Economics Major

The B.A. in Economics program provides training in economic theories and their applications, preparing students to use economic tools to evaluate, understand, and address economic and societal problems.

At a Glance

Flexibility

Full Time
Delivery Options

Online | On Campus
Degree

BA

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What courses will you take?

UMass Lowell students and Model U.N. members Alejandro Lopez and Ryan Dekeon, pictured in suits sitting in the Pulichino Tong Building in orange chairs looking at the camera

Our students follow a well-rounded curriculum that begins with introductory courses on the principles of economics. In upper division courses, you will apply those principles to decision-making problems faced by families, firms, and government agencies in a global market-based economy.

Students in the UMass Lowell economics major develop a comprehensive understanding of the conceptual and analytical tools needed to make sense of real-world events, as well as the technical abilities needed to be successful in a wide range of career paths and graduate studies.

Visit the Academic Catalog for a complete course listing.

Degree Pathways are a semester-by-semester sequence of courses recommended for successful completion of a degree, diploma, credential or certificate from the university. The most current degree pathway is:
Economics
Visit the Academic Catalog for all degree pathways, including those from prior enrollment years.
Identify the role of demand and supply in a market economy in allocating resources and generating the distribution of incomes to factors of production.
Articulate the advantages of a market system and the role of prices in achieving allocational and productive efficiency.
Identify the sources and consequences of “market failure.”
Critically evaluate controversies about the appropriate scope of, and approaches to, government regulation in conditions of market failure.
Critically evaluate controversies from an economic efficiency and distributional equity perspective over the use of government tax and transfer policies to redistribute income
Critically evaluate controversies over attempts to use fiscal policy and/or central bank monetary policy to maintain aggregate growth consistent with full employment and inflation stability.
Show competencies in interpreting economic data, critically evaluating empirical claims in economics and drawing appropriate inferences from economic studies.
Effectively demonstrate their ability to apply economic theory to the framing and analysis of economic problems using graphs, algebra, and quantitative statistical methods.
Demonstrate knowledge of relevant historic data and empirical findings in at least one of the content areas listed in outcomes 4-6.

Why study economics at UMass Lowell?

Students work at computers in an economics classroom at UMass Lowell.

Expert Faculty

Our economics faculty are actively involved in research and scholarship, value highly their role as instructors and bring real-world experience into the classroom from such prior roles as investment bankers, program directors at research institutions and advisors at the Federal Reserve Board.

Economics students from UMass Lowell stand in a group with one student holding a framed certificate

Extracurricular Activities

Put your learning into practice. Check out some of the fun ways UML students come together.

Group of UMass Lowell students holding a "Barracuda Bowl" M2D2 poster.

Experiential Learning

Build career-ready skills through experiences outside the classroom, including:

Research in a faculty laboratory
Co-ops and internships
Paid work on campus
Service learning
Study abroad

Student sitting in an economics classroom at UMass Lowell

Bachelor’s-to-Master's Program

Get on the fast track to an advanced degree with our combined Bachelor's-to-Master's program.

Available to juniors and seniors with a grade point average of 3.000 or better
Offers a continuous, coordinated sequence of courses
Reduced credit-hour requirements can save you time and money

What can you do with a degree in economics?

Graduates from UMass Lowell's economics program are prepared to enter many fields in both public and private sectors, including consulting, finance, government, not-for-profits, law, medicine, academia and research institutions.

Woman working on computer while looking at data charts

Alumni of our program have worked at:

Bureau of Labor Statistics
Brown University
Fidelity Investments
International Monetary Fund
Massachusetts Department of Revenue
National Grid
Putnam Investments
Sun Life Financial
Tufts Health Plan
University of Rhode Island

Meet Our Students and Alumni

Marvens Francois '21

Economics

Marvens Francois says switching his major to economics was one of the best decisions of his life.

I’ve always had this love for economic theory and the stock market and things like that, so I said, ‘I’ll give it a try’ – and I’ve never looked back.