Economics Major: What It Includes, Classes and Careers

An Economics major studies how people, businesses and governments make choices about scarce resources. Economics majors learn microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics, using math and data to analyze markets, policy and behavior.

An Economics major includes coursework in microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, money and banking, and public finance and more. You build skills such as data analysis, economic modeling, critical thinking, and research and writing. Typical degrees: bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.

Typical courses include microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, money and banking, public finance, and statistics. Exact course names and requirements vary by college, and most degrees also include general education courses.

It depends on the level. Economics is offered as certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral awards at U.S. colleges; certificates take from a few months to about two years, an associate degree usually takes about two years of full-time study, a bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years of full-time study, a master’s degree usually takes one to two years after a bachelor’s, and a doctoral or professional degree takes several more years beyond that. Part-time study takes longer.

Bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. In the latest federal data, 52 colleges reported certificate awards, 118 colleges reported associate awards, 755 colleges reported bachelor’s awards, 218 colleges reported master’s awards, and 132 colleges reported doctoral awards.

Career paths connected to economics include economist, financial analyst, management analyst, budget analyst, survey researcher, statistician, and operations research analyst. Some roles need additional training, experience, certification or a license.

Examples include economist (typical training: 2–6 years after a bachelor’s), financial analyst (typical training: 4 years), management analyst (typical training: Less than 5 years of experience), budget analyst (typical training: Entry-level with a degree), survey researcher (typical training: 2 years after a bachelor’s), and statistician (typical training: 2 years after a bachelor’s).

Economics majors build skills such as data analysis, economic modeling, critical thinking, research and writing, and quantitative reasoning.

Good pairings include Mathematics (supports advanced economic modeling), Data Analytics (prepares you for data-heavy analyst roles), Political Science (connects economics to public policy), and Finance (applies economics to markets and investing).

It can be a good fit if you are interested in the work it leads to, such as economist, financial analyst, and management analyst, and enjoy subjects like microeconomics and macroeconomics. No major guarantees a job, so compare the coursework, the careers and the education each career requires before deciding.

How hard it feels depends on your strengths. Core coursework includes microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics; if those subjects interest you, the major is likely to feel more manageable. Reviewing a college’s course list and talking to current students helps you judge.

889 U.S. colleges reported awarding degrees or certificates in this field in the latest federal (IPEDS) data. Programs can have different names at different schools.

California (149), New York (70), Pennsylvania (53), Massachusetts (38), and Texas (38), based on the colleges that reported awards in this field.

714 of the colleges that offer economics also report offering at least one program entirely online, though not necessarily this one. Use the college search with this major and “Offers fully online programs”, then confirm with the school.

Economics studies how people, businesses and governments make choices about scarce resources. Business Administration is a broad business major that covers management, finance, marketing and operations. Economics leads to careers such as economist and financial analyst, while Business Administration leads to careers such as general and operations manager and administrative services manager.

Economics studies how people, businesses and governments make choices about scarce resources. Marketing studies how organizations understand customers and promote products and services. Economics leads to careers such as economist and financial analyst, while Marketing leads to careers such as marketing manager and digital marketing specialist.

Yes. Short online career training can help you understand a specific job and build practical knowledge alongside your classes. It does not replace your degree or any required license.

No. Career Education Institute is not a college and does not award degrees. It offers short, non-credit online trainings about jobs connected to economics, such as Economist Training.