About Economics in University of California San Diego

Economics can be broadly defined as the study of human behaviors aimed at finding solutions to help improve peoples' lives. A career in Economics is much more than you think!

Majors

We currently offer three different majors: a B.A. in Economics, a B.S. in Management Science, and a B.S. in Mathematics-Economics, in addition to a B.A. in Economics- Public Policy through the joint BA/MPP program only. In FA21, we will launch a new B.S. in Business Economics, with the Rady School of Management. To become one of our majors, students simply need to select the major using the Major/Minor Tool on TritonLink.

Which major is right for you? 

The Economics major (B.A.) builds the core toolkits of economists, how individuals, firms, organizations, and governments make choices. The core courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics teach students how economies function and how to extract insights from data; full year sequences in microeconomics and econometrics provide advanced technical training. The wide range of elective courses in the Economics major apply the tools to topics in finance, trade, labor markets, energy and the environment, taxation, government, inequality, and international development, and more.

A degree in Economics is useful for a broad range of careers in business, finance, government, health, law, energy, technology, education, non-profits, international organizations, and many more.
 

The Business Economics major trains students to operate within firms and to understand how firms operate within markets. Training in core economics disciplines consists of two quarters of microeconomics and econometrics and one quarter of macroeconomics. Training in core business disciplines (accounting, finance, management, marketing, operations, strategy) teaches students how to perform various functions inside businesses. Electives in both areas deepen students' skillsets after core training is complete.
 

Our Math-Econ major (B.S.) is a program designed for students who aspire to graduate study in economics or business. It follows the same core sequence of the Economics major, and then delves deeper into the underlying mathematical foundations of microeconomics and econometrics. Compared to the Economics major, it requires more (you guessed it..) math, mostly calculus.
 

Our Management Science major (B.S.) is a unique program designed for students with an interest in business analytics. It teaches the basic economics toolkit, applied to the challenges of management in private and public sectors. In objectives it is most like a Business Administration major, but what sets it apart is our emphasis on mathematical and quantitative tools. In contrast to the Economics major, it requires finance, operations research and decision making under uncertainty, but less macroeconomics.

The Economics-Public Policy joint BA/MPP  program is offered together with the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy. The program incorporates graduate-level coursework into the final undergraduate year of study for a Bachelor of Arts in Economics-Public Policy. The Master of Public Policy is awarded upon completion of an additional year of coursework as a matriculated graduate student at the school. Applications are accepted each spring quarter.

GPA (Grade-Point Average) Requirement

To be eligible for admission to UC San Diego, you must earn the following minimum GPAs:

• California residents must earn a GPA of 3.0 (or better) with no grade lower than "C."
• Non-California residents & International applicants must earn a GPA of 3.4 (or better) with no grade lower than "C."

Your GPA is based on the above college preparatory (A-G) courses taken during 10th and 11th grades. Students admitted to UC San Diego have GPAs that exceed these minimums.

 UC San Diego will not consider SAT or ACT test scores as a factor in admissions decisions through Fall 2024. If you choose to submit test scores as part of your application, they may be used as an alternative method of fulfilling minimum requirements for eligibility or for course placement after you enroll.

International Students

If your native language is not English and your secondary/high school education was in a country where English is not the language of instruction, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination (academic modules) and have your scores reported to the UC San Diego Office of Admissions. A minimum score of 83 is required for the TOEFL, or a minimum score of 7 is required for the IELTS. Learn more on the International Students page.

University of California San Diego Highlights

University of California Cost of Attendance

An expected budget for overseas students wishing to study in the United States is as follows for potential university aspirants enrolling in the forthcoming sessional term:

The cost of attendance for graduate programs varies by program. However, the estimated cost is presented below: