the Economics major. Find more details below:
- Grades earned in STAT/COMPSCI/INFO C8, STAT 134, and IEOR 172 in Fall 2019 and prior will be included in the GPA calculation for admission to the major.
- Grades earned in STAT/COMPSCI/INFO C8, STAT 134, and IEOR 172 in Spring 2020 and later will NOT be included in the GPA calculation for admission to the major.
- Changes approved May 1, 2019.
- For more information, including common questions about C8 and STAT 88, please review the Economics Major Admissions: Statistics Prerequisite FAQ.
***Effective Fall 2019, students may choose ECON 140 or ECON 141 as a prerequisite for admission to the major. ECON 140/141 taken Fall 2019 and later will be included in the GPA calculation for admission to the major. (Approved May 1, 2019)
^Students may take UGBA 101B to fulfill the Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory requirement.
For detailed information about prerequisite courses, please view the appropriate page for students who enter Berkeley as a FRESHMAN or TRANSFER.
Want to know how exam credit (AP/IB/A-Levels) fulfills these requirements? Review the Exam Credit chart.
Have more questions? Check out the Economics Undergraduate Admissions Policies regarding the prerequisite course work.
MEET THE GPA: GPA requirement for admission to the Economics major
NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 events of Spring 2020, the GPA requirements have been adjusted for students who took prerequisites in Spring 2020. Please visit Spring 2020: Economics Academic Policy Updates for detailed information.
Of the prerequisite courses taken at Berkeley, students must earn a minimum of a C (2.0) grade in order to be admitted into the Economics major. All prerequisites must be taken for a letter grade. Exam credit and transfer coursework may be used to fulfill prerequisite course requirements, but are NOT used in the GPA calculation for admission to the major.
- All applicants must earn a minimum of a C (2.0) grade in each prerequisite course taken at Berkeley.
- If a prerequisite course is completed at Berkeley, then the prerequisite course taken at Berkeley will take precedence over exam credit and transferwork.
Have more questions? Check out the Economics Undergraduate Admissions Policies regarding the GPA requirement.
APPLY ON TIME: Time frames and deadlines to apply
To be considered for admission, all students must submit an application within a specific time frame during their academic career at Berkeley and by specific deadlines. All students are encouraged to apply in the semester in which they are completing their last prerequisite(s).
- Admission time frame for students who entered Berkeley as a FRESHMAN: Must apply for admission by the end of their fifth semester (does not include summers or withdrawn semesters) or prior to the accumulation of 80 units (does not include units earned in high school, but does include units in-progress at the time of application); whichever comes second. For most students, this is the fifth semester.
- Admission time frame for students who entered Berkeley as a TRANSFER: Must apply for admission by the end of their first semester. Summer session prior to the academic year does not count as the first semester.
Have more questions? Check out the Economics Undergraduate Admissions Policies regarding the timeframes and deadlines to apply.
GET INTO THE MAJOR: Admissions notifications and declaration process
Admissions review is conducted after final grades are posted. Students are notified of their admission decision via email according to the schedule listed below.
- Fall Review applicants: notified mid-January
- Spring Review applicants: notified mid-June
- Summer applicants: notified mid-September
Students who meet the admission requirements as listed above are guaranteed admission into the major. Instructions for officially declaring the major will be provided in the admission notification. Students are responsible for taking the necessary steps to ensure that they are officially declared in the Economics major after admission.
Students intending to add Economics as a second/additional major, must adhere to the requirements for admission before declaring the Economics major.
Did not meet requirements for admission? You are not eligible to declare the major if you have not met the requirements. We recommend you meet with an advisor in an alternate major to formulate a plan to declare another major. Please visit the Berkeley Guide to find the contact information for alternate majors.