Economics Overview

Please click here to see Economics department information.

Please click here to see College of Liberal Arts and Sciences information.

The economics major provides flexibility and opportunity and can take you in many directions, both inside and outside of the field of economics. In fact, most economics majors do not work as economists, but in business careers of all varieties. The analytical and quantitative skills that one acquires as an economics major are much in demand in the job market and are also highly attractive to law schools and MBA programs. Whatever your career plans, economics training can give you the edge you need to further your long-term goals.

An economics major equips you with technical skills for investigating cause-and-effect relationships.  Economists have the expertise to evaluate real-world data in a way that discovers patterns and predictability.  In this respect, they can design strategies for individuals, firms, and governments that circumvent the harmful effects of economic disruptions. The keen analytical skills of an economics major who also understands financial markets are sought by businesses and institutions looking for knowledgeable leaders who can make informed decisions in dynamic environments.

Trained economists are employed by private businesses, banks, law firms, consulting firms, international corporations and agencies, public utilities, federal and local governments, and colleges and universities. Economists who work in the private sector spend much of their time using the tools of economics to analyze issues that are important to their employers. For instance, these economists might be called upon to forecast the demand for the company's product, to perform cost-benefit or optimal pricing analyses for potential projects, or to analyze the effects of government regulations on the company.  

The BA program in economics provides training in basic economic theory, the use of statistical techniques to analyze economic phenomena, and more specific fields within economics, such as labor economics, international trade, developing and transitional economies, and money and banking. Economics majors from CU Denver have recently gone on to prestigious positions at companies such as Qwest, Merck Pharmaceuticals, Citicorp and Lockheed Martin, and to graduate schools at universities such as Harvard, Stanford, University of Chicago, University of Rochester, and Columbia.

The Economics Department at CU Denver is comprised of energetic, internationally recognized scholars who are publishing their cutting-edge research in prominent academic journals. In addition to their scientific publications, CU Denver economics professors have a direct impact on policy through avenues such as consulting for members of the US Congress and various branches of the Colorado state government, conducting federally funded policy-oriented research, and participating in local and national conferences and seminars. This research activity of the department allows the students to gain exposure to knowledge and tools at the frontiers of economic analysis. In addition, students receive the most up-to-date information and the latest analysis of such topics as taxation, the effectiveness of poverty programs, international trade and finance, economic foreign policy, the consequences of government intervention in the economy, the economic analysis of race and sex discrimination, and many other contemporary topics. Research publications of CU Denver professors can be found on faculty member's profiles.

Faculty are accessible and friendly, and the department provides plenty of opportunity to receive "hands-on" experience and training in the field of economics. They include teaching and research assistantships in the department, and internships under the guidance of the department. There are also opportunities to take economics classes at our campus overseas. Currently, students can take economics classes in Beijing, and receive full credit toward their major and CLAS requirements.

Finance Overview

Please click here to see Business School information.

The principal areas of study in finance are financial management in small and large businesses, investments, financial institutions, and international finance. The study of finance is intended to provide an understanding of fundamental theory and practice pertaining to finance; to make sound financial decisions. Students are taught to think logically about financial problems, so that they can formulate and implement value maximizing decisions and policies for the business. For this purpose, it is necessary to understand the importance of finance in the economy and the functions and purposes of monetary systems, credit, prices, money markets, and financial institutions. Emphasis is placed on financial policy, management, control, analysis, and decision making.

The finance major provides students with the skills to succeed in all areas of finance. Numerous job opportunities exist in the field of business finance and with financial institutions, mutual funds, securities firms, personal wealth management firms, and financial planning firms including positions involving an understanding and sale of securities.

Program Delivery

• This is an on-campus program.

Declaring This Major

• Click here to go to information about declaring a major in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Click here to go to information about declaring a major in the Business School.

These degree requirements are subject to periodic revision by the academic department, and the Business School and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences reserve the right to make exceptions and substitutions as judged necessary in individual cases. Therefore, students should consult regularly with their major advisors and CLAS advisor to confirm the best plans of study before finalizing them. 

General Requirements

To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.

