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Consistently placed at the top of national rankings, Rausser College’s graduate programs allow students to form lasting partnerships with faculty working at the leading edges of their fields. Graduate degree programs are run by academic departments; visit the websites for individual departments and degrees to find more specific information, requirements and opportunities.

Information on applications, financial aid, rankings, and more can be found at the Graduate Division , a hub for current and incoming graduate students.

Graduate Degree Offerings

Agricultural & Resource Economics – Ph.D.   ARE’s doctoral program produces outstanding researchers in economics and policy, specializing in problems of agriculture, agribusiness, applied econometrics, biotech/intellectual properties, energy, environment and resources, international development, and international trade.

Energy & Resources – M.A., M.S., and Ph.D.   Students in the Master’s and Ph.D. pro­grams at ERG are taught the range of meth­ods and sub­jects they should be able to under­stand, advance, and critique to address crit­i­cal issues stem­ming from the inter­ac­tion of humans and the environ­ment. To that end, the require­ments are both broad and deep, stress­ing ana­lytic, method­olog­i­cal, the­o­ret­i­cal, and prac­ti­cal approaches to prob­lems in energy, resources, and the environment.

Environmental Science, Policy & Management – Ph.D . ESPM is engaged in biological, physical, and social research that spans the continuum from basic to applied research. The Ph.D. program incorporates two general approaches: (1) broadly based interdisciplinary education and (2) disciplinary education in relevant fields supplemented with exposure to cross-disciplinary communication and problem solving.

Forestry – M.F.   ESPM’s Master of Forestry degree is the only “MF” program in California and the only graduate degree program in California that offers qualifying credit for meeting education/experience requirements for licensing as a Registered Professional Forester in California.

Range Management – M.S . Graduate study in range management serves as the basis for a professional career in rangeland livestock production systems, grassland, savanna, wetland and/or shrubland ecology and management, native plants, rangeland rehabilitation, conservation easements, wildlife habitat, water quality issues, working landscapes, and rangeland economics and policy.

Photo by Mathew Burciaga.

Metabolic Biology - M.S. and Ph.D & Molecular Toxicology – Ph.D.  Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology degree programs span a breadth of topics from the delivery of nutrients to mammalian cells and their molecular functions, to the influence of genetics on diet-associated human disease, to programs and policies that address human and environmental health and safety. 

Master of Climate Solutions — MCS The Master of Climate Solutions empowers the next generation of climate and sustainability leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to enact real solutions and create change. The 10 month, in-person program translates fundamental science and groundbreaking discoveries, enabling professionals to learn how to evaluate technologies, develop just climate strategies, and remove barriers to implementing practical climate solutions.

Master of Nutritional Sciences & Dietetics — MNSD  The 21-month Master of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics (MNSD) program prepares students for a career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. 

Plant and Microbial Biology graduate student Israel Figueroa identified the first natural example of a pathway for carbon dioxide fixation. Photo by Natalea Schager.

Plant Biology – Ph.D.  The Plant Biology Ph.D. program focuses on basic plant research and on the design of biotechnologies. Our partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Plant Gene Expression Center in nearby Albany, Calif., offers a model of successful collaborations between the University and an outside agency.

Microbiology  – Ph.D .  Microbiology draws on and is relevant to the fields of biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, developmental biology, pathogenesis, ecology, and evolution. UC Berkeley’s Graduate Group in Microbiology provides students with the education and research experience needed to develop as top scientists and researchers in the field.

Master of Development Practice   The MDP is based on a multidisciplinary, constructivist approach to graduate education that integrates theory with hands-on, experiential learning. It is designed to meet real-world challenges, identify paths toward sustainable development, and serve as a hub of development practice on the Berkeley campus.

Graduate Degree Programs by Department

Department of agricultural and resource economics.

• Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics

Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management

• Master of Forestry
• Master of Science in Range Management
• Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy, & Management

Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology

• Master of Nutritional Sciences & Dietetics
• Master of Science in Metabolic Biology
• Ph.D. in Metabolic Biology
• Ph.D. in Molecular Toxicology

Plant and Microbial Biology

• Ph.D. in Plant Biology
• Ph.D. in Microbiology

Energy & Resources Group

• Master's Degree (M.A. or M.S.) in Energy & Resources
• Ph.D. in Energy & Resources

Professional Education Programs

• The Beahrs Environmental Leadership Program
• International and Executive Programs

Other Opportunities for Graduate Students

Designated Emphasis in Science and Technology Studies

Graduate Certificate in Food Systems

Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Information Science and Technology

Letters & Science

Uc berkeley james m. and cathleen d. stone center on wealth and income inequality.

The James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Wealth and Income Inequality at UC Berkeley was created to serve as a research hub for campus and beyond, enabling UC Berkeley’s world-leading scholars to deepen our understanding of the inequality in society and formulate new approaches to address the challenge of creating a more equitable society. The Center serves as the primary convening point at UC Berkeley for research, teaching and data development concerning the causes, nature, and consequences of wealth and income inequalities with a special emphasis on the concentration of wealth at the very top. 

2024 Summer Institute

We are accepting applications for early-stage PhD students to attend a Summer Institute at Berkeley.  Deadline to apply is February 15, 2024 .  Information and application are available at the Summer Institute website .

Emmanuel Saez

Emmanuel Saez is Professor of Economics and Director of the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Wealth and Income Inequality at UC Berkeley. He received his PhD in Economics from MIT in 1999. His research focuses on inequality and tax policy. Jointly with Thomas Piketty, he created the top income share series that show a dramatic increase in US inequality since 1980. The data have been widely discussed in the public debate. His most recent book "The Triumph of Injustice", joint with his colleague Gabriel Zucman, narrates the demise of US progressive taxation and how to reinvent it in the 21st century. He received numerous academic awards including the John Bates Clark medal of the American Economic Association in 2009, a MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship in 2010, and an Honorary degree from Harvard University in 2019. Read more

Hilary Hoynes

Hilary Hoynes, co-director of the  James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Wealth and Income Inequality at UC Berkeley, is a Professor of Economics and Public Policy and holds the Haas Distinguished Chair in Economic Disparities at the University of California Berkeley where she also co-directs the Berkeley Opportunity Lab. Her research focuses on poverty, inequality, food and nutrition programs, and the impacts of government tax and transfer programs on low-income families. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Social Insurance, and a Fellow of the Society of Labor Economists. She has served as Co-Editor of the American Economic Review and the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. She currently serves on the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Building an Agenda to Reduce the Number of Children in Poverty by Half in 10 Years. Read more

Gabriel Zucman

Gabriel Zucman is Associate Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, co-director of the summer school at the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Wealth and Income Inequality at UC Berkeley, and director of the EU Tax Observatory. He is the author of articles published in peer-reviewed journals such as the Quarterly Journal of Economics, the American Economic Review, the Journal of Public Economics, and of two books. His research focuses on the accumulation, distribution, and taxation of global wealth and has renewed the analysis of the macro-distributional implications of globalization. In a series of papers and in his book The Hidden Wealth of Nations, he has developed methods to measure the wealth held in tax havens. This research finds that 8% of the world’s household financial wealth is held in tax havens, with large variation across countries—from a few percent in Scandinavia to 50% in Russia. Data leaked from offshore financial institutions (such as the “Panama Papers”) suggest that offshore wealth is highly concentrated.  Read more

Mathilde Muñoz

Mathilde Muñoz  is Assistant professor of economics and a faculty affiliate at the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Wealth and Income Inequality at UC Berkeley. Mathilde works on topics in public economics and international trade, with a particular interest for the distributional effects of globalization and tax competition. Her research has been awarded the Young Economist Award from the International Institute for Public Finance in 2019, the OECD Future of work fellowship in 2020 and the Arthur Sachs prize in 2021. Since 2020, she has been appointed by the European Commission as a national expert for international mobility and trade in services in France and Belgium, as part of the POSTING.STAT consortium. She will receive her PhD in Economics from Paris School of Economics in 2022 after spending the 2021-2022 year as the Arthur Sachs research fellow at Harvard Economics department. Read more

Eva Seto is Associate Director of the Social Science Matrix and administers the Summer Institute for the Stone Center at Berkeley. Her education and many years of experience working in research institutes on the Berkeley campus provide Matrix with knowledge about the social-science landscape on campus, as well as the management skills to help successfully administer the programs, centers, and projects of Matrix. Eva earned her M.A. and B.A in Economics from UC Berkeley.

Camille Fernandez

Camille is the Executive Director for the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Wealth and Income Inequality along with The Robert D. Burch and Center for Labor Economics. She has worked in the economics department in several roles, including serving as center manager for various centers. She is a former staff member of the UC Berkeley Police Department where she supported the department for 20 years.

Researchers

Jakob Brounstein

Jakob Brounstein is PhD Candidate in economics at UC Berkeley studying public and labor economics. He specializes in issues related to fiscality, tax avoidance/evasion, and inequality. His current work focuses on the tax externalities of homelessness policy and comprehensively estimating the changes in benefits absorbed and taxes collected in response to changes in individuals’ homelessness status. 

Cristóbal Otero

Cristóbal is a PhD Candidate in Economics at UC Berkeley. He holds a BA and an MA in Economics from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He also obtained an MSc in Philosophy of the Social Sciences from the London School of Economics. His fields of interest are public and labor economics. His current research focuses on the impact of corporate taxation on investment and wages. His website can be found here

Javier Feinmann

Javier Feinmann is an Argentinian economist pursuing his PhD in Economics at UC Berkeley. He earned his B.A. in Universidad de Buenos Aires and his M.A. in Universidad Torcuato di Tella, both in Buenos Aires. His current research agenda is at the intersection of Public, Labor and Development Economics, with a particular focus on inequality and the government's role in the economy. He works on topics related to tax evasion in developing countries.

Nina Roussille

Nina Roussille will join MIT’s Economics Department as an Assistant Professor in 2023, after spending the 2021-2022 academic year as an Assistant Professorial Research Fellow at LSE and the 2022-2023 academic year as a Postdoctoral Associate at MIT. Nina works on topics in labor, gender and public economics, with a particular interest for the distributional effects of labor market policies. She received her PhD in Economics from UC Berkeley in 2021 and previously worked as a pre-doctoral fellow at Harvard for the Opportunity Insight lab.

Wouter Leenders

Wouter Leenders is a PhD student at the Department of Economics at UC Berkeley. In his research he studies the distribution of wealth, income, and taxes, as well as the effect of government policies on these distributions. He obtained a BA in Economics from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Will Sandholtz

Will Sandholtz is a PhD student in the Department of Economics at UC Berkeley.  He primarily studies public finance and microeconomic theory.  Recently, he has researched how corporate tax rates affect the location of U.S. multinationals' profits and capital stock. Will also holds undergraduate degrees in economics and statistics from UC Berkeley.

Carmen Durrer

Carmen Durrer de la Sota is a research assistant at the World Inequality Lab and a graduate student at the Paris School of Economics. She holds a degree in social sciences from Sciences Po Paris.

Arthur Vasconcellos Pacheco Weiss

Arthur Vasconcellos Pacheco Weiss is a Pre Doc at Institute for Research on Labor & Employment. He holds a BA in Economics and in Theater and Performance Studies from UC Berkeley. He wrote his senior thesis on the impact of recreational marijuana legalization on the use of hard drugs and is now aiding in researching the impact of school reform in Brazil. His thesis will soon be available here .

Eva Davoine

Eva Davoine is a PhD student at Haas, UC Berkeley. She holds a BA and an MA in Economics from Sciences Po Paris and worked as a pre-doctoral fellow at the World Bank. Her current research is at the intersection of Public, Political and Development Economics. She is particularly interested in tax resistance movements and inequalities, both in developed and developing countries. 

Felipe Lobel

Felipe is a PhD candidate in the Economics Department at the University of California, Berkeley. His research lies on the intersection of Public, Labor and Development Economics. His work focuses on the effects of corporate taxation. He combines theory and data to deepen our understanding about firm dynamics, labor markets, and the design of redistributive policy. His research relies on data from the US, Honduras, and mostly Brazil. Find out more on his website .

by  Facundo Alvaredo (Editor) ,  Lucas Chancel (Editor) ,  Thomas Piketty (Editor) ,  Emmanuel Saez (Editor) ,  Gabriel Zucman (Editor)

The Stone Center Annual Lecture: Global wealth, gender and carbon injustice

The 2022 world inequality report, march 2022 the stone center annual lecture: global wealth, gender and carbon injustice.

Presentation by Lucas Chancel, editor of the 2022 World Inequality Report.

World Inequality Report 2022 - Introduction

Twitter: @ucbstone

The 2022 uc berkeley annual stone lecture: slouching towards utopia, 2022/23 visitors, apply for research support.

The James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Wealth and Income Inequality awards grants for Berkeley students and faculty working on issues related to inequality. Grants have an annual funding cycle with an application deadline of late spring. An email will be sent each spring to the Berkeley community with the application announcement and the due date. Additional funding for students is available on an ongoing basis for travels, data purchases, and other research-related expenses; please contact us .

