Economics: Program Requirements

Admission to the Economics Major: Social Science and Business Economics Option

You must apply for admission to the economics major before you complete 18 credits towards the major. You are eligible to apply once you have completed at least 45 credits toward your UWSP degree. You must be admitted to the economics major to register for some upper-level courses and to graduate with an economics major.

Once you are accepted as an economics major, you can receive specialized, one-on-one advising from school faculty or staff.

Minimum requirements: We encourage you to apply as soon as you have completed all of the following 9-10 credits with at least a 2.25 GPA:
  1. One calculus course: MATH 109, 111 or 120 (3-4 credits)
  2. ECON 110 (3 credits)
  3. ECON 111 (3 credits)
If you are a transfer student: Apply before you complete 18 credits in the economics major OR during your first semester at UWSP.

Exceptions: If you wish to request consideration of exceptional circumstances, do so in writing to the SBE Admissions Committee.

Academic Standards for Economics

To graduate with a major or minor in economics, successfully complete all required courses in the major or minor and achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.25 or higher for the Social Science Option or Minor and 2.50 or higher for the Business Economics Option in all your major/minor courses. See Academic Standards for the School of Business & Economics for more information on GPA requirements and for the School of Business & Economics repeat policy.

Economics Major: Social Science Option

Successfully complete a minimum of 39-41credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher in categories 1 through 3 below.
  1. Foundation: Complete 15-17 credits BEFORE taking “core” courses.
    1. Theoretical and institutional, 9 credits: ECON 110, 111; ACCT 210.
    2. Quantitative, 6-8 credits: MATH 355 or other approved statistics course and MATH 109, 111 or 120.
  2. Core: 12 credits: ECON 310, 350, 360, 361
  3. Electives: 12 credits in additional economics courses, NOT including ECON 100. BUS 352 & 353 both count as economics electives.
If you plan to pursue graduate work in economics, we advise you to take MATH 120 and 121 in place of 109.

Economics Major: Business Economics Option

Successfully complete a minimum of 63-65 credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher in categories 1 through 3 below.
  1. Core: Complete 42-44 credits. In general, try to complete the core classes in approximately this sequence. The courses near the beginning of the list serve as prerequisites for courses near the end of the list.
    1. One calculus course: MATH 109, 111 or 120 (3-4 credits).
    2. ECON 110 and 111 (6 credits).
    3. ACCT 210 and 211 (6 credits).
    4. MATH 355 or other approved statistics course (3-4 credits)
    5. BUS 240 (3 credits).
    6. BUS 325 (3 credits).
    7. BUS 330 (3 credits).
    8. BUS 350 (3 credits).
    9. BUS 360 (3 credits).
    10. BUS 370 (3 credits).
    11. Global business and economy elective (3 credits). Take one of BUS 327, 339, 342, 357; an international experience selected from BUS 493, 496, or other approved international experience; ECON 362, 365; ACCT 410. Classes you take as part of the electives below may satisfy this requirement.
    12. Capstone class. BUS 480 (3 credits). You may take only one of the other core classes at the same time as a capstone class.
  2. Complete 12 credits: ECON 310, 350, 360, 361.
  3. Electives: Complete 9 credits in additional economics courses, NOT including ECON 100. BUS 352 & 353 both count as economic electives.
If you plan to pursue graduate work in economics, we advise you to take MATH 120 and 121 in place of 109.
Teacher Certification: If you are seeking teacher certification in economics, complete a minimum of 34 credits in courses designated "Economics." We recommend you take HIST 176 and 177 as electives or in partial fulfillment of the general degree requirements. Also take NRES 370.

Because enrollment caps are in effect for those seeking teacher certification, please contact the School of Education early for entrance requirements and application procedures. Also see information about the Professional Education Program and the secondary education curriculum for teacher certification in the Education section of this catalog.

Economics Minor

Successfully complete 21-22 credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher in categories 1 through 3 below:
  1. Foundation: 9-10 credits: ECON 110, 111, MATH 355 or other approved statistics course.
  2. Electives: 12 credits of additional economics courses, NOT including ECON 100. Both BUS 352 and BUS 353 count as economics electives.
  3. Economics minor for teacher certification: Complete at least 24 credits in economics. Take 6 courses in addition to those in the Foundation above. We also recommend you take, HIST 176 and 177as electives or in partial fulfillment of the general degree requirements.