• CU Denver General Graduation Requirements
• CU Denver Core Curriculum   
• Business School Graduation Requirements
• College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Graduation Requirements
• Click here for information about Academic Policies

Program Requirements

1. Students must complete a minimum of 62 credit hours from approved major courses.
2. Students must complete a minimum of 18 upper division (3000-level and above) ECON credit hours, with a minimum of 12 at the 4000-level. 
3. Students must earn a minimum grade of C-(1.7) in all ECON and FNCE courses taken at CU Denver and must achieve a minimum cumulative major GPA of 2.0. One ECON elective with a grade of D+, D, or D- will count towards major requirements. Courses taken on a P+/P/F or S/U basis will not count toward the major. Students must meet all minimum grade and GPA requirements for Business School Core courses and prerequisites as well. 
4. Students must complete a minimum of 18 ECON credit hours including ECON 4811 Introduction to Econometrics, with CU Denver faculty.  Once a student has enrolled at CU Denver, no more courses in the major can be taken outside the CU Denver Economics Department.  This includes courses offered at Metropolitan State University.  The department reserves the right to require a demonstration of competence for any core courses not taken from CU Denver faculty. Students must meet all minimum residency requirements for Business School courses and must complete MGMT 4500 Business Policy and Strategic Management with CU Denver faculty, as well. 

Program Restrictions, Allowances and Recommendations

1. Students who carefully follow the recommended curriculum will be able to double count several courses, which will allow them to complete both degrees in 129 credit hours.
2. A minimum of 12 of the 18 upper division credit hours required must be completed with 4000 level and above courses.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Business School Requirements
COMM 2050	Professional Presentations (Satisfies Business School and CLAS Communicative Skills graduation req.)	3
ECON 2012	Principles of Economics: Macroeconomics (Satisfies CU Denver Social Science Core and Business School Graduation Requirement)	3
ECON 2022	Principles of Economics: Microeconomics (Satisfies CLAS Social Science Graduation Requirement and Business School Graduation Requirement)	3
ENGL 3170	Business Writing (Satisfies Business School and CLAS Humanities graduation reqs)	3
MATH 1110	College Algebra (or higher level MATH course, Satisfies CU Denver Core Mathematics and Business School Graduation Requirement))	4
Other Business School Core Requirements can be found in the Business School catalog (see link below). Check with BUSN Advisor for more information
Business School Catalog
Business School Core
BLAW 3050	Business Law and Ethics (Satisfies Business School and CLAS Behavioral Science graduation req.)	3
ECON 3811	Statistics with Computer Applications (Satisfies BANA 2010 Business School Graduation Requiremen)	4
Complete the following Finance course requirements 1		18
FNCE 3500	Management of Business Capital (Complete the following Finance course requirements)
FNCE 3600	Financial Markets and Institutions
FNCE 3700	Investment and Portfolio Management
FNCE 4370	International Financial Management (Satisfies the Business School International Studies graduation requirement)
FNCE 4500	Corporate Financial Decisions
Complete three credits from 3000 or 4000-level FNCE courses. 2
Complete the following Economics course requirements		21
ECON 3801	Introduction to Mathematical Economics 3
ECON 4071	Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
ECON 4081	Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
ECON 4811	Introduction to Econometrics
Complete nine credit hours from 4000-level ECON courses. 2
Total Hours		62

¹

A grade of C or higher must be earned in all Business courses that are used as prerequisites.

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²

Economics internships and independent studies require approval of the Economics department chair in order to be given credit as an economics course.

A maximum of six credit hours of independent study may be applied towards the Finance degree requirements. Finance independent study request form must be signed by the student, the instructor, the program director and the Assistant Dean in order to be given credit as a finance course. 

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³

MATH 2411 Calculus II or MATH 2421 Calculus III with a grade of B or higher will satisfy the ECON 3801 Introduction to Mathematical Economics requirement. If a student completes ECON 3801 Introduction to Mathematical Economics, and then subsequently or concurrently completes MATH 2411 Calculus II, with a grade of B or higher, ECON 3801 Introduction to Mathematical Economics will be counted as an Economics 3000-level elective but will not be used as an elective for evaluation of Honors. However, if a student has already completed MATH 2411 Calculus II with a B or better, then ECON 3801 Introduction to Mathematical Economics taken subsequently cannot be counted as an elective.

To learn more about the Economics BA Student Learning Outcomes, please visit our website. 

To learn more about the Finance BS in Business Administration Student Learning Outcomes, please visit our website. 

To review the Degree Map for this program, please refer to the sequencing below or visit our website. Each student will have unique circumstances and needs, so everyone should consult with their advisors frequently to determine the best schedule each term and to stay on track.