Research and Publications

Tax Evasion at The Top of the Income Distribution: Theory and Evidence

This paper studies tax evasion at the top of the U.S. income distribution using IRS micro-data from (i) random audits, (ii) targeted enforcement activities, and (iii) operational audits. Drawing on this unique combination of data, we demonstrate empirically that random audits underestimate tax evasion at the top of the income distribution. Specifically, random audits do not capture most tax evasion through offshore accounts and pass-through businesses, both of which are quantitatively important at the top.

A Wealth Tax on Corporations’ Stock

We propose to institute a new tax on corporations’ stock shares for all publicly listed companies headquartered in G20 countries. Every year, each company would have to pay 0.2 percent of the value of its stock in taxes. As the G20 stock market capitalization is around $90 trillion, the tax would raise approximately $180 billion each year.

Trends in U.S. Income and Wealth Inequality: Revising After the Revisionists

Recent studies argue that US inequality has increased less than previously thought, in particular,  due to a more modest rise of wealth and capital income at the top (Smith et al., 2019; Smith,  Zidar and Zwick, 2020; Auten and Splinter, 2019). We examine the claims made in these papers point by point, separating genuine improvements from arguments that do not appear to us well-grounded empirically or conceptually. Taking stock of this body of work, and factoring in other improvements, we provide a comprehensive update of our estimates of US income and wealth inequality

The Rise of Income and Wealth Inequality in America: Evidence from Distributional Macroeconomic Accounts

The fraction of national income that is reported in individual income tax data has declined from 70 percent in the late 1970s to about 60 percent in 2018. The gap is larger in survey data, such as the Current Population Survey, which do not capture top incomes well. This gap makes it hard to address questions such as: What fraction of national income is earned by the bottom 50 percent, the middle 40 percent, and the top 10 percent of the distribution? Who has benefited from economic growth since the 1980s?

Ending Corporate Tax Avoidance and Tax Competition: A Plan to Collect the Tax Deficit of Multinationals

Between 1985 and 2019, the global average statutory corporate tax rate has fallen from 49 percent to 23 percent, largely due to the rise of international tax competition. The biggest winners from globalization have received the largest tax cuts. In this paper we propose a solution to replace this race-to-the-bottom with a race-to-the-top. Multinational companies that have low effective tax rates in some foreign countries (what we call a “tax deficit”) would pay an extra tax in their home country. We explain how such a tax should be designed and how it could be collected.

Capital Gains Withholding

This paper studies tax evasion at the top of the U.S. income distribution using IRS micro-data from (i) random audits, (ii) targeted enforcement activities and (iii) operational audits. Drawing on this unique combination of data, we demonstrate empirically that random audits underestimate tax evasion at the top of the income distribution.

How to Get $1 Trillion from 1000 Billionaires: Tax their Gains Now

Billionaires pay low effective tax rates because they can defer taxes on their capital gains for decades or forever as income tax on gains is due only upon sale of assets. US billionaires. now own $4.25 Trillion, out of which $2.7 Trillion are gains that they haven’t paid tax upon yet. During COVID, billionaires' untaxed gains increased by $1.25 Trillion. We propose to end this tax deferral advantage by imposing a one-time tax on the stock of billionaires’ unrealized gains at the ordinary tax rate (39.6%+3.8% under Biden’s plan).

Increasing the Minimum Wage through Tax Policy

This document describes how to use tax policy to achieve the same economic goal as a minimum wage increase: increasing the net pay of low paid workers using extra taxes on their employers.

Agricultural & Resource Economics PhD

The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics offers programs leading to PhD degrees. Due to quota limitations, students are rarely admitted for the master's degree, although it may be awarded to students who are pursuing work toward the PhD in our program (or in another field at Berkeley) after fulfillment of the appropriate MS requirements.

The Agricultural and Resource Economics Program is relatively flexible; however, the program stresses economic theory, quantitative methods, and two elective fields defined in consultation with the graduate adviser. Some common elective fields include development economics, natural resource or environmental economics, agricultural policy, and international markets and trade.

Contact Info

[email protected]

207 Giannini Hall

Berkeley, CA 94720

At a Glance

Department(s)

Agricultural & Resource Econonomics

Admit Term(s)

Application Deadline

December 1, 2023

Degree Type(s)

Doctoral / PhD

Degree Awarded

GRE Requirements

About the Program

Bachelor of arts (ba).

The Department of Economics is home to over 1500 undergraduate students. Economics majors can enroll in a broad array of economics courses, ranging from economic history to advanced macroeconomics. Students are encouraged to study abroad, participate in research, and take advantage of the many opportunities Berkeley has to offer.

Declaring the Major

As a popular major, declaration of the Economics major is admission-based and students must meet specific criteria in order to be admitted. Students who want to apply to the economics major must have completed or be currently enrolled in all the major prerequisites. Students admitted to Berkeley as freshmen must apply by their fifth semester of post-high school coursework unless they have fewer than 80 total units. This total includes coursework in-progress but excludes high school enrichment units, e.g., Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or other college units earned prior to high school graduation. Transfer students required to enroll in remaining prerequisites and apply to the major during their first semester at Berkeley. The 80 unit cap does not apply to transfer students.

For more information, please visit the department's prospective student website .

Honors Program

Students interested in graduating with honors in economics should consult with a faculty adviser no later than the second semester of their junior year. The department recommends a student for graduation with honors based on evidence of superior performance provided by a thesis written in the senior year and the student's course grade record overall and in the major. The minimum major grade point average (GPA) requirement is 3.5 in upper division economics courses and 3.3 GPA overall. The senior thesis may be an extension of a seminar paper prepared under the continued guidance of a faculty member through enrollment in ECON H195A / ECON H195B .

Minor Program

There is no minor program in economics.

Visit Department Website

Major Requirements

In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.

General Guidelines

• All courses taken to fulfill the major requirements below must be taken for graded credit, other than courses listed which are offered on a  Pass/No Pass  basis only. Other exceptions to this requirement are noted as applicable.
• No more than two upper division courses may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and an additional major program. No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs, with the exception of minors offered outside of the College of Letters & Science.
• A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained in both upper and lower division courses used to fulfill the major requirements.

For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.

Prerequisites

For a comprehensive overview of the Economics admission process, please visit econ.berkeley.edu/undergrad/prospective

 At least one semester of the calculus/statistics requirement must be completed at UC Berkeley.

Students may take  UGBA 101B  to fulfill the Intermediate Macroeconomic requirement.

Students who took  STAT C8 ,  STAT 134 , or  IND ENG 172  Fall 2019 and prior should consult Economics website  for details.

Upper Division Requirements

Approved list of Economics electives available at  https://www.econ.berkeley.edu/undergrad/current/major-requirements

College Requirements

Undergraduate students must fulfill the following requirements in addition to those required by their major program.

For a detailed lists of L&S requirements, please see Overview tab to the right in this guide or visit the L&S Degree Requirements webpage. For College advising appointments, please visit the L&S Advising Pages. 

University of California Requirements

Entry level writing.

All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling the Entry Level Writing requirement. Fulfillment of this requirement is also a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley and must be taken for a letter grade. 

American History and American Institutions

The American History and American Institutions requirements are based on the principle that all U.S. residents who have graduated from an American university should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.

Berkeley Campus Requirement

American cultures.

All undergraduate students at Cal need to take and pass this campus requirement course in order to graduate. The requirement offers an exciting intellectual environment centered on the study of race, ethnicity and culture of the United States. AC courses are plentiful and offer students opportunities to be part of research-led, highly accomplished teaching environments, grappling with the complexity of American Culture.

College of Letters & Science Essential Skills Requirements

Quantitative reasoning.

The Quantitative Reasoning requirement is designed to ensure that students graduate with basic understanding and competency in math, statistics, or computer/data science. The requirement may be satisfied by exam or by taking an approved course taken for a letter grade.

Foreign Language

The Foreign Language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating proficiency in reading comprehension, writing, and conversation in a foreign language equivalent to the second semester college level, either by passing an exam or by completing approved course work taken for a letter grade.

Reading and Composit ion

In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and critical thinking the College of Letters and Science requires two semesters of lower division work in composition in sequence. Students must complete parts A & B reading and composition courses in sequential order by the end of their fourth semester for a letter grade.

College of Letters & Science 7 Course Breadth Requirements

Breadth requirements.

The undergraduate breadth requirements provide Berkeley students with a rich and varied educational experience outside of their major program. As the foundation of a liberal arts education, breadth courses give students a view into the intellectual life of the University while introducing them to a multitude of perspectives and approaches to research and scholarship. Engaging students in new disciplines and with peers from other majors, the breadth experience strengthens interdisciplinary connections and context that prepares Berkeley graduates to understand and solve the complex issues of their day.

Unit Requirements

120 total units

Of the 120 units, 36 must be upper division units

• Of the 36 upper division units, 6 must be taken in courses offered outside your major department

Residence Requirements

For units to be considered in "residence," you must be registered in courses on the Berkeley campus as a student in the College of Letters & Science. Most students automatically fulfill the residence requirement by attending classes at Cal for four years, or two years for transfer students. In general, there is no need to be concerned about this requirement, unless you graduate early, go abroad for a semester or year, or want to take courses at another institution or through UC Extension during your senior year. In these cases, you should make an appointment to meet an L&S College adviser to determine how you can meet the Senior Residence Requirement.

Note: Courses taken through UC Extension do not count toward residence.

Senior Residence Requirement

After you become a senior (with 90 semester units earned toward your B.A. degree), you must complete at least 24 of the remaining 30 units in residence in at least two semesters. To count as residence, a semester must consist of at least 6 passed units. Intercampus Visitor, EAP, and UC Berkeley-Washington Program (UCDC) units are excluded.

You may use a Berkeley Summer Session to satisfy one semester of the Senior Residence requirement, provided that you successfully complete 6 units of course work in the Summer Session and that you have been enrolled previously in the college.

Modified Senior Residence Requirement

Participants in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), Berkeley Summer Abroad, or the UC Berkeley Washington Program (UCDC) may meet a Modified Senior Residence requirement by completing 24 (excluding EAP) of their final 60 semester units in residence. At least 12 of these 24 units must be completed after you have completed 90 units.

Upper Division Residence Requirement

You must complete in residence a minimum of 18 units of upper division courses (excluding UCEAP units), 12 of which must satisfy the requirements for your major.

Plan of Study

For more detailed information regarding the courses listed below (e.g., elective information, GPA requirements, etc.), see the College Requirements and Major Requirements tabs.

This is a sample program plan. This plan assumes that the student has completed the Entry Level Writing, American History and Institutions, Quantitative Reasoning, and Foreign Language requirements prior to admission, and does not require MATH 32 .

To declare the Economics major, students admitted as freshmen must complete all prerequisite courses and apply to the major no later than their fifth semester at Berkeley. A minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0 is also required.

The economics major is impacted and cannot guarantee enrollment in specific courses.

Students are strongly advised to work with an academic advisor to determine a personal program plan. Your program plan will differ depending on previous credit received, your course schedule, and available offerings.

MATH 53 is a prerequisite to enroll in ECON 101A . ECON 101A ,  ECON 101B , and ECON 141 (the math intensive versions of ECON 100A , ECON 100B , and ECON 140 ) are recommended for students interested in research or pursuing a PhD in Economics, and require the MATH 1A - MATH 1B series as prerequisites. ECON 100A / ECON 101A and ECON 100B / ECON 101B  can be taken out of order. ECON 140 / ECON 141 should be taken the semester following completion of ECON 100A / ECON 101A  and ECON 100B / ECON 101B .

Other options for the statistics prerequisite are: STAT 20 ,  STAT 21 ,  STAT W21 ,  STAT C88S ,  STAT C131A , STAT 135 , STAT C140 . Students who took  STAT C8 ,  STAT 134 , or  IND ENG 172  Fall 2019 and prior should consult  Economics website  for details.

For students intending to complete the Economics Honors Program , one approved research course can be used to fulfill both the "Research Requirement" for the Honors Program and an upper division elective. Discuss your plans for this program with an Economics advisor. The Economics Honors Program is optional .

ECON H195B is the Honors Thesis Course for students intending to complete the Economics Honors Program .

Accelerated Program Plans

For students considering graduating in less than four years, it is important to acknowledge the reasons to undertake such a plan of study. While there are advantages to pursuing a three-year degree plan such as reducing financial burdens, they are not for everyone and do involve sacrifices; especially with respect to participating in co-curricular activities, depth of study, and summer internships, which typically lead to jobs upon graduation. All things considered, please see the tables for three and three and a half year degree options.

3.5 Year Plan

3 Year Plan

Student Learning Goals

Economics is the study of how people make choices under conditions of scarcity and the results of those choices for society. Limited resources make tradeoffs necessary for consumers, businesses, and nations. Microeconomics studies how consumers make choices in using their time and spending their income and how businesses make choices in producing and selling goods and services. Macroeconomics studies the determination of national income and how it deviates from its potential (full employment) over the business cycle. The important outcomes for the national economy are income and how it is distributed, unemployment, inflation, economic growth, and how well financial markets and international trade are functioning. Economics is important in studying the impact of government policies, ranging from regulatory activities in individual markets to general measures for stabilizing and steering the economy at large. The effect of alternative economic policies on the welfare of the population is a core concern in economics. Undergraduates should have the following knowledge and skills when they graduate with an economics major from UC Berkeley. The Department of Economics wants their majors to have knowledge of economics principles with the skills to apply this knowledge in the following ways.

