Economics is the study of how people make choices and how markets work. Economics provides models and empirical methods for studying the behavior of individuals, families, businesses, organizations and the role of government in all facets of life. Many people dont realize the breadth of the economics discipline and its role in increasing productivity in the private sector, improving public policies in areas like health, education, environment and global development, and promoting individual well-being. The Department of Economics at the UVa is proud of its tradition of excellent teaching and frontier research. As an undergraduate, you will have the opportunity to take classes from leading researchers and policy professionals in an intellectually vibrant academic environment. All economics majors at UVa complete a foundational sequence of courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics. With this common toolkit, students choose from a broad selection of electives including courses on international trade, financial markets, development economics, industrial organization, the economics of education, health economics, antitrust policy, environment economics, law and economics, and many other options. Not only do economics majors build a strong theoretical and empirical toolkit, but success in the major also requires students to develop good communication skills. Economics majors also have the opportunity to pursue focused study in particular areas with concentrations in Financial Economics, Public Policy, Industrial Organization, and International Economics. In addition, the competitive Distinguished Majors Program allows students to write a thesis and complete an independent research project. Beyond coursework, students in economics have the opportunity to participate in seminars and lectures led by leading economists and policy makers from around the world.
