Program Description

Economics is the study of how society allocates scarce resources (land, labor, capital) in an attempt to satisfy unlimited wants. It is broadly divided into two branches: Macroeconomics and Microeconomics. Macroeconomics is concerned with the workings of the economy as a whole. It is the study of broad measures of economic performance: Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unemployment, and inflation. Given these measures, it considers the role of the government in guiding the macroeconomy. Microeconomics focuses on the role of individual decision-makers—consumers and firms—and analyzes the efficiencies and failures of a market system. The potential role of government to wholly or partially correct market failures is then considered. The two branches approach the fundamental questions of resource allocation from opposite sides: one from the perspective of the economy as a whole (macroeconomics) and one from the perspective of the individual agents in the economy (microeconomics).

Learn more about the program on the Economics website.

Associate Degree for Transfer

This program also offers an Associate Degree for Transfer. Learn more and review the degree requirements on the Economics AA-T listing.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Have a working understanding of the role of prices in a market economy, trade, economic growth, competition, market failures, and the economic role of government.
• Employ economic reasoning and logic to explain the world and make better decisions.

Career Opportunities

A major in economics is excellent undergraduate preparation for students who wish to enter the legal profession, politics, government service, or teaching. Graduate degrees are necessary for those who wish to teach at the college or university level. Graduate degrees in economics also afford opportunities for banking careers at the higher management levels and in the fields of securities analysis, finance, and, increasingly, in the fields of international finance and international trade. An economics major is highly recommended for entry into Master of Business Administration programs. Statistics and calculus are strongly encouraged for students intending to pursue a baccalaureate degree in economics.

Award Type(s)

• AA = Associate in Arts Degree

Units Required

• Major: 31

Additional Information

Note: Students having difficulty attaining an associate degree because of timing or availability of classes should consult with a counselor to submit a petition for course substitution.

Associate Degree Requirements

A minimum of 90 units is required¹ to complete the associate degree, including:

• Core and support courses for the major (31 units total)
• Completion of one of the following general education patterns:
  • Foothill College General Education
  • Summer Session 2025 only–CSU General Education Breadth (CSU GE Breadth)²
  • Summer Session 2025 only–Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)²
  • Beginning Fall Quarter 2025–California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)³

¹

Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.

²

Summer Session 2025 is the final term during which CSU GE Breadth and IGETC may be used. Please see a counselor for more information.

³

Cal-GETC begins in Fall Quarter 2025. Please see a counselor for more information.

Note: A grade of "C" (or "P") or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Refer to the Associate in Arts & Associate in Science Degree Requirements page for complete information about graduation requirements and catalog rights.

Core and Support Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Core Courses
ECON 1A	PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS	5
ECON 1B	PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS	5
ECON 9	INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY	4
or ECON 9H	HONORS INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
or POLI 9	INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
or POLI 9H	HONORS INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
ECON 25	THE GLOBAL ECONOMY	4
or ECON 25H	HONORS THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
Support Courses
Select 13 units from the following:		13
BUSI 45	FUNDAMENTALS OF PERSONAL FINANCE
GEOG 10	WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY
MATH 1A	CALCULUS
or MATH 1AH	HONORS CALCULUS I
MATH 10	ELEMENTARY STATISTICS
or PSYC 7	STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
or SOC 7	STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
or MATH 17	INTEGRATED STATISTICS II
PSYC 10	RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
or SOC 10	SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
ECON 54H	HONORS INSTITUTE SEMINAR IN ECONOMICS
ECON 70R	INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ECONOMICS
ECON 71R	INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ECONOMICS
ECON 72R	INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ECONOMICS
ECON 73R	INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ECONOMICS
Total Units		31