Learning Goals of the Major

Critical Thinking Skills

• Apply economic analysis to evaluate everyday problems.
• Apply economic analysis to evaluate specific policy proposals.
• Compare two or more arguments that have different conclusions to a specific issue or problem.
• Understand the role of assumptions in arguments.

Quantitative Reasoning Skills

• Understand how to use empirical evidence to evaluate an economic argument.
• Interpret statistical results.
• Conduct appropriate statistical analysis of data and explain the statistical problems involved.
• Obtain and/or collect relevant data using specific qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.

Problem-Solving Skills

• Solve problems that have clear solutions.
• Propose solutions for problems that do not have clear answers and indicate under what conditions they may be viable solutions.

Specialized Knowledge and Application of Skills

• In specific content areas (fields) of economics, develop deeper critical and quantitative thinking skills, and apply problem-solving skills to complex problems.

Communication Skills

• Communicate effectively in written, spoken, and graphical form about specific economic issues.
• Formulate a well-organized written argument that states assumptions and hypotheses, which are supported by evidence.
• Present an economic argument orally.

Lifelong Learning Skills

• Possess a working knowledge of information databases (e.g., Econ Lit, Nexis-Lexis).
• Know how to locate and use primary data sources (e.g., BLS Household Survey, UN Human Development Index).
• Understand and evaluate current economic events and new economic ideas.

Career & Internship Information

Career services overview.

Cultivate a university-wide culture of career readiness, where every student engages in meaningful experiences, has a supportive professional community, and is empowered to achieve lifelong career success.

Our Mission

We are dedicated to advancing equity and access to career resources for every student and recent alumni of UC Berkeley.

We engage with students on their journey to reflect, discover, and design a personally meaningful career ( Career Clarity ).

We connect students with alumni, employers, and their larger professional community to forge meaningful relationships that will guide them into their early career ( Career Connections ).        

We empower students to develop the professional confidence and experience necessary to secure the career opportunities they seek ( Career Competitiveness ).

Berkeley Career Engagement utilizes Handshake , a powerful recruiting platform that uses cutting-edge technology to help students more easily connect with employers, jobs, internships, events, and resources, as well as access to career coaching appointments.

Career and Internship Resources

Berkeley Career Engagement  offers a wide variety of programs and resources to support students of all majors and class levels.

Job & Internship Search Tools : Resume and cover letter writing, job search strategies, networking tools, interviewing skills, and more, can be found in their Career Readiness Workbook.

24/7 Online Resources: Their Resources on Demand are here to help you engage and grow in your career development.

Career Coaching: They offer a wide variety of scheduled and drop-in appointment options based on major and topic.

Internships : Internship listings, search strategies, FAQs, and more.

Career Exploration : Discover their resources to help you explore career options, identify career goals, and develop effective career plans.

Events and Workshops : They deliver over 100 events each semester including workshops, alumni networking events, career panels, conferences, and Alumni Career Chats.

Career Fairs and Employer Information Sessions : They offer a variety of career fairs each year across different career fields and partner with numerous employers for on-campus information sessions.

Graduate and Professional School : Counseling and resources to help students research and apply for graduate and professional school including medical school and law school .

Common Career Paths for Economics Majors

Career destinations survey.

Every year the Career Center surveys graduating seniors about their post-graduation plans to better understand the career outcomes of our alumni including: career fields, job titles, specific employers, entry-level salaries, and graduate/professional school destinations. The data profiles by major provide an impressive overview of the diverse interests and achievements of recent graduates from UC Berkeley, including specific data for the Economics Department . Each survey year includes the August, December, and May graduating cohorts for that survey year. This data is designed to provide students, alumni, and employers with critical information about where Cal students go after graduation. As expected, college major does not restrict the employment or graduate school options that Cal students pursue. With careful planning , you can develop career-related skills and experiences that can prepare you for almost any job or graduate school field.

Sample Career Pathways

Economics majors go on to pursue a wide variety of career options including, but not limited to:

• Economics: Data collection, research analysis, forecasting, planning, consulting and policy advising roles in many industries including private sector consulting and research firms, retail, insurance, transportation, healthcare, federal, state and local government agencies, public utilities, or labor unions.
• Banking and finance: Financial analysis, commercial banking, mortgage and lending services, credit analysis, branch management, securities sales and research.
• Management: Business and industry including banks, retail stores, restaurants, hotels, healthcare, manufacturing, government and nonprofit organizations.
• Insurance: Claims, underwriting, risk management, sales, loss control, and actuarial science.
• Sales: Industrial sales, consumer product sales, financial services sales, advertising sales, ecommerce, high tech forms, and media.
• Education: Teaching, research and administrative roles in colleges, universities, and secondary schools.

Visit our Connecting Majors to Careers resource to explore additional career paths most commonly associated with over 80 majors, including Economics .

Student Services

The economics student services mission is to advise our students holistically by providing a high standard of service in a supportive and collaborative environment. Professional and peer advisers work as a team to provide accurate information in a timely manner. We partner with faculty to assist students in engaging with the campus and the global economic community. We value fairness, diversity, and the important roles our students, faculty, and staff in the Department of Economics play at the University of California, Berkeley.

Please visit our website for more information about our advising services:  https://www.econ.berkeley.edu/undergrad/home/advising

ECON 1 Introduction to Economics 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Spring 2024 A survey of economics designed to give an overview of the field. Introduction to Economics: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no units for Economics 1 after passing Economics 2.

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 6 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 4 hours of lecture and 4 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture and two hours of discussion per week. Four hours of lecture and four hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks. Six hours of lecture and six hours of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Economics/Undergraduate

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required, with common exam group.

Introduction to Economics: Read Less [-]

ECON 2 Introduction to Economics--Lecture Format 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 The course provides a survey of economics principles and methods. It covers both microeconomics, the study of consumer choice, firm behavior, and market interaction, and macroeconomics, the study of economic growth, unemployment, and inflation. Special emphasis is placed on the application of economic tools to contemporary economic problems and policies. Economics 2 differs from Economics 1 in that it has an additional hour of lecture per week and can thus cover topics in greater depth. It is particularly appropriate for intended economics majors. Introduction to Economics--Lecture Format: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for ECON 2 after completing ECON 1 ; 2 units after completing ECON 3 or ENVECON 1 or ECON 3/ENVECON 1.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture and One hour of Discussion per week for 15 weeks.

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.

Introduction to Economics--Lecture Format: Read Less [-]

ECON C3 Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 8 Week Session, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 Introduction to microeconomics with emphasis on resource, agricultural, and environmental issues. Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Mathematics 32

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for ECON C3 after completing ECON 1 .

Summer: 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week. Six hours of lecture and two hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks.

Also listed as: ENVECON C1

Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy: Read Less [-]

ECON 24 Freshman Seminar 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2011, Spring 2008, Fall 2004 The Freshman Seminar Program has been designed to provide new students with the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member in a small seminar setting. Freshman seminars are offered in all campus departments. Topics vary from department to department and semester to semester. Enrollment limited to 15 freshman. Freshman Seminar: Read More [+]

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of seminar per week

Additional Format: One hour of Seminar per week for 15 weeks.

Grading/Final exam status: The grading option will be decided by the instructor when the class is offered. Final Exam To be decided by the instructor when the class is offered.

Freshman Seminar: Read Less [-]

ECON 84 Sophomore Seminar 1 or 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020 Sophomore seminars are small interactive courses offered by faculty members in departments all across the campus. Sophomore seminars offer opportunity for close, regular intellectual contact between faculty members and students in the crucial second year. The topics vary from department to department and semester to semester. Enrollment limited to 15 sophomores. Sophomore Seminar: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: At discretion of instructor

Fall and/or spring: 5 weeks - 3-6 hours of seminar per week 10 weeks - 1.5-3 hours of seminar per week 15 weeks - 1-2 hours of seminar per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5-5 hours of seminar per week 8 weeks - 1.5-3.5 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: unit(s):one hour of seminar per week; 2 unit(s):two hours of seminar per week. unit(s):one and one-half hours of seminar per week; 2 unit(s):three hours of seminar per week for 10 weeks. unit(s):one and one-half hours of seminar per week; 2 unit(s):three and one-half hours of seminar per week for 8 weeks. unit(s):two and one-half hours of seminar per week; 2 unit(s):five hours of seminar per week for 6 weeks. unit(s):three hours of seminar per week; 2 unit(s):six hours of seminar per week for five weeks.

Sophomore Seminar: Read Less [-]

ECON 98 Directed Group Study 1 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2019, Fall 2016, Fall 2015 Written proposal must be approved by Department Chair. Seminars for the group study of selected topics, which will vary from year to year. Topics may be initiated by students. Directed Group Study: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Enrollment is restricted; see the Introduction to Courses and Curricula section of this catalog.

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-4 hours of directed group study per week

Additional Format: Hours to be arranged.

Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.

Directed Group Study: Read Less [-]

ECON 100A Microeconomics 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 8 Week Session, Spring 2024 This course introduces students to the main tools and concepts of microeconomics. These tools and concepts will serve as a foundation for many upper level economics courses. Topics covered include consumer theory, producer theory, equilibrium in a competitive market, monopoly, general equilibrium, and asymmetric information. This course makes use of calculus. Topics covered are similar to those in 101A. Microeconomics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 1 or 2 or C3, or Environmental Economics and Policy 1, and Mathematics 1A or 16A, and Mathematics 1B or 16B, or equivalent

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for ECON 100A after completing ECON 101A , UGBA 101A , or ECON S100A.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 1-2 hours of discussion per week

Summer: 8 weeks - 6-6 hours of lecture and 1.5-4 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and one to two hours of discussion per week. Six hours of lecture and one and one-half to four hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks.

Microeconomics: Read Less [-]

ECON 100B Macroeconomics 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Spring 2024 This course introduces students to the main approaches economists use to describe how the economy works at the aggregate level. Topics covered include economic growth, business cycles, the determinants of aggregate employment, unemployment, and inflation, and the effects of monetary and fiscal policy. This course makes use of calculus. Topics covered are similar to those in 101B. Macroeconomics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 1 or 2, and Mathematics 1A or 16A

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for ECON 100B after completing ECON 101B , UGBA 101B , or ECON S100B.

Summer: 6 weeks - 8-8 hours of lecture and 2-4 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 6-6 hours of lecture and 1.5-4 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and one to two hours of discussion per week. Six hours of lecture and one and one-half to four hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks. Eight hours of lecture and two to four hours of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Macroeconomics: Read Less [-]

ECON 101A Microeconomics (Math Intensive) 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 This course introduces students to the main tools and concepts of microeconomics. These tools and concepts will serve as a foundation for many upper level economics courses. Topics covered include consumer theory, producer theory, equilibrium in a competitive market, monopoly, general equilibrium, game theory, and asymmetric information. Topics covered are similar to those in 100A, but this course uses calculus more intensively and is intended for students with a strong mathematical background. Microeconomics (Math Intensive): Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 1 or 2, Mathematics 53 or equivalent or consent of instructor

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for ECON 101A after completing ECON 100A , or UGBA 101A .

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and one to two hours of discussion per week.

Microeconomics (Math Intensive): Read Less [-]

ECON 101B Macroeconomics (Math Intensive) 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 This course introduces students to the main approaches economists use to describe how the economy works at the aggregate level. Topics covered include economic growth, business cycles, the determinants of aggregate employment, unemployment, and inflation, and the effects of monetary and fiscal policy. This course uses calculus intensively and is intended for students with a strong mathematical background. Topics covered are similar to those in 100B. Macroeconomics (Math Intensive): Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 1 or 2, and Mathematics 1A and 1B

Credit Restrictions: Students will not receive credit for 101B after taking 100B or Undergraduate Business Administration 101B. A deficient grade in Undergraduate Business Administration 101B may be repeated by taking 101B.

Macroeconomics (Math Intensive): Read Less [-]

ECON C102 Natural Resource Economics 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022 Introduction to the economics of natural resources. Land and the concept of economic rent. Models of optimal depletion of nonrenewable resources and optimal use of renewable resources. Application to energy, forests, fisheries, water, and climate change. Resources, growth, and sustainability. Natural Resource Economics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 100, or Economics 100A or 100B

Instructor: Sunding

Also listed as: ENVECON C102

Natural Resource Economics: Read Less [-]

ECON C103 Introduction to Mathematical Economics 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 Selected topics illustrating the application of mathematics to economic theory. This course is intended for upper-division students in Mathematics, Statistics, the Physical Sciences, and Engineering, and for economics majors with adequate mathematical preparation. No economic background is required. Introduction to Mathematical Economics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Math 53 and 54

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture per week for 15 weeks.

