Economics is a quantitative policy oriented social science with a highly developed body of theory and a wide range of real-world applications. Economists describe the process by which scarce resources are utilized to attain individual and societal goals. Economists also predict the consequences of changes in economic activities and government policies. Theoretical models, knowledge of economic and policymaking institutions, quantitative analysis, and the examination of data are all part of this discipline.
In general, economists are interested in the economic behavior of individuals. Investigations of the daily decisions consumers, workers, and firm managers make as well as the interactions and impacts of such decisions in specific markets are the subjects of Microeconomics.
Macroeconomics refers to the analysis of overall economic activity in many markets, a region, a country or globally. Some of the specific issues of macroeconomics include economic growth, inflation, recession, unemployment and government intervention in the economy.
There are many interesting applications within economics, including international trade and finance, environment and natural resources, public policy, labor, economic development, economic history, industrial organization, mathematical and statistical methods, urban and regional economics and economic regulation. See the Economics' department website for elective course lists, prerequisites and syllabi.
The economics program offers a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. The central core of the economics degree includes economic theory, statistics, and econometrics. Course work in mathematics, including calculus, is required. Intermediate micro- and/or macroeconomic theory must be completed before enrolling in related elective coursework. You may further enhance your degree by adding an emphasis in environmental, international, quantitative, or public economics.
And the department at CU Boulder is one of the top 50 programs in the nation, according to the most recent US News and World Report rankings.
In addition, the department has a number of excellent and award-winning faculty, including, but not limited to, a CU Distinguished Professor, a College of Arts and Sciences Professor of Distinction, recipients of awards like Marquis’ Who’s Who and the Jonathan Hughes Prize for Excellence in Teaching Economic History, and fellows for organizations like Fulbright, the National Science Foundation, the Institute for the Study of Labor, the Centre for Economic Policy Research and the Royal Historical Society.