Chair: Buhong Zheng
Program Assistant: Christine Lukvec
Office: Lawrence Street Center, 460
Telephone: 303-556-4413
Fax: 303-556-3547
Web site: http://econ.cudenver.edu

Faculty 

Economics is the science of decision making. The rigorous and general approach that characterizes economics lends itself to a remarkably wide field of practical application. Economists are noted for major contributions in a number of fields including government policy, taxation, law, regulation, political economy, international trade and finance, international and U.S. development, marketing, environmental studies, medical policy, portfolio management and banking. The broad and rigorous training of economics majors accounts for their significant demand in virtually every industry and government agency. Economics provides excellent preparation for advanced graduate study as well. Recent studies indicate that economics is a preferred degree for prestigious MBA programs and law schools.

Undergraduate

REQUIREMENTS FOR MAJOR 

REQUIREMENTS FOR MINOR 

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Honors in Economics

Students wishing to earn departmental honors in economics should consult with their advisor no later than the beginning of their senior year.

Cum laude will be awarded to students who complete an economics major with a 3.5 GPA in all upper-division (3000+) courses in economics taken at UC Denver, with a minimum of eight such courses, and either two additional electives in economics beyond those required for the major, taken at the 4000 or higher level, or an acceptable honors thesis. The thesis must be approved by a three-member committee of department faculty and will include a presentation of the results to that committee. Students should register for the thesis, using ECON 4850 as the course number, as a 3-semester hour independent study, in addition to the regular requirements for the major.

Magna cum laude will be awarded to students who complete an economics major with a 3.7 GPA in all upper-division (3000+) courses in economics taken at UC Denver, with a minimum of eight courses, and who complete an acceptable honors thesis.

Summa cum laude will be awarded to students who complete an economics major with a 3.88 GPA in all upper-division (3000+) courses in economics taken at UC Denver, with a minimum of eight courses, and who complete an outstanding honors thesis.

In order to be recognized in the graduation program as “Honors Pending,” a draft of the thesis must be submitted to the chair of the committee four weeks prior to the end of the semester. The oral presentation and other requirements must be completed one week before graduation.

In order to be recognized in the graduation program with the specific honors degree being conferred, e.g., summa, magna, etc., students must turn in the completed final copy of the honors thesis four weeks prior to the end of the semester, along with meeting other requirements by the week before graduation. Otherwise, recognition will come with the diploma after graduation.

Students who do not have an advisor should contact the department for assignment to an advisor. Students should meet with their advisor at least twice a year.

Graduate

The MA program in economics at UC Denver is directed toward two groups: (1) those who look on the MA as a key to career development in business or government service, and (2) those who desire to go on to pursue the PhD in economics or related fields.

The strong quantitative emphasis of the department’s MA program is ideally suited for the pursuit of both these goals. Students are steeped in econometric theory and its applications from the beginning of the program, receiving broad exposure both to the tools of econometric analysis and the application of these tools to a wide range of economic phenomena. The applications involve extensive exposure to the professional literature in various applied fields and a research seminar in which each student will undertake a sophisticated applied research project under faculty supervision.

Students are allowed a great deal of flexibility in choosing their elective courses. Possibilities include advanced quantitative courses in economics, advanced field courses in economics (e.g., money and banking, international economics) business courses and advanced mathematics courses (which are particularly useful for those who wish to pursue the PhD in economics). All of this is intended to give students the opportunity to complement their extensive quantitative training with additional knowledge and skills that will best enhance their prospects upon graduation.

MASTER OF ARTS IN ECONOMICS   

MA ECONOMICS/MS FINANCE DUAL DEGREE 

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