Formerly known as: 103

Also listed as: MATH C103

Introduction to Mathematical Economics: Read Less [-]

ECON 104 Advanced Microeconomic Theory 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020 This course explores some issues in advanced microeconomic theory, with special emphasis on game-theoretic models and the theory of choice under uncertainty. Specific applications will vary from year to year, but will generally include topics from information economics and models of strategic interaction. Advanced Microeconomic Theory: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 101A or consent of instructor

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture and Zero to One hour of Discussion per week for 15 weeks.

Advanced Microeconomic Theory: Read Less [-]

ECON 105 History of Economic Thought 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2019, Summer 2019 First 6 Week Session, Fall 2018 A survey of the theories of major economists from Adam Smith to Keynes. History of Economic Thought: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 5.5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week. Five and one-half hours of lecture per week for 8 weeks. Eight hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

History of Economic Thought: Read Less [-]

ECON 106 Advanced Macroeconomics 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2021 This class will provide an introduction to the modern analysis of macroeconomic stabilization policies such as monetary policy and fiscal policy. Students will be introduced to modern techniques such as dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models with rational expectations as well as modern techniques for empirically assessing the effects of macroeconomic policies on the economy. Advanced Macroeconomics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Econ 100A (or Econ 101A) and Econ 100B (or Econ 101B) or consent of instructor

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for ECON 106 after completing ECON 106 . A deficient grade in ECON 106 may be removed by taking ECON 106 .

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 1-0 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and one to zero hours of discussion per week.

Advanced Macroeconomics: Read Less [-]

ECON C110 Game Theory in the Social Sciences 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022 A non-technical introduction to game theory. Basic principle, and models of interaction among players, with a strong emphasis on applications to political science, economics, and other social sciences. Game Theory in the Social Sciences: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students receive no credit for PS C135/PEIS C135/ ECON C110 after taking ECON 104 . If PS C135/ ECON C110 /PS W135/ ECON N110 is taken and with a passing grade, students can't take the other versions of the course for additional credit.If PS C135/ ECON C110 /PS W135/ ECON N110 is taken and not passed, students can take the other versions to replace grade.

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit under special circumstances: PS C135/ECON C110,PS W135 and ECON N110 are similar in content. See Restriction Description.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and zero to one hours of discussion per week.

Formerly known as: Economics C110, Political Economy of Industrial Soc C135, Political Science C135

Also listed as: POL SCI C135

Game Theory in the Social Sciences: Read Less [-]

ECON N110 Game Theory in the Social Sciences 4 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 8 Week Session, Summer 2022 8 Week Session A non-technical introduction to game theory. Basic principle, and models of interaction among players, with a strong emphasis on applications to political science, economics, and other social sciences. Game Theory in the Social Sciences: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Economics N110 after completing Economics 104, Political Science C135/Political Economy of Industrial Societies/Economics C110.

Summer: 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture and One hour of Discussion per week for 15 weeks. Six hours of Lecture per week for 8 weeks.

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.

Formerly known as: 135

ECON 111 Applied Mechanism Design 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 1974 The course will analyze the roles of individual incentives, target group objectives and outcomes and how they are impacted by group decision making systems. A group decision making system is a way of making group level decisions. We examine this through the lens of game theory and mechanism design and other complementary analytic approaches. For example, we would examine the impact of having alternative election systems. This course draws primarily from microeconomic theory as an anchoring framework to evaluate these systems and individual actions. As with much of behavioral economics where we deal with real complex structures, we borrow from psychology (for behavioral theory) and business and politics (for real world examples). Applied Mechanism Design: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: -Required: Math 1A/1B or equivalent, Econ 1 or equivalent, Stats 20, 21, W21, 88, 131A, or 135 or equivalent -Preferred: (not required but nice to have for background) Econ 100A /101A (Intermediate Micro), Econ 110(Game Theory), Econ 140/141 (Econometrics)

Summer: 8 weeks - 6-6 hours of lecture and 2-0 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and one to zero hours of discussion per week. Six hours of lecture and two to zero hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks.

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternate method of final assessment during regularly scheduled final exam group (e.g., presentation, final project, etc.).

Applied Mechanism Design: Read Less [-]

ECON 113 U.S Economic History 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2018, Spring 2017, Spring 2015 A survey of the history of the U.S. economy. Emphasis is on economic events, factors, and explanations, with particular emphasis on economic growth, development, and the distribution of gains and losses associated with growth. A key skill developed during the course is the ability to read, understand, and critique econometric results in current economic history research. U.S Economic History: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Econ 1 or 2 or C3, or EnvEcon C1; Econ 140 or 141 or EnvEcon/ IAS C118

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for ECON 113 after completing ECON N113 . A deficient grade in ECON 113 may be removed by taking ECON N113 .

Summer: 8 weeks - 6-6 hours of lecture and 0-2 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and zero to one hours of discussion per week. Six hours of lecture and zero to two hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks.

U.S Economic History: Read Less [-]

ECON N113 U.S Economic History 4 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2010 8 Week Session, Summer 2009 10 Week Session, Summer 2009 8 Week Session A survey of the history of the U.S. economy. Emphasis is on economic events, factors, and explanations, with particular emphasis on economic growth, development, and the distribution of gains and losses associated with growth. A key skill developed during the course is the ability to read, understand, and critique econometric results in current economic history research. U.S Economic History: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for ECON N113 after completing ECON 113 . A deficient grade in ECON N113 may be removed by taking ECON 113 .

Summer: 8 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Eight hours of lecture per week for 8 weeks.

ECON 115 The World Economy in the Twentieth Century 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 Development of the world economic system with particular reference to world-wide trading relationships. This course is equivalent to History 160; students will not receive credit for both courses. The World Economy in the Twentieth Century: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 1 or 2

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for ECON 115 after passing History 160.

The World Economy in the Twentieth Century: Read Less [-]

ECON 116 Economic Growth Seminar 4 Units

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 This seminar course will analyze how scholars think about modern economic growth and how people thought about the idea of economics growth before the onset of modern economic growth in the 19th century. Students will read major works by scholars trying to understand economic growth from different perspectives and discuss what these scholars got right and what they got wrong. Economic Growth Seminar: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Economics 100B or 101B

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Three hours of seminar per week.

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.

Economic Growth Seminar: Read Less [-]

ECON 119 Psychology and Economics 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 8 Week Session, Spring 2024 This course presents psychological and experimental economics research demonstrating departures from perfect rationality, self-interest, and other classical assumptions of economics and explores ways that these departures can be mathematically modeled and incorporated into mainstream positive and normative economics. The course will focus on the behavioral evidence itself, especially on specific formal assumptions that capture the findings in a way that can be incorporated into economics. The implications of these new assumptions for theoretical and empirical economics will be explored. Psychology and Economics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 100A or 101A

Summer: 6 weeks - 8-8 hours of lecture and 0-2 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 6-6 hours of lecture and 0-2 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and zero to one hours of discussion per week. Six hours of lecture and zero to two hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks. Eight hours of lecture and zero to two hours of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Psychology and Economics: Read Less [-]

ECON 121 Industrial Organization and Public Policy 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 The organization and structure of production in the U.S. economy. Determinants of market structure, business behavior, and economic performance. Implications for antitrust policy. Industrial Organization and Public Policy: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 8-8 hours of lecture and 0-2 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 6-6 hours of lecture and 0-1.5 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and zero to one hours of discussion per week. Six hours of lecture and zero to one and one-half hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks. Eight hours of lecture and zero to two hours of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Industrial Organization and Public Policy: Read Less [-]

ECON 122 Industrial Organization Seminar 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2012, Spring 2010, Spring 2009 Seminar on problems in the field of industrial organization. Seminar paper is required. Industrial Organization Seminar: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 121 and/or consent of instructor

Additional Format: Three hours of Seminar per week for 15 weeks.

Industrial Organization Seminar: Read Less [-]

ECON 123 Government Regulation of Industry 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2014, Spring 2014, Spring 2013 Problems of public policy in the field of industrial organization. Analysis of regulatory consequences with particular attention to economic performance. Government Regulation of Industry: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 121

Government Regulation of Industry: Read Less [-]

ECON 124 Special Topics in Industrial Organization 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Spring 2015, Spring 2014 Analysis of market structure, conduct and performance in selected industries. See course announcement for current topics. Special Topics in Industrial Organization: Read More [+]

Special Topics in Industrial Organization: Read Less [-]

ECON C125 Environmental Economics 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Spring 2023 Theories of externalities and public goods applied to pollution and environmental policy. Trade-off between production and environmental amenities. Assessing nonmarket value of environmental amenities. Remediation and clean-up policies. Environment and development. Biodiversity management. Environmental Economics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 100, Mathematics 16A-16B, or Economics 100A or 101A

Instructor: Zilberman

Also listed as: ENVECON C101

Environmental Economics: Read Less [-]

ECON 127 Antitrust Economics and Law 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022 We will study both antitrust law and antitrust economics. Antitrust law governs the accumulation and exercise of market power. It prohibits both monopolization and agreements in unreasonable restraint of trade such as price fixing. It also prohibits anticompetitive mergers and a variety of specific competition problems such as exclusive dealing or tying arrangements. Deciding what qualifies as "monopolization," what qualifies as an "unreasonable restraint of trade," what qualifies as "anticompetitive," and more generally how to interpret the prohibitions of antitrust law invariably involves economic analysis. Such economic analysis commonly goes by the name "antitrust economics". Antitrust Economics and Law: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Intermediate Microeconomics at the level of Economics 100A or 101A is required. Economics 121 is recommended

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week.

Antitrust Economics and Law: Read Less [-]

ECON 130 Using Economics for Public Policy 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 This course explores how economics can be used to understand and evaluate public policies. We will use both economic theory and empirical evidence to study the varying impacts and incentives created by public policies. An emphasis will be placed on the application of economic tools to policy questions. The course will provide an overview of key research in several policy areas, including inequality and opportunity, the social safety net, education , criminal justice, tax policy, climate change and the environment, health care, and structural barriers to racial equity. The course will also provide an introduction to empirical techniques common in economics and policy analysis, including regression, cost-benefit analysis, and causal inference. Using Economics for Public Policy: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Economics 1 or 2

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 1-1 hours of discussion per week

Using Economics for Public Policy: Read Less [-]

ECON 131 Public Economics 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 This course focuses on the role of the government in the economy from a theoretical and empirical perspective. The aim of the course is to provide an understanding of the reasons for government intervention in the economy, analyzing the merits of possible government policies, and the response of economic agents to the government's actions. The course covers the analysis of tax policy, social insurance programs, public goods, environmental protection , and the interaction between different levels of government. Special emphasis is set on current government policy issues such as social security reform, income tax reform, and budget deficits. Public Economics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 100A-100B or 101A-101B

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 5.5-6 hours of lecture and 0-2 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and zero to one hours of discussion per week. Five and one-half to six hours of lecture and zero to two hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of lecture and zero to two and one-half hours of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Public Economics: Read Less [-]

ECON 132 Seminar in Public Sector Economics 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2015, Fall 2014, Fall 2013 Enrollment will be limited. A seminar paper is required. Seminar in Public Sector Economics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 131 and/or consent of instructor

Seminar in Public Sector Economics: Read Less [-]

ECON 133 Global Inequality and Growth 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Fall 2022, Spring 2022 This course provides an introduction to the analysis of economic inequalities and the interplay between inequality and economic growth. It focuses on three sets of core questions: 1) How does inequality evolve over the path of development? 2) What are the theories that can explain the degree of economic inequalities and its dynamic? 3) How do policies affect inequalities, and what types of policies can foster equitable growth? The course addresses these issues from a global and historical perspective: it comprehensively deals with the United States today, but also with inequality in China, India, Latin America, and Europe, as far back as 1700. Global Inequality and Growth: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Economics 1

Summer: 6 weeks - 10 hours of lecture and 0 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 0 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week. Six hours of lecture and zero hour of discussion per week for 8 weeks. Ten hours of lecture and zero hour of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Instructor: Zucman

Global Inequality and Growth: Read Less [-]

ECON 134 Macroeconomic Policy from the Great Depression to Today 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023 This course will analyze the macroeconomic challenges and policy responses in the United States over the past century. Among the key topics studied are the Great Depression and the New Deal; boom and bust monetary and fiscal policy in the early post-World War II period; the Volcker disinflation and the Great Moderation; and the 2008 financial crisis and the Great Recession. Macroeconomic Policy from the Great Depression to Today: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Econ 100B or 101B; and Econ 140 or 141 or EnvEcon/ IAS C118

Instructor: Romer

Macroeconomic Policy from the Great Depression to Today: Read Less [-]

ECON 135 Economic Growth in Historical Perspective 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 This course examines the idea and reality of economic growth in historical perspective, beginning with the divergence between human ancestors and other primates and continuing through with forecasts for the 21st century and beyond. Topics covered include human speciation, language, and sociability; the discovery of agriculture and the domestication of animals; the origins and maintenance of gross inequality; Malthusian economies; the Commercial and Industrial Revolutions; modern economic growth; international prosperity differentials; OECD convergence and East Asian miracles; the political economy of growth and stagnation; and the stubborn persistence of poverty. Economic Growth in Historical Perspective: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Required: Econ 100B or Econ 101B, and Mathematics 1A or 16A, and Mathematics 1B or 16B Recommended: Data Science 8, or equivalent

Economic Growth in Historical Perspective: Read Less [-]

ECON 136 Financial Economics 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Spring 2024 Analysis of financial assets and institutions. The course emphasizes modern asset valuation theory and the role of financial intermediaries, and their regulation, in the financial system. Financial Economics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 100A or 101A, and one semester of statistics

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for 136 after taking Undergraduate Business Administration 103. Students intending on majoring in Business should not take 136.

