Economics Undergraduate Admissions Policies

Information regarding the policies that guide the Economics admissions process.

For Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and Summer 2021 students may elect the P/NP grading option for Economics prerequisites. Please visit Fall 2020 through Summer 2021: Economics P/NP Grading Option Policy Modifications for further details.

For all students pursuing the Economics major, please visit Spring 2020: Economics Academic Policy Updates for a comprehensive overview of the adjustments made to the admissions process due to the COVID-19 events of Spring 2020. 

Prerequisite Courses

  • All prerequisite courses must be taken for a letter grade. (NOTE: This policy has been modified for prerequisite courses taken Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and Summer 2021. See Fall 2020 through Summer 2021: Economics P/NP Grading Option Policy Modifications for further details.)
  • If a P is earned in any prerequisite class, this will cause a student to be ineligible for the major; regardless of whether or not the class was taken again for a letter grade. (NOTE: This policy has been modified for prerequisite courses taken Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and Summer 2021. See Fall 2020 through Summer 2021: Economics P/NP Grading Option Policy Modifications for further details.)
  • Exam credit may be used to fulfill prerequisite courses. If the equivalent course is taken at Berkeley, the letter grade earned will be included in the GPA calculation for admission to the Economics major.
  • Attempting a prerequisite for a second time:
    • ONE prerequisite may be attempted for a second time if a deficient grade was earned (D+ or lower, or NP).
      • For a second attempt to also count as a letter graded repeat, the exact same course must be taken. See University Repeat Policy for further details.
    • Attempting more than one prerequisite for a second time will result in a denial of admission to the major. 
    • Students may NOT attempt a prerequisite for a second time in which a grade of C- or higher was earned.
    • Students may NOT attempt a prerequisite for a second time in which a grade of P was earned.
    • Please consult with an Economics Undergraduate Advisor if you are considering attempting a prerequisite for a second time.
  • Policies related to the statistics prerequisites:
    • The University will not grant credit for STAT 20/21/W21 to students who have already completed STAT 2. The Economics Department will allow students to take STAT 20/21/W21 after completing STAT 2 for the purposes of fulfilling the prerequisite requirement for admission to the major. However, in these instances, students will not earn academic credit for STAT 20/21/W21, but the letter grade will be used in the GPA calculation for admission to the major.
    • Students may choose to take an approved upper division STAT course to fulfill the statistics prerequisite to substitute for their performance in a lower division STAT course. The Economics department will take the better of the two grades and this will not count as a second attempt of a prerequisite.
    • Statistics prerequisite changes approved May 1, 2019. See Economics Major Admissions: Statistics Prerequisite FAQ.
  • At least one prerequisite in math or statistics must be completed at UC Berkeley.

What are the prerequisite courses for admission to the Economics major? Click here.

 

GPA Requirement

  • While only one upper division intermediate theory or econometrics course is required for admission, the department will include grades from all upper division core courses in-progress and/or completed at the time of application. The upper division core courses are ECON 100A/101A, ECON 100B/101B, and ECON 140/141.
    • ECON 140 (or ECON 141) will be included in the GPA calculation for admission beginning Fall 2019 for students who took ECON 140 (or ECON 141) in Fall 2019 and later.
  • Exam credit may be used to fulfill prerequisite courses, however if the equivalent course is taken at Berkeley, the letter grade earned will be included in the GPA calculation for admission to the Economics major.

What is the GPA requirement for admission to the Economics major? Click here.

 

Time frames and Deadlines to Apply

  • Withdrawn semesters do not count in the allowed time frame to apply for the major.

What are the time frames and deadlines to apply for admission to the Economics major? Click here.

 

Submit The Application

  • All students must apply for admission in order to declare the Economics major. Students who successfully complete the prerequisite requirements are guaranteed admission into the Economics major. 
  • We encourage all students pursuing the Economics major to also plan for an alternate major.
  • Please consult with an Economics Undergraduate Advisor if you are concerned about meeting the time frame or deadline to apply for the major.

 

Admissions Notification and Declaration Process

  • If admitted, students are responsible for following instructions for declaring the Economics major as provided at the time of admission. This information will be sent to students via email.
    • Students who are undeclared at the time of admission are automatically declared in the Economics major by the department.
    • Students who wish to add Economics as a second/additional major must first be admitted into the major before completing the appropriate paperwork.
  • All students must apply for admission in order to declare the Economics major. Students who successfully complete the prerequisite requirements are guaranteed admission into the Economics major. We encourage all students pursuing the Economics major to also plan for an alternate major.
  • Please consult with an Economics Undergraduate Advisor if you are concerned about meeting criteria for admission to the major.

When are students notified of their admission to the major and what is the declaration process? Click here.

 

Have more questions? Please see our FAQs.

Have even more questions? Feel free to reach out to us at ugrad@econ.berkeley.edu.