About the Program
Be at the forefront of a dynamic and ever-relevant field. The Economics program equips you with a versatile social science foundation, practical analytical skills and a global perspective. You will use statistics and mathematics to test economic theories and real-world applications, developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the process. With three specialized options — Applied Economics, Quantitative Economics and General Economics — you can shape your degree to your career goals, whether in business, government, finance or law.
The Polytechnic Approach
Work with industry software including Excel, Stata and R, compete in data analysis competitions, and participate in enriching activities like visits to Federal Reserve offices through the Economics Club. Pursue your research interests with supportive faculty mentors during your senior seminar project. No matter what your career aspirations are, you will gain the hands-on education and practical skills needed to get there.
Career Outcomes
Program Emphasis
Courses
The undergraduate major in economics has two objectives: prepare students for career positions in either the private or public sectors; and provide the background needed to successfully pursue graduate study in economics and other areas such business, finance, data science, public policy or law.
Professor of Economics
Carsten Lange
Dr. Carsten Lange specializes in economic impact analysis, money supply, inflation and central bank policy. Recent projects include an economic impact study for the City of Industry, predicting real estate prices in Orange County with GIS, analyzing California adolescent obesity with GIS, and an analysis of the European debt crisis.
Economics Department
Economics Club
The Economics Club connects your education with potential paths after graduation. Through the club, you can compete in data analysis competitions with teams from all over the world, visit Federal Reserve Offices to gain more in-depth knowledge on how our financial sector operates, and engage in other activities to build communication and interpersonal skills.