Financial Economics: Read Less [-]

ECON N136 Financial Economics 4 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2009 10 Week Session, Summer 2009 8 Week Session, Summer 2008 8 Week Session Analysis of financial assets and institutions. The course emphasizes modern asset valuation theory and the role of financial intermediaries, and their regulation, in the financial system. Financial Economics: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture and One hour of Discussion per week for 15 weeks. Eight hours of Lecture per week for 8 weeks.

ECON 138 Financial and Behavioral Economics 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021 This course is an advanced class in Financial Economics. Topics include moral hazard (principal-agent problems, free cash flow), asymmetric Information (security issurance, dividends), mergers and acquisitions (theory, managerial incentives), corporate governance (separation of ownership and control, internal capital markets, superstar CEOs), corporate fraud (earnings manipulations). This class emphasizes the economic underpinning of financial decision-making and is mathematically and technically demanding. You will be required to do some empirical homework using STATA. Financial and Behavioral Economics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 100A or 101A, and Statistics 20, 21, or 25 or any upper division statistics course

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 0-1.5 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture and Zero to One hour of Discussion per week for 15 weeks. Six hours of Lecture and Zero to One and one-half hours of Discussion per week for 8 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of Lecture and Zero to Two and one-half hours of Discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Financial and Behavioral Economics: Read Less [-]

ECON 139 Asset Pricing and Portfolio Choice 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022 This undergraduate elective focuses on financial economics, with specific emphasis on asset pricing and the valuation of risky cash flows. After developing and studying the details of consumer decision-making under uncertainty, we use this general framework as a basis for understanding both equilibrium and no-arbitrage theories of securities pricing, including traditional models like the capital asset pricing model and newer Arrow-Debreu theories. Asset Pricing and Portfolio Choice: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Students need a basic understanding of the principles of microeconomic theory. Some exposure to linear algebra, probability and statistics is helpful. Required courses: Economics 100A/101A, or equivalent. Recommended courses: Math 54 (linear algebra half), Statistics 20, or equivalent

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week.

Asset Pricing and Portfolio Choice: Read Less [-]

ECON 140 Econometrics 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 8 Week Session, Spring 2024 This course provides an introduction to statistical and estimation analysis of economic data, also known as “Econometrics”. It covers topics such as the linear regression model and its estimator, Ordinary Least Squares, as well as extensions such as Instrumental Variables models, panel data models, and time series models. Topics covered in this course are similar to those in 141. Econometrics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Econ 1 or 2 or equivalent, Stats 20, 21, W21, 88, 131A, or 135 or equivalent

Credit Restrictions: Students will not receive credit for 140 after taking 141.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1.5 hours of discussion per week

Summer: 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 3 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture and One and one-half hours of Discussion per week for 15 weeks. Six hours of Lecture and Three hours of Discussion per week for 8 weeks.

Econometrics: Read Less [-]

ECON 141 Econometrics (Math Intensive) 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 This course provides an introduction to statistical and estimation analysis of economic data, also known as “Econometrics”. It covers topics such as the linear regression model and its estimator, Ordinary Least Squares, as well as extensions such as Instrumental Variables models, panel data models, and time series models. While topics covered in this course are similar to those in 140, the treatment in this course is more theoretical and more mathematical. Econometrics (Math Intensive): Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Econ 1 or 2 or equivalent, Stats 20, 21, W21, 88, 131A, or 135 or equivalent, Math 53 and 54 or equivalent

Credit Restrictions: Students will not receive credit for 141 after taking 140.

Summer: 8 weeks - 4 hours of lecture and 3 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture and One and one-half hours of Discussion per week for 15 weeks. Four hours of Lecture and Three hours of Discussion per week for 8 weeks.

Econometrics (Math Intensive): Read Less [-]

ECON C142 Applied Econometrics and Public Policy 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2020 This course focuses on the sensible application of econometric methods to empirical problems in economics and public policy analysis. It provides background on issues that arise when analyzing non-experimental social science data and a guide for tools that are useful for empirical research. By the end of the course, students will have an understanding of the types of research designs that can lead to convincing analysis and be comfortable working with large scale data sets. Applied Econometrics and Public Policy: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 140 or 141 or consent of instructor

Credit Restrictions: Students who completed Econ C142 receive no credit for Econ N142.

Also listed as: POL SCI C131A/PUB POL C142

Applied Econometrics and Public Policy: Read Less [-]

ECON 143 Econometrics: Advanced Methods and Applications 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 This course introduces selected advanced data analysis and inference methods appropriate for economic data. Methods are taught in tandem with real world applications as encountered in policy analysis, industry and consulting work. Equal weight is given to theoretical development, computation and application. Exact topics and applications may vary across offerings. ECON C142 and 143 may be taken independently or together in any order. Econometrics: Advanced Methods and Applications: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: (i) A first course in econometrics, intermediate statistics or intermediate data science (Ec 140, Ec 141, ENVECON C118 , DATA C100 or STAT 135 ); (ii) Linear algebra (Math 54, Stat 89A or EECS 16A ). (iii) Exposure to economic theory at an intermediate level (e.g., Ec 100A, 101A etc.) is preferred, but not required. Prior exposure to scientific computing is also helpful, but not required

Econometrics: Advanced Methods and Applications: Read Less [-]

ECON 144 Empirical Asset Pricing 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024 This undergraduate elective is designed for undergraduates in Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, and IEOR who are interested in financial economics and econometric methods as applied to financial data. After reviewing important econometric concepts, the course will discuss the short-run time series behavior of stock prices and present the evidence on short- and long-run predictability of stock returns. We will then consider cross-sectional models and static equilibrium theory, including the Capital Asset Pricing Model and Arbitrage Pricing Theory, and intertemporal equilibrium models, including Arrow-Debreu pricing theory and the consumption-based CAPM. Finally, the course will introduce models of volatility and correlation. Empirical Asset Pricing: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Students need a basic understanding of the principles of econometrics. Some exposure to probability and statistics is helpful. Required courses: Economics 140/141, or equivalent

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture per week

Summer: 8 weeks - 8-8 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week. Eight hours of lecture per week for 8 weeks.

Empirical Asset Pricing: Read Less [-]

ECON C147 Algorithmic Economics 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024 The class provides an introduction to algorithmic questions in economic design. The class will cover problems of public goods and social choice, as well as allocative questions and private consumption. The focus is on normative questions: From the perspective of social goals, these are efficiency, fairness, and equity. In terms of private goals, the focus is on revenue maximization. The course will cover voting, fair division, pricing and market mechanisms. There is an emphasis on the algorithmic questions that arise naturally in economic design. Algorithmic Economics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Students should be comfortable with formal mathematical proofs, and will be expected to write proofs on their own

Also listed as: COMPSCI C177

Algorithmic Economics: Read Less [-]

ECON 148 Data Science for Economists 4 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Spring 2024, Summer 2023 First 6 Week Session This course will give the undergraduate student the basic computational building blocks needed to be a good consumer and producer of applied economics work. Students will work to acquire data through APIs, access census data, or download from replication repositories. The course will cover wrangling data, working with incomplete or unstructured data, joining and merging data, exploratory data analysis and data visualization. The course will cover many aspects of preparing data for econometric analysis. Practices around literate code, open science tools, reproducibility, and data management will also be covered. Data Science for Economists: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Data Science C8/Computer Science C8/Info C8/Statistics C8 or Statistics 20; familiarity with Python recommended

Summer: 6 weeks - 10 hours of lecture and 0 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week. Ten hours of lecture and zero hour of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Data Science for Economists: Read Less [-]

ECON 151 Labor Economics 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Summer 2022 First 6 Week Session This course provides a general overview of labor markets primarily in the U.S., using the theoretical and empirical tools of modern economics. Topics include labor force participation, the allocation of time to market work, migration, labor demand and monopsony, investment in human capital like education and on-the-job training, race and gender and discrimination, labor unions, and unemployment. The course will also examine the impacts on work and well-being of government programs such as unemployment insurance, minimum wages, and a negative income tax like the modern earned income credit. Labor Economics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 100A or 101A, or consent of instructor

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for ECON 151 after completing ECON 152 . A deficient grade in ECON 151 may be removed by taking ECON 152 .

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week. Six hours of lecture per week for 8 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Labor Economics: Read Less [-]

ECON 152 Wage Theory and Policy 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2021, Spring 2020, Spring 2019 This course focuses on theoretical and empirical analysis of wage and employment determination in the labor market. In addition, the role of public policy in affecting wage and employment outcomes in the U.S. labor market is examined. Topics include labor supply, labor demand, minimum wages, the economics of education and training, discrimination and the impact of antidiscrimination programs, changes in wage inequality over time, immigration , unions, unemployment, and poverty. Wage Theory and Policy: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for ECON 152 after completing ECON 151 . A deficient grade in ECON 152 may be removed by taking ECON 151 .

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week. Six hours of lecture per week for 8 weeks.

Wage Theory and Policy: Read Less [-]

ECON 153 Labor Economics Seminar 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2015, Fall 2014, Fall 2006 Topics in labor economics. Seminar paper required. Labor Economics Seminar: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 140 or 141, and 151 or 152 and consent of instructor

Labor Economics Seminar: Read Less [-]

ECON 154 Economics of Discrimination 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2018, Spring 2016, Spring 2014 Starting from Becker's classic book on the economics of discrimination, this course will focus on issues of difference and discrimination accociated with race, gender, or nation of birth, focusing particularly on credit and housing markets, education, and health care. The course looks carefully at the ways in which econometrics is used to address questions of discrimination. Economics of Discrimination: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 140 or 141

Economics of Discrimination: Read Less [-]

ECON 155 Urban Economics 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Spring 2023 Application of economic theory to urban problems. Topics covered include location theory, housing, transportation, and the fiscal problems of city government. Urban Economics: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week. Six hours of lecture per week for 8 weeks. Eight hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Urban Economics: Read Less [-]

ECON 155A Cities and Public Policy 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2022, Spring 2022 This is an advanced course considering the economic forces governing cities and a host of attendant public policy issues. Topics covered will include theory and evidence on sources of agglomeration economies and urban growth, housing markets, segregation, neighborhood effects, and place-based policies. Cities and Public Policy: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Intermediate microeconomics (Economics 100A or Economics 101A) and econometrics (Economics 140 or Economics 141)

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Economics 155A after taking Economics 155.

Instructor: Kline

Cities and Public Policy: Read Less [-]

ECON 157 Health Economics 4 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 8 Week Session, Spring 2024, Summer 2023 8 Week Session An economic analysis of policies and institutions in the U.S. health care sector. Topics covered include the supply and demand for health services, conceptual and policy issues relating to the provision of health insurance, and economic analysis of efficient regulatory policies toward the health care sector. Health Economics: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 0 hours of discussion per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture and 0 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 6-6 hours of lecture and 0-2 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and zero hour of discussion per week. Six hours of lecture and zero to two hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks. Eight hours of lecture and zero hour of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Health Economics: Read Less [-]

ECON 161 Economics of Transition: Eastern Europe 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Spring 2015, Fall 2009 Economic behavior under socialism; socialism vs. capitalism. Transition challenges. Stylized facts of transition. Political economy of reform strategies. Liberalization and the macroeconomic environment. Privatization policies and enterprise restructuring. Legal reform, institutional change, and variation in economic performance across countries. Foreign trade and enlargement of the European Union to transition countries. The Washington consensus , transition, and the institutions of capitalism. Economics of Transition: Eastern Europe: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture per week for 15 weeks. Six hours of Lecture per week for 8 weeks.

Economics of Transition: Eastern Europe: Read Less [-]

ECON 162 The Chinese Economy 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Fall 2023 The Chinese economy, its institutions, reform and transition to the market, and development. The Chinese Economy: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 5.5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week. Five and one-half hours of lecture per week for 8 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

The Chinese Economy: Read Less [-]

ECON 165 Money and Banking 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024 This course explores money, financial institutions, markets, central banking, and the interactions between these topics. The aim of the course is to help students answer important questions like: what is money? What are banks? What are central banks and monetary policy? What are interest rates? What is crypto currency? What determines the price of goods and services? What the causes and consequences of financial crises? Money and Banking: Read More [+]

Money and Banking: Read Less [-]

ECON C171 Development Economics 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Summer 2023 8 Week Session, Fall 2022 This course covers theory and empirical evidence on the determinants of economic development and the global fight against poverty. The course aims to introduce students to modern empirical research methods that are being used to inform policy making in developing countries. Students also learn how to implement these tools themselves using real-world data sets and widely used statistical software for impact evaluatio n. Development Economics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: EnvEcon 100 or Econ 100A or 101A; Econ 140 or 141 or EnvEcon/ IAS C118

Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture and One hour of Discussion per week for 15 weeks. Six hours of Lecture and Two hours of Discussion per week for 8 weeks. Eight hours of Lecture and Two hours of Discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Also listed as: ENVECON C151

Development Economics: Read Less [-]

ECON N171 Economic Development 4 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2015 10 Week Session, Summer 2015 8 Week Session, Summer 2012 8 Week Session Problems of underdevelopment and poverty, policy issues, and development strategy. Economic Development: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 100A or 101A or Environmental Economics and Policy 100

Summer: 8 weeks - 8 hours of lecture and 0 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Eight hours of lecture and zero hour of discussion per week for 8 weeks.

