Freshmen Information

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. 

PREREQUISITES

The Economics major has FIVE prerequisites. All five classes (or their equivalent) must be completed prior to acceptance to the major and all must be taken for a letter grade. Students must have an average GPA of 3.0 in the prerequisite courses taken at Berkeley, and an average GPA of 3.0 in any prerequisite courses taken at another institution. Students may apply while in progress of completing any remaining prerequisites.  Admission decisions will not be made until any prerequisite courses in progress are finished and grades are available.

  • ONE course or equivalent required of Introduction to Economics:
    • ECON 1 or 2 (At Berkeley, these courses include both micro and macro economics in one course)​​​​​
  • TWO courses are required of Math/Statistics (A-B series and Stat required):​
    • MATH 1A or 16A (or equivalent)
    • MATH 1B or 16B (or equivalent)

​                  ​At least one math or statistics prerequisite course must be taken at UC Berkeley.

  • ONE course or equivalent required of Introduction to Statistics: 
    • STAT 20, STAT 21, STAT W21, or STAT 88/DATA C88S; or
    • An upper division statistics course (STAT 131A, STAT 135, or STAT/DATA C140)* is also acceptable  

​​At least one math or statistics prerequisite course must be taken at UC Berkeley.  Please note: For students choosing STAT 88 to fulfill the statistics requirement, STAT/COMPSCI/INFO C8 must be completed before or at the same time as STAT 88.

  • ONE course is required of Intermediate Economic Theory to apply to the major (both are required to graduate): 
    • ECON 100A or 101A
    • ECON 100B or 101B, or UGBA 101B
    • ECON 140 or 141 (effective Fall 2019)**

UGBA 101A cannot be used as a prerequisite for the Econ major - no exceptions. The prerequisite intermediate theory course must be taken at UC Berkeley.

 

*Effective Fall 2019, STAT 140 or STAT 135 may be used to fulfill the statistics prerequisite for the Economics major. Starting Spring 2020, STAT/COMPSCI/INFO C8, STAT 134, and IEOR 172 will 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, or IEOR 172 in Fall 2019 and prior will be included in the GPA calculation for admission into the major.
• Grades earned in STAT/COMPSCI/INFO C8, STAT 134, or IEOR 172 in Spring 2020 and later will not be included in the GPA calculation to determine admission into the major. 
• Change 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 or later will be included in the GPA calculation for admission to the major. (Approved May 1, 2019).
 
Please email ugrad@econ.berkeley.edu for additional information.
 

ECONOMICS PROGRAM PLANS

SAMPLE PREREQUISITE PLAN: This shows how you can complete all of the above pre-requisite courses in your first four semesters (with appropriate course combinations) and apply to the economics major on-time. 

Accelerated Program Plans: The following plans show how degree requirements can potentially be completed in THREE, THREE AND A HALF, or FOUR years. Please read all department notes at the bottom of each plan. 

 

ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS (AP CREDIT)

The following Advanced Placement Examinations are accepted by the Economics Department as fulfilling course credit:

  • Math AB - scores of 3, 4 or 5 are equivalent to Math 16A or Math 1A.
  • Math BC - scores of 3 or 4 are equivalent to Math 16A or Math 1A; a score of 5 is equivalent to Math 1B and fulfills the Economics calculus prerequisite.
  • Economics Micro/Macro - scores of 4 or 5 on both exams are equivalent to Economics 1 or Economics 2.

GCE ADVANCED LEVEL EXAMINATIONS (A LEVEL CREDIT)

The following GCE Advanced Level Examinations are accepted by the Economics Department as fulfilling course credit:

  • Mathematics - score of A, B, or C is equivalent to Math 1A and 1B and fulfills the Economics calculus prerequisite.
  • Economics Micro/Macro - score of A, B, or C is equivalent to Econ 1 and fulfills the Introductory Economics prerequisite. Students may enroll in upper division economics coursework beginning in the second semester of their freshman year.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE HIGHER LEVEL EXAMINATIONS (IB CREDIT)

The following International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examinations are accepted by the Economics Department as fulfilling course credit:

  • Mathematics - score of 5, 6, or 7 fulfills the Economics calculus prerequisite.
  • Mathematics: Analysis & Approaches - score of 5, 6, or 7 fulfills MATH 1A or MATH 16A.
  • Mathematics: Anaylsis & Approaches - score of 7 fulfills MATH 1A and MATH 1B.
  • Mathematics: Applications & Interpreation - score of 5, 6, or 7 fulfills MATH 16A.
  • Economics Micro/Macro - score of 5, 6, or 7 is equivalent to Econ 1 and fulfills the Introductory Economics prerequisite.