Welcome to UCLA Economics.
Congratulations! We are very happy to welcome our newly admitted students to the UCLA Economics Department. This page provides information for both our incoming freshmen and our incoming transfer students. We look forward to welcoming our newly admitted students each year at Bruin Day!
Beginning your academic path
Going to college is a big step in anyone’s life. Students join clubs and societies, make lifelong friendships, and learn about themselves and the world around them.
In the Economics Department, we teach our students how to combine theory and data to understand the problems faced by consumers, firms, and countries.
And here’s a general introduction to economics, and to our courses.
Economics degrees
The department offers three degrees (Economics, Business Economics, Mathematics/Economics) that are all based on the same underlying principles.
Explore majors and advising
You can find out more details about the Economics and the Business Economics majors on our website or by contacting the Economics undergraduate advisors.
Mathematics/Economics guidance
For information about and advising for the Mathematics/Economics major, it is best to contact the Mathematics undergraduate advisors.
Transitioning into UCLA Economics
Transfer students are an important part of our community, and the Economics Department strives to make the transition to UCLA as smooth as possible.
The majority of our transfer students hope to graduate in two years, but the short time frame comes with some challenges.
We are here to help transfer students get off to a good start and to benefit fully from the wide range of academic and co-curricular activities that UCLA has to offer.
EXEC Program
To help students succeed in this course and beyond, we have developed our Excellence in Economics, or EXEC program that provides additional academic support, dedicated discussion sections, and career training for our transfer students.
The EXEC program is currently application-based. The application will open in the summer.
Academic starting point
Transfer students must be admitted as Pre-Bus-Econ or Pre-Econ to pursue either major. Transfer students will begin their work in the major with Econ 11 (Microeconomic Theory) and Econ 105 (Introduction to Mathematical Economics).
Why Econ 105 matters
Econ 105 is designed to be a user-friendly course that will support the development of the mathematical tools necessary to have strong performances in courses such as Econ 11 that leverage formal economic analysis to explore economic policy, business strategy and data analysis.
Course structure
Econ 105 is taken concurrently with Econ 11 to provide direct support in students’ success in Econ 11.
Academic rigor + support
Econ 11 is a rigorous course which may be made more challenging by the transition from a semester system to a 10-week quarter.
Economics Majors
UCLA offers three Economics-related majors:
Economics
A rigorous foundation in economic theory, quantitative reasoning, and analysis across a wide range of fields.
Business Economics
A selective major that combines economics with accounting and business-oriented coursework.
Mathematics / Economics
A quantitatively intensive major housed in the Mathematics Department.
Contact the Mathematics Department.
The Economics Department also offers one concentration in Value Investing through the Benjamin Graham Value Investing Program.
Complementary Minors
Pair your economics coursework with a minor that deepens your skills or broadens your perspective.
Build practical business fluency.
Strengthen analytics.
Economics beyond the classroom.
Discover ways to deepen your academic experience, build community, and prepare for what comes next through department programs, student involvement, scholarships, research, and career-focused opportunities.
Scroll through some of our programs below or click here to learn about all of our opportunities at UCLA Economics.
Sharpe Fellows
Brings students and top employers together through mentorship, leadership, and career development.
Student Ambassador Program
Events, Mentorship, and Tutoring teams design programs that support and engage Economics students.
Benjamin Graham Value Investing Program
Evaluate investments and make strategic decisions using value investing principles.
Stay connected with UCLA Economics
All students interested in the Economics and the Business Economics major should be on the Econ-Alert. Visit our Contact page for advising, resources, and additional information about the Economics undergraduate program.