Economic Development: Read Less [-]

ECON 172 Case Studies in Economic Development 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021 This course focuses on the process of economic development and growth from a theoretical and empirical perspective. The aim of the course is to provide an understanding of the patterns of socioeconomic development in a selected geographic region (e.g., Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, South Asia). The course covers trends in comparative global development, theories of economic growth, and the roles of public health, human capital, climate change, political institutions, and historical factors in shaping contemporary economic outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Special emphasis is given to applying the econometric methods used to evaluate public policies and anti-poverty interventions. Case Studies in Economic Development: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 100A

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit with instructor consent.

Case Studies in Economic Development: Read Less [-]

ECON 173 Economic Development Seminar 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2010, Fall 2009, Spring 2009 A seminar paper will be required. Economic Development Seminar: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 171 or 172 and consent of instructor

Economic Development Seminar: Read Less [-]

ECON 174 Global Poverty and Impact Evaluation 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 There are a countless number of potential policies and programs to address the causes and consequences of poverty. However, how should one determine which of these is actually effective in improving the lives of the poor? This course explores a variety of empirical tools to rigorously measure the impact of development programs. Through weekly case studies of field research, students will learn impact evaluation theory and methods, and apply them to concrete examples from the development literature. Global Poverty and Impact Evaluation: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Econ 100A or 101A or 100B or 101B; and Econ 140 or 141 or EnvEcon/ IAS C118

Instructor: Miguel

Global Poverty and Impact Evaluation: Read Less [-]

ECON C175 Economic Demography 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 A general introduction to economic demography, addressing the following kinds of questions: What are the economic consequences of immigration to the U.S.? Will industrial nations be able to afford the health and pension costs of the aging populations? How has the size of the baby boom affected its economic well being? Why has fertility been high in Third World countries? In industrial countries, why is marriage postponed, divorce high, fertility so low, and extramarital fertility rising? What are the economic and environmental consequences of rapid population growth? Economic Demography: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 6-6 hours of lecture and 0-2 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and zero to one hours of discussion per week. Six hours of lecture and zero to two hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of lecture and zero to two and one-half hours of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Instructor: Lee

Formerly known as: Demography C175, Economics C175

Also listed as: DEMOG C175

Economic Demography: Read Less [-]

ECON N175 Economic Demography 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2013 10 Week Session, Summer 2013 8 Week Session A general introduction to economic demography, addressing the following kinds of questions: What are the economic consequences of immigration to the U.S.? Will industrial nations be able to afford the health and pension costs of the aging populations? How has the size of the baby boom affected its economic well being? Why has fertility been high in Third World countries? In industrial countries, why is marriage postponed , divorce high, fertility so low, and extramarital fertility rising? What are the economic and environmental consequences of rapid population growth? Economic Demography: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Economics N175 after taking Economics C175/Demography C175; Economics 175/Demography 175. A deficient grade in Economics C175/Demography C175 may be removed by taking Economics N175.

Additional Format: Six hours of lecture per week for 8 weeks.

ECON C181 International Trade 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 The theory of international trade and its applications to tariff protection. This course is equivalent to UGBA 118 ; students will not receive credit for both courses. International Trade: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Economics100A-100B or Economics 101A-101B

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for ECON C181 / ENVECON C181 after passing ECON 181, ECON N181 or UGBA 118 . A deficient grade in ECON 181, or ECON N181 may be removed by taking ECON C181 / ENVECON C181 .

Also listed as: ENVECON C181

International Trade: Read Less [-]

ECON N181 International Trade 4 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2018 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2017 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2016 First 6 Week Session The theory of international trade and its applications to tariff protection. International Trade: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Economics 100A-100B or Economics 101A-101B

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Economics N181 after passing Economics 181 or Economics C181/Environmental Economics C181. A deficient grade in Economics 181, Economics C181/Environment Economics C181 may be removed by taking Economics N181.

Summer: 6 weeks - 10 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Eight hours of lecture per week for 8 weeks. Ten hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

ECON 182 International Monetary Economics 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2020 The balance of payments, the determination of the trade balance and income under fixed and floating exchange rates, money and prices in open economies, the internationalization of financial markets and its implications, international macroeconomic interdependence, capital flows, and the determination of the exchange rate. International Monetary Economics: Read More [+]

Summer: 8 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Seven and one half hours of lecture/discussion per week for eight weeks.

International Monetary Economics: Read Less [-]

ECON 183 International Economic Seminar 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020 This small seminar course is designed to introduce students to a set of current policy controversies in international economics and provide an opportunity for them to apply to these policy debates the analytical tools encountered in previous courses (such as Economics 100B or 101B). Students will make a class presentation, write several short papers, as well as submitting a final paper. International Economic Seminar: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Economics 100B or 101B or consent of instructor

International Economic Seminar: Read Less [-]

ECON C184 International Environmental Economics 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021 This course studies the following question:How should policymakers and scholars design and analyze environmental policy in a globalized world where much economic activity and pollution crosses political borders? The course addresses issues including climate change, air and water pollution, deforestation, species extinction, and others. The course also analyzes a variety of ways that countries and regions interact, including trade, foreign direct investment, outsourcing, international agreements and treaties, and others. The course also teaches a range of tools used to analyze these issues, including life-cycle(also called environmental footprint) analysis, simple econometrics, environmental market design, non-market valuation, and the data. International Environmental Economics: Read More [+]

Objectives & Outcomes

Course Objectives: 1. Develop a strong grasp of the main debates and ideas involving international environmental economics 2. Learn to interpret, apply, and critically assess methods used to study international environmental economic issues 3. Build skills in reading basic economic writing involving these issues, including an understanding of their evidence and conclusions, and ability to critically evaluate the basis for these conclusion

Student Learning Outcomes: 1. A strong grasp of the main scholarly debates and ideas involving international environmental economics 2. The ability to interpret and critically assess methods used to study international environmental economic issues, including: life-cycle analysis and input-output tables; simple econometric estimates; the design of environmental policy; non-market valuation; and the use of remote sensing (satellite) data The ability to read basic empirical environmental economics papers, understand their evidence and conclusions, and critically evaluate the basis for these conclusions

Prerequisites: ENVECON 100 , ECON 101a, ECON 100a or or equivalent

Instructor: Shapiro

Also listed as: ENVECON C132

International Environmental Economics: Read Less [-]

ECON C188 Advanced Topics in International Economics 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024 Globalization and its consequences have interested economists and the public since Adam Smith and David Ricardo. However, the nature of the global economy has changed dramatically over time. Paraphrasing Ricardo’s famous example, “it’s not wine for cloth anymore.” This course will introduce a modern view on international trade focusing on firms as vehicles of trade. We will study key theoretical models of New Trade Theory and apply them to understand the consequences of a range of trade policies from the recent past, such the NAFTA agreement and China’s entry to the WTO. We will combine theoretical models, empirical econometric tools, and data to understand the impacts of trade and offshoring on trade flows,aggregate welfare,and inequality Advanced Topics in International Economics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: • Microeconomics (Envecon100, Econ100 or Econ101A): required • Econometrics (EnveconC118, Econ140 or Econ141): required but can be taken concurrently • International TradeEnvecon/EconC181): optional. This course is complementary to C181; a few extra readings will be provided to students who have not taken that class; • Students should have a basic knowledge of calculus (roughly at the level of Mathematics 16A and 16B) and be comfortable understanding mathematical arguments

Instructor: Borusyak

Also listed as: ENVECON C188

Advanced Topics in International Economics: Read Less [-]

ECON 191 Topics in Economic Research 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 This course discusses recent research and policy developments. The core objective is to expose students to different aspects of research in economics. A sequence of five different frontier research topics are studied in depth each semester. Each topic lasts three weeks, during which students will familiarize themselves with cutting-edge economic research and methodology. Students will then develop their own research ideas and write two medium- size research papers. Topics in Economic Research: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 100A or 100B

Topics in Economic Research: Read Less [-]

ECON H195A Senior Honors Thesis 1 - 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 Preparation for writing a thesis, finding and organizing a topic, gathering data and getting started. H195A is not prerequisite to H195B. Senior Honors Thesis: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Senior honors candidates only (students with major GPA of 3.50 or better or permission of instructor.)

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-3 hours of independent study per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 1-5 hours of independent study per week 8 weeks - 1-4 hours of independent study per week

Senior Honors Thesis: Read Less [-]

ECON H195AS Senior Honors Thesis 1 - 3 Units

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 Preparation and writing of an honors thesis under the supervision of a member of the faculty. H195AS is not a prerequisite to H195BS. Senior Honors Thesis: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Senior honors candidates only, with major GPA of 3.5 or better. Permission of undergraduate adviser

Summer: 15 weeks - 1-3 hours of independent study per week

Additional Format: One to three hours of independent study per week.

Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam required.

ECON H195B Senior Honors Thesis 1 - 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 Writing a thesis under the supervision of a faculty member. Applications and details through the departmental undergraduate office. H195A is not prerequisite to H195B. Senior Honors Thesis: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Senior honors candidates only (students with major GPA of 3.50 or better or permission of undergraduate adviser)

ECON H195BS Senior Honors Thesis 1 - 3 Units

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 Preparation and writing of an honors thesis under the supervision of a member of the faculty. Senior Honors Thesis: Read More [+]

Summer: 15 weeks - 1-3 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Hours to be arranged, dependent upon unit value. Seminar.

ECON 196 Special Topics in Economics 1 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2019 Study in various fields of economics. Topics will vary from semester to semester and will be announced at the beginning of each semester. Special Topics in Economics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Upper division standing or consent of instructor

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-4 hours of lecture per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5-10 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 1.5-7.5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: One to four hours of lecture per week. One and one-half to seven and one-half hours of lecture per week for 8 weeks. Two and one-half to ten hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Special Topics in Economics: Read Less [-]

ECON 197 Field Studies 1 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 8 Week Session, Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session Written proposal must be approved by Department Chair. Supervised field studies in economics. Projects may be initiated by the students. Field Studies: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-4 hours of independent study per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 1-5 hours of independent study per week 8 weeks - 1-4 hours of independent study per week 10 weeks - 1.5-6 hours of independent study per week

Field Studies: Read Less [-]

ECON 198 Directed Group Study 1 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 Written proposal must be approved by Department Chair. Seminars for the group study of selected topics, which will vary from year to year. Topics may be initiated by students. Directed Group Study: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing and consent of instructor

ECON 199 Supervised Independent Study and Research 1 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Summer 2023 8 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session Written proposal must be approved by Department Chair. Enrollment is restricted. Supervised Independent Study and Research: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Consent of Instructor

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-2 hours of independent study per week

Additional Format: One to two hours of independent study per week. One and one-half to six hours of independent study per week for 10 weeks. One to four hours of independent study per week for 8 weeks. One to five hours of independent study per week for 6 weeks.

Supervised Independent Study and Research: Read Less [-]

Contact Information

Department of economics | main office.

530 Evans Hall

Phone: 510-642-0822

Fax: 510-642-6615

[email protected]

Department Chair

Andres Rodriguez-Clare

609 Evans Hall

[email protected]

Undergraduate Chair

Demian Pouzo

663 Evans Hall

Phone: 510-642-6709

[email protected]

Director of Student Services

Michelle Fong

551 Evans Hall

[email protected]

Assistant Director, Undergraduate Student Services

Carlos Garcia

533 Evans Hall

Undergraduate Advisor

Mildred Flores

539 Evans Hall

Ashley Vera

Trinh Nguyen

535 Evans Hall

Dinko Lakic

Assistant Director, Course Management

Isabel Burle

545 Evans Hall

[email protected]

Curriculum and Enrollment Coordinator

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Graduate Program

We are committed to supporting our students, both academically and financially. It is the policy of our department to ensure that all of our students are fully funded for at least five years as long as they are making satisfactory academic progress. Full funding includes student fees , nonresident tuition, and a stipend.

Please note that U.S. citizens are expected to establish California residency after their first year in California. International students do not acquire California residency, but the department provides out-of-state tuition coverage throughout their studies, provided they advance to Ph.D. candidacy before the beginning of their 7th semester, which is defined as normal progress.

During your years here, you will be supported through a combination of fellowship money, research assistantships, and teaching assignments. Funding can look a bit different from student to student depending on several factors, but most students have arrangements that look like this:

First Year: The ARE department provides tuition, fees, and stipend for the first year of study. As a GSR, you will be assigned to a faculty member who will supervise your progress in coursework and may demand some research assistance consistent with your study load.