Students are encouraged to take courses during summer terms, to balance their workload across each semester. Students who place into a MATH course lower than MATH 1110 and those who must complete one or two semesters of language should consult with their advisor to develop a more customized degree map. 

To review a list of courses will fulfill CU Denver Core Arts, Behavioral Science, Humanities and Natural and Physical Sciences with and without a lab, please check the CU Denver Core Curriculum.

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Semester 1		Hours
ENGL 1020	Core Composition I	3
MATH 1110	College Algebra (Satisfies CU Denver Core Mathematics and Business School Graduation Requirement)	4
CU Denver Core Natural and Physical Sciences with a lab		4
ECON 2012	Principles of Economics: Macroeconomics (Satisfies CU Denver Social Science Core and Business School Graduation Requirement)	3
UNIV 1110	College Success	1
	Hours	15
Semester 2
CU Denver Core Arts or Behavioral Science or Humanities or Natural and Physical Sciences without a Lab (MATH is recommended)		3
ECON 2022	Principles of Economics: Microeconomics (Satisfies CLAS Social Science Graduation Requirement and Business School Graduation Requirement)	3
ENGL 2030	Core Composition II	3
ISMG 2050	Business Problem Solving Tools	3
CU Denver Core Natural and Physical Sciences with a lab		4
	Hours	16
Summer
CU Denver Core Arts or Behavioral Science or Humanities or Natural and Physical Sciences without a Lab (MATH is recommended)		3
	Hours	3
Year 2
Semester 1
CU Denver Core Arts or Behavioral Science or Humanities or Natural and Physical Sciences without a Lab (MATH is recommended)		3
ACCT 2200	Financial Accounting and Financial Statement Analysis	3
COMM 2050	Professional Presentations (Satisfies Business School and CLAS Communicative Skills graduation req.)	3
ECON 3100	Economics of Race and Gender (Satisfies CU Denver Cultural Diversity Core Requirement)	3
ECON 3811	Statistics with Computer Applications (Satisfies BANA 2010 Business School Graduation Requirement)	4
	Hours	16
Semester 2
CU Denver Core Arts or Behavioral Science or Humanities or Natural and Physical Sciences without a Lab (MATH is recommended)		3
ACCT 2220	Managerial Accounting and Professional Issues	3
BUSN 2110	Cultivating Emotional Intelligence	1
ECON 3801	Introduction to Mathematical Economics	3
ECON 4811	Introduction to Econometrics	3
ENGL 3170	Business Writing (Satisfies Business School and CLAS Humanities graduation reqs.)	3
	Hours	16
Summer
CU Denver Core International Perspectives		3
	Hours	3
Year 3
Semester 1
BANA 3000	Operations Management	3
ECON 4071	Intermediate Microeconomic Theory	3
FNCE 3000	Principles of Finance	3
MGMT 3000	Managing Individuals and Teams	3
MKTG 3000	Principles of Marketing	3
	Hours	15
Semester 2
BLAW 3050	Business Law and Ethics (Satisfies Business School and CLAS Behavioral Science graduation req.)	3
BUSN 3110	Career and Professional Development	1
FNCE 3500	Management of Business Capital	3
FNCE 3700	Investment and Portfolio Management	3
ISMG 3000	Technology In Business	3
One 4000-level or higher ECON elective		3
	Hours	16
Summer
Complete language proficiency or use the summer to catch up.
	Hours	0
Year 4
Semester 1
FNCE 4370	International Financial Management (Satisfies the Business School International Studies graduation requirement)	3
FNCE 3600	Financial Markets and Institutions	3
ECON 4081	Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory	3
Business School Experiential Learning: Business students must earn 3 semester hours of credit in an approved Experiential Learning course. This can be satisfied by completing: an Internship; MGMT 4900 Project Management and Practice/ISMG 4900 Project Management and Practice; MGMT 4120 Collaborative Experiential Learning; MGMT 4825 Sustainable Change Leadership: Turning Business Into a Force for Good; or completing an approved Study Abroad business course.		3
One 4000-level or higher ECON elective		3
	Hours	15
Semester 2
FNCE 4500	Corporate Financial Decisions	3
4000-level or higher FNCE elective		3
4000-level or higher ECON elective		3
MGMT 4500	Business Policy and Strategic Management	3
Complete any outstanding requirements.
	Hours	12
	Total Hours	127