Second and Third Years: During these two years, most students serve as a Graduate Student Instructors or receive support through a Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) appointment. We believe that teaching is an important and valuable component of the learning experience for Ph.D. students that will be valuable for their future careers. Therefore, we expect our students to serve as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) for at least two semesters in their second or third year of study.

Fourth and Fifth Years: Your faculty dissertation research advisor will help you secure financial support for your final one or two years in the program through fellowship opportunities, grants, or additional teaching. If necessary, funding arrangements for additional years will be made on a by-agreement basis between you and your advisor.

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Thinking of Pursuing a PhD in Economics? Info on Graduate School and Beyond

Kasey Chatterji-Len and Anna Kovner

Becoming a PhD economist can provide a fulfilling and financially secure career path. However, getting started in the field can be daunting if you don’t know much about the preparation you’ll need and the available job opportunities. If you’re wondering what it means to be an economics researcher or how to become one, please read on. We’ll review how to prepare for a career in economics research, what an economics PhD program entails, and what types of opportunities it might bring. Economic education is a core component of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s mission to serve the community. To empower would-be economists, this post provides information for students who seek a career in economics research. We hope this information will be helpful to students interested in economics, regardless of their background and economic situation.  This information is most applicable to students applying to programs in the United States.  

The Breadth of Economics Research  

Academic disciplines conduct research in different ways, so it’s important to have a basic understanding of the types of questions economists ask and how they approach answering them. There are many definitions of economics, but a broadly useful one is the study of how people, organizations, and governments make decisions under different constraints, and how those decisions may affect their outcomes. 

When answering these questions, economists seek to ground their analyses in models and to be quantitatively precise about the effects they assign to any given cause. The range of topics economists can study is wide, but the accepted approaches to answering questions are stricter. Some examples of what economists might ask: 

• How do different public housing programs affect the children who live there? 
• Does a certain type of law encourage businesses to innovate? 
• How will a change in the interest rate affect inflation and unemployment rates? 
• How much does affordable health insurance improve people’s health? 
• How can poor countries eradicate poverty? 

There are many different subfields within economics, including, but not limited to behavioral, econometrics, energy/environmental, development, financial, international, monetary, public, and urban economics. You can familiarize yourself with the latest work in economics by subscribing to working paper series, such as NBER’s New This Week or the New York Fed’s Staff Reports . To get an idea of the breadth of questions economists can answer, you could listen to Stephen Dubner’s “ Freakonomics Radio ” podcast. You may also want to explore the Journal of Economic Perspectives , the New York Fed’s Liberty Street Economics blog, VoxDev , or VoxEU .  

What Is a PhD Program Like?    

Economics PhD programs typically last five to seven years. Unlike masters programs, they are often fully funded with a stipend, though most require students to complete teaching assistant and/or research assistant (RA) work as part of their funding package. In the first two years, students take classes, many of which are mathematically demanding. The rest of the program can include additional classes but is primarily devoted to original research with the aim of producing publishable papers that will constitute the dissertation.  

Faculty advisors are a central part of PhD programs, as students look to them for guidance during the research process. Economics PhD programs are offered within university economics departments, but there are similar programs in public policy and business schools. You can look at their websites to understand any differences in coursework and subsequent job placements. 

What Can You Do with an Economics PhD?  

Upon graduation, students can obtain jobs in a variety of industries. Many PhD students hope to become university professors. Governments and public policy-related institutions such as the Federal Reserve System, the U.S. federal government, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also hire economists to work on policy, lead programs, and conduct research. Finally, economics PhD graduates can also find employment at a variety of private sector companies, including banks, economic consulting firms, and big tech companies. The pay for these different positions can vary. According to the American Economics Association (AEA), the average starting salary for economics assistant professors in 2022-23 was approximately $140,000 at PhD granting institutions and $98,000 at BA granting institutions. 

Programs often publish the placements of their PhD graduates, so you can look online to see specific employment outcomes. See, for example, the University of Maryland’s placements . Ultimately, economists are highly regarded as authorities on a variety of topics. Governments, nonprofits, philanthropic foundations, financial institutions, and non-financial businesses all look to economists to answer important questions about how to best achieve their goals. Thus, earning an economics Ph.D. can potentially help you to influence issues that are important to you. 

Preparing for an Economics PhD Program  

There are several components to an economics PhD program application: college transcripts, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. Please download the Appendix linked below to learn more about transcripts and letters of recommendation. The Appendix details ways in which you can select coursework, obtain research experience, and develop relationships to position yourself for success as a PhD applicant.  

If you feel that you are too far along in your academic career to take enough of the classes described in the Appendix, this does not necessarily preclude you from pursuing an economics PhD. For example, it’s possible to take some of these classes through a master’s program, or through a pre-doctoral RA job. Some pre-doctoral RA jobs, such as the one here at the New York Fed , may enable you to take classes in preparation for graduate school. If you are concerned about your transcript, reach out to an economist at your university for advice; program standards for coursework and grades vary, and it’s a good idea to get more personalized advice. 

Research Experience   

If you’re interested in becoming an economics researcher and applying to PhD programs, it’s best to get research experience as soon as possible. Working as an RA is a great way to learn how to conduct research and get a better idea of whether it’s the right career path for you. Additionally, it can help you obtain a letter of recommendation for graduate school applications and improve your qualifications.  

All types of academic research can be enriching, but it’s beneficial to gain experience working directly with an economist. To find a position, you can reach out to professors whose work you find interesting or find an RA program at your school. Typical RA tasks may involve data collection and cleaning, as well as running analyses and creating charts to represent results. This is where coding skills become crucial; having taken math, statistics, and econometrics courses will also enable you to take on more responsibilities. 

You may also have the opportunity to conduct your own research, possibly under the supervision of a professor at your university. This research could be self-initiated or part of a course such as a thesis workshop. Self-directed research is a great opportunity to learn about all stages of the research process. It’s also an excellent opportunity to create a writing sample for graduate school applications. Ultimately, though, your motivation for conducting your own research project should be that you want to answer a question.  One thing economists have in common is a love of answering questions using data and theory. 

Research experience is also often obtained after completing an undergraduate or master’s degree. Taking on a full-time RA position before applying to PhD programs is very common and can make you a more competitive applicant. You may either get an RA job working for a professor or participate in a pre-doctoral RA program.  

Research assistant programs are more structured than positions with individual professors or projects, which could be helpful. Universities, parts of the government, think tanks, research organizations, and the Federal Reserve System are all good places to look for research assistant programs. To help you decide which opportunities are most desirable, you may want to ask potential employers : Where do people in this program tend to go afterward? Will I be working directly with an economist? How much of my time will be spent on academic research work? Will I be able to take classes as part of this program? Considering whether an economist will be able to evaluate your performance is an important factor for recommendation letters. The ability to take classes, either through tuition reimbursement or waivers, can also be an important benefit. 

The Research Analyst program here at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is one example of these programs and you should check it out here . The Federal Reserve Board of Governors also has a large program, and many other regional Federal Reserve Banks have similar programs. In addition, the PREDOC website and the  NBER post listings of RA opportunities. J-PAL and IPA also tend to recruit RAs for economic development projects. Another source of RA opportunities is the @econ_ra account on X. 

Who Should Get a PhD in Economics?  

A PhD may not be for everyone, but it is for anyone—people of all genders, religions, ethnicities, races, and national origins have PhDs in economics. Many economists majored in economics, but others majored in math, physics, or chemistry. Because economics is such an integral part of policymaking, it is important that economists come from a wide range of backgrounds so policy can be stronger and more effective. The inclusion of differing perspectives helps ensure that the contribution of economists to work in public policy, academia, and beyond effectively serves the broadest range of society. 

• Coursework Appendix

Kasey Chatterji-Len is a research analyst in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Research and Statistics Group.

Anna Kovner  is the director of Financial Stability Policy Research in the Bank’s Research and Statistics Group.

How to cite this post: Kasey Chatterji-Len and Anna Kovner, “Thinking of Pursuing a PhD in Economics? Info on Graduate School and Beyond,” Federal Reserve Bank of New York Liberty Street Economics , May 31, 2024, https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2024/05/thinking-of-pursuing-a-phd-in-economics-info-on-graduate-school-and-beyond/.

You may also be interested in: AEA: Resources for Students

PREDOC: Guidance for Undergraduates

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Disclaimer The views expressed in this post are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the Federal Reserve System. Any errors or omissions are the responsibility of the author(s).

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Liberty Street Economics features insight and analysis from New York Fed economists working at the intersection of research and policy. Launched in 2011, the blog takes its name from the Bank’s headquarters at 33 Liberty Street in Manhattan’s Financial District.

The editors are Michael Fleming, Andrew Haughwout, Thomas Klitgaard, and Asani Sarkar, all economists in the Bank’s Research Group.

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Environmental Sciences

• Undergraduate Program

Introduction to the Major

Environmental Sciences (ES) is a broad, interdisciplinary major that examines the impact of human activities on natural systems. Students learn how to apply tools and techniques from a variety of disciplines such as biology, ecology, chemistry, toxicology, geology, hydrology, meteorology, geography, engineering, statistics, behavioral science, policy analysis, economics, and law.

All ES majors complete a senior thesis in which they investigate an environmental issue, design and execute independent research, and present their results in oral and written form.

The ES Curriculum 

ES has three concentrations: Biological Science, Social Science or Physical Science. For all concentrations, lower division coursework emphasizes basic science in a rigorous curriculum drawn from biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, economics and environmental science. 

For upper division courses, students take electives in their area of interest and courses in research methodology and environmental modeling to prepare for the senior research seminar. This yearlong course is the capstone of the major where students design and conduct their own research with guidance from faculty.

Amplify Your Major

• Apply to the Sponsored Project for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) program to pursue joint research with a faculty member. 

Get 1:1 mentoring from graduate students with Berkeley Connect in ESPM

Conduct field research in the Sierra Nevada at Forestry Field Camp or in French Polynesia through the Moorea Program

Join a student group such as the Environmental Sciences Student Association .

What makes ES such a great major is its interdisciplinary nature and the structured execution of a senior thesis of your choosing. Aileen Lavelle, ES Student & Peer Advisor

• Four-Year Student Timeline

Explore Your Major

Familiarize yourself with ES major requirements

Meet with the ES major advisor to sketch out a four-year plan. 

Talk to a peer advisor about life at Rausser College.

Connect and Build Community

Take advantage of the Rausser Student Resource Center

Get 1:1 mentoring with Berkeley Connect in ESPM

Join a student group like the Environmental Sciences Student Association .

Discover Your Passions

Discover new interests in a Freshman Seminar or DeCal course like ESPM 98.

Learn about research opportunities for Rausser students.

Apply for a research position through SPUR .

Engage Locally and Globally

Attend the Calapalooza student activities fair and get involved with a student organization.

Find service opportunities through the Public Service Center

Explore study, internship, and research abroad options with Berkeley Study Abroad

Engage with campus sustainability issues via the Student Environmental Resource Center .

Reflect and Plan Your Future

• Visit Berkeley Career Engagement and the Career Counseling Library .
• Develop a plan for getting career ready.

Sign up for Handshake and CareerMail

Check out the Environmental Sciences Career Snapshot .

Second Year

Complete lower division prerequisites and declare the major if currently undeclared. 

Consider a minor , certificate , or course thread

Meet with the ES major advisor if you plan to study abroad.

Start attending Rausser undergraduate events

Explore ways to get involved at Rausser College through special programs and groups.

Get to know professors and graduate student instructors during office hours.

Enroll in a Sophomore Seminar , Big Ideas Course or Discovery Course

Assist faculty in their research through URAP

Check out research by your peers at a Rausser poster session

Consider a course thread in Humanities & Environment or Sciences and Society .

Work with a community organization in an American Cultures Engaged Scholarship course

Experience life at another UC or college on a visitor and exchange program

Check out the Moorea program for fieldwork opportunities abroad.

Apply your skills in projects for the Green Initiative Fund .

Take advantage of career and pre-health advising for Rausser students. 

Explore career fields through the Career Connections Series or a winter externship

Learn about graduate and professional school . See Step-by-Step for planning help.

Think about doing an internship and attend an internship fair .

Complete the statistics requirement no later than the fall semester.

Start brainstorming research topics for your senior thesis and reach out to potential faculty mentors.

Take ESPM 100ES during the spring semester, which culminates in a proposal for your senior thesis research topic.

Help other students as a Rausser Peer Advisor

Become a Golden Bear Orientation Leader and welcome new students to UC Berkeley.

Seek mentorship from your professors, faculty, and graduate student instructors.

Apply for a Rausser Travel Grant to fund travel for academic conferences or research.

Find research and funding opportunities in the  Discovery database , SPUR , or URAP

Work on energy and climate change solutions as part of the CITRIS Workforce Innovation Program

Enrich your studies with classes in other areas of academic interest.

Participate in a field science or ecology program at the UC Natural Reserve

If interested in environmental policy, look into UCDC or Cal in the Capital

Help youth learn about ecology and the environment through Berkeley SEEDS .

Conduct informational interviews

Discuss post-graduate options with advisors and professors.

Update your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Attend career and graduate school fairs like the Environmental and Sustainability Career Fair.

Fourth Year

Take ESPM 175 and find a faculty mentor for your senior thesis.

Do a degree check to ensure you are on track to graduate.

Complete any “bucket list” courses and remaining major, college, and campus requirements.

Present your research at the ES Symposium to your peers, friends, and family.

Join a professional association such as the National Association of Environmental Professionals or Society for Conservation Biology

Connect with alumni groups such as the Rausser College Alumni Association and build your network as you prepare to graduate.

Teach your own DeCal course

Participate in the college Honors Program

Present your research at a poster session or submit to the Berkeley Scientific Journal

Keep pursuing your interests through a fellowship or by taking a gap year.

Explore service opportunities after graduation, such as Peace Corps , Teach for America , or U.S. Department of State

Attend a conference such as the Clinton Global Initiative: University Conference . Look into travel grants from the college and ASUC.

Help farm and forest communities in California through Grizzlycorps .

Utilize job search tools from the Career Center.

Ask professors and graduate student instructors for recommendation letters.

Meet employers at Employer Info Sessions and On-Campus Recruiting

Apply to jobs, graduate school, and other opportunities.

What Can I Do With My Major?

ES graduates are well-prepared for careers in fields such as environmental consulting, education, health, or law, as well as community, urban, or regional planning and other related areas of environmentalism. Graduates are well-qualified for a variety of graduate programs, including environmental policy and management, law school, medical school, and environmental engineering.

Jobs and Employers

Analyst Consultant, Accenture

Biological Tech., Dept. of Agriculture

Biologist Intern, UCSF

Business Associate, Next Jump

Consultant, NASA

Data Analyst, Lucid Software

Environmental Compliance Intern, Recology

Environmental Scientist, Americorps 

Forestry Tech., Collins Company

GIS Data Specialist, City of San Mateo

Naturalist, Aquarium of the Bay 

Software Ops. Specialist, Nuro

Graduate Programs

Civil Engineering, PhD

Ecology, PhD

Environmental Science, Masters

Forestry, PhD

Molecular Biology, PhD

Public Health, Masters

Public Policy Analysis, Masters  

Examples gathered from LinkedIn and the First Destination Survey of recent Berkeley graduates.

Connect With Us

Come to Berkeley’s annual Open House in April for information sessions, campus tours, special talks, and more.

Golden Bear Orientation 

Join your peers in the campus-wide UC Berkeley orientation program for all new students.

Attend department events with students, staff, and faculty. Visit nature.berkeley.edu for news and updates.

The Undergraduate Advisors for all Rausser College majors are located in the Office of Instruction and Student Affairs in 260 Mulford Hall. 

Visit nature.berkeley.edu/advising/meet-rausser-advisors for detailed office hours and appointment booking links. You may email general advising questions to [email protected] .

How to Use this Map

Use this map to help plan and guide your experience at UC Berkeley, including academic, co-curricular, and discovery opportunities. Everyone’s Berkeley experience is different and activities in this map are suggestions. Always consult with your advisors whenever possible for new opportunities and updates.

• What Can I Do with My Major?

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• Lecturer Pool – Global Studies and Political Economy (JPF04003)

Lecturer Pool – Global Studies and Political Economy Apply now to Lecturer Pool – Global Studies and Political Economy

• Interdiscipl SocSci Pgm / College of Letters & Science - Social Sciences / UC Berkeley

Position overview

Application window.

Open date: June 22, 2023

Most recent review date: Friday, Mar 8, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date: Friday, Jun 21, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Program at UC Berkeley offers two interdisciplinary undergraduate majors: Political Economy and Global Studies. In addition, it houses the interdisciplinary Global Studies graduate program and offers a Designated Emphasis in Political Economy.

The Global Studies and Political Economy Programs at the University of California, Berkeley invites applicants to apply to a pool of qualified temporary instructors.

DUTIES OF THE POSITION: Teaching one or more of the following courses: • Classical Theories of Political Economy; • Contemporary Theories of Political Economy; • Special topics in Political Economy, such as finance, development, globalization, inequality, poverty, and policy-related issues; • World History: a survey course in modern world history, with an emphasis on political economy; • Special topics in Global Studies, such as humanities-related issues; • Regional courses (example, Africa, Asia, East Europe, Latin America, etc.) that address global themes; • Interdisciplinary approaches to global studies; • Peace and Conflict Studies; • Development Studies; • Critical Thinking and/or Theories and Methods courses; • Thesis writing courses.

In addition to teaching responsibilities, general duties may include holding office hours, assigning grades, advising students, preparing course materials (e.g. syllabus), writing exams, interacting with students outside of class time via email and/or a course web site, and managing teaching assistants.

Please note: These positions are temporary appointments with no guarantee of reappointment at the end of the term. The use of a lecturer pool does not guarantee that an open position exists. See the review date specified in AP Recruit to learn whether the department is currently reviewing applications for a specific position. If there is no future review date specified, your application may not be considered at this time.

Department : https://issp.berkeley.edu/

Qualifications

PhD (or equivalent international degree), or enrolled in PhD or equivalent international degree-granting program at the time of application.

PhD (or equivalent international degree).

PhD in the fields of history, political science, economics, sociology, geography or related fields. Academic experience with Political Economy, Global Studies, and/or interdisciplinary approaches to teaching, research or regional studies.

A commitment to, and experience with, undergraduate teaching.

Global Studies/Political Economy is interested in candidates who will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity in higher education through their teaching as well as communicating effectively with a diverse student population.

Application Requirements

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

Cover Letter

Statement of Teaching

Statement on Contributions to Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Statement on your contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including information about your understanding of these topics, your record of activities to date, and your specific plans and goals for advancing equity and inclusion if hired at Berkeley. More Information and guidelines .

Sample Course Syllabus/Syllabi

Teaching Evaluations - Please provide teaching evaluations for most recent two semesters of non-Summer, non-Teaching Assistant positions (if available, otherwise include any evaluations). (Optional)

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

Please name and provide contact information for references, but the references will not be asked to provide letters unless the analyst requests them.

Help contact: [email protected]

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The excellence of the institution requires an environment in which the diverse community of faculty, students, and staff are welcome and included. Successful candidates will demonstrate knowledge and skill related to ensuring equity and inclusion in the activities of their academic position (e.g., teaching, research, and service, as applicable).

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

Please refer to the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy and the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy .

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

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Energy Institute at Haas

Severin Borenstein and James Bushnell on Renewable Energy in California

The Washington Post

Severin Borenstein , Faculty Director, and James Bushnell , Faculty Affiliate, comment on California’s renewable energy processes in The Washington Post.

““It all comes down to this problem of: It’s not how much energy we have, it’s the when and the where the energy is being produced,” said James Bushnell, an economics professor at the University of California at Davis. “Particularly the solar resources — it’s just in the wrong places and at the wrong times.”

Another possible solution to the oversupply of renewables would be a mass shifting of consumer demand, so that residents use power in the middle of the day instead of the afternoon or night, said Severin Borenstein, faculty director of the Energy Institute at Haas business school at the University of California at Berkeley. That’s been discussed by policymakers but would require cooperation from utilities to redesign rate structures.”

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Amid Seismic NCAA Shift, New Practicum Helps Empower Student-Athletes Negotiating Endorsements

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By Gwyneth K. Shaw

Anastasia Snodgrass came to UC Berkeley last fall looking forward to the academic challenges of college and the athletic demands of being a Division I runner. 

She also came with a handful of endorsements — a growing trend among college athletes since the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) 2021 decision allowing them to earn money from companies that use their name or image for everything from a major ad campaign to a single sponsored Instagram post. 

The move was a seismic shift in collegiate sports: Finally, student-athletes would be able to benefit from the NCAA money machine. And these name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals have garnered eye-popping payouts for star quarterbacks, point guards, and other big-name athletes.

But athletes like Snodgrass from lower-profile sports or programs are also inking sponsorships, albeit for much smaller payouts — as low as $50 or $100. And without professional representation, young athletes are vulnerable. Even a mid-range deal between $5,000 and $20,000 might not warrant hiring an agent or lawyer. 

“When I started doing it, I was just taking whatever I could get,” Snodgrass says. “And then as I kept going, I was thinking maybe I need to start negotiating — but do I need to be asking for more? Do I need to be asking for less? Is this appropriate for me to ask?

“I was learning as I went along, in the professional sense of how to negotiate with these companies and to really protect yourself. It’s very hard when you’re this young.” 

Stepping up 

Snodgrass found some resources through Berkeley’s Athletics Department, which has wrapped NIL issues into its general methods of ensuring the school is complying with the NCAA’s dizzying number of rules. She’s on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which represents athletes with these deals. 

And she’s gotten a big assist from Berkeley Law students and lecturers. The Berkeley Center for Law & Technology (BCLT) stepped up to help through its new NIL Practicum and accompanying seminar , which was offered for the first time this spring. Under the instruction and supervision of seasoned attorneys with deep experience in the sports arena, students are working with athletes from around California to broker these deals. 

“If you have a contract in the $1,000 range, that’s where we want to help, to make sure the money goes into the athlete’s pocket and not the pocket of some corporation,” says BCLT Executive Director Wayne Stacy , who proposed the program and is one of the course’s instructors. 

The practicum’s guidance is available across the state, whether it’s a swimmer from Modesto who’s been approached by a local car dealership, a field hockey player from Carlsbad with an offer from a stick manufacturer — or a runner like Snodgrass. 

“Being a ‘non-revenue sport’ athlete, it’s definitely hard to be able to really get your name out there, and obviously not too many people pay attention to cross country and track. So you definitely have to identify things like your brand image, who you are, and learn how to differentiate yourself from other athletes,” she says. “I had to have a lot of ambition and confidence to really put myself out there.”

The only criteria for working with the practicum, Stacy says, is that an athlete be enrolled in a California college or university, at least 18 years old, and not already have a lawyer. 

“Our target is unrepresented athletes who are being offered these midsize sponsorship packages,” he says. “We want to make it easy, and make sure the money flows to the athletes. We’re here to help athletes and their families.”

A team of heavy hitters in the sports law world joined Stacy as instructors, including Richard Brand — managing partner of ArentFox Schiff’s San Francisco office and the head of the firm’s sports practice — colleague Zak Welsh ’15, Jade Smith-Williams of Bailey Glasser, and three lawyers from Gunderson Dettmer: Colin D. Chapman, Gina Marek, and Kerry Moller. Several were college athletes. Powerhouse agent Leigh Steinberg ’73 is an adviser for the program.

Even before the practicum formally began, Stacy says, the team spent time consulting with athletes from programs around the state. UC Irvine, for example, has 10 players considering endorsements — too few for its law school to run its own clinic but a strong indicator that Berkeley Law’s assistance will be useful there and elsewhere. 

In addition to the hands-on in-state help, Stacy says, he hopes the program will become a national leader in NIL policy. One early goal for the broader effort was to develop a template agreement for NIL endorsements that could be adapted and used around the country. 

“Something both sides can trust is a huge step forward,” he says.  

A proactive partnership

The practicum has been “a tremendous resource” for campus student athletes, according to Cal’s Associate Athletics Director for NIL, Justin DiTolla. He spoke to students in the spring class about how these deals have changed the game, particularly in the compliance sphere.

“These services have benefitted numerous student-athletes with negotiation, contract advice, and providing guidance to international student-athletes,” he says. “NIL has grown exponentially since its implementation in July 2021 and student-athletes at Cal have continued to take advantage of their opportunities. The resources provided by the practicum have been invaluable to our student-athletes by providing legal services at no cost, giving them peace of mind knowing that they have legal advice.”  

“We are grateful for the partnership with Berkeley Law and for the students and professors in the NIL Practicum.”

Law students who took the course also enjoyed the chance to do hands-on work in a cutting-edge area of sports law.

“The practicum was a great opportunity to learn about the rapidly changing landscape for student athletes and their NIL rights in real time,” says 2L Sarah Kate Zweig. “Because state laws and NCAA rules are still evolving and student compliance is a bit of a moving target, a space for student athletes to access guidance on their brand deals is massively important. 

“Being able to provide some of that guidance and work with student athletes directly, especially during this time, was overall a very rewarding experience for me.”

For Snodgrass, a media studies major with an interest in marketing and public relations, seeking out and negotiating endorsements has been instructive and empowering. She took initial pointers from older friends and teammates and has welcomed the assistance from practicum students and faculty, particularly knowing some athletes who have found themselves in predicaments after not reading a contract’s fine print. 

“The idea of NIL was not just a way for student-athletes to get paid — for me, it’s also about how to work with a company, how to promote a product, and how to learn different marketing techniques. That’s where I wanted to take it,” she says. “Some of the things I’ve learned are about how to differentiate yourself from other athletes and being able to build your own brand image, to sell yourself as who you are. I think the best thing about NIL is that it’s really that: your name, your image, your likeness. It’s unique and personal to you, and it’s different from everyone else.

“Learning how to navigate that whole process on your own is great.” 

05/22/2024 Topics: Business and Startups , Public Mission , Technology, Intellectual Property and Privacy