Current Students

The Department of Economics is recognized for its prestige in both research and academics. Our Department serves over 2,000 undergraduates, and offers resources such as Undergraduate and Career Advising Services, student organizations, and information about study abroad programs.

Economics Undergraduate Advising Services

Advising Services

The Economics Undergraduate Academic Advisors (both Professional Advisors and Peer Advisors) are available for drop-in advising any time the office is open. Questions about courses, requirements, schedules, substitutions, and petitions are welcome. Also feel free to email your questions.

Advising Office Information

Advising Services

The undergraduate advising office operates mainly on a walk-in basis. Our walk-in hours are Monday-Thursday 9:00am-11:30am & 1:30pm-4:30pm. Fridays we are closed to walk-ins and accept appointments and email inquiries only. Students must join the QLess line, via this link, in order to queue for drop-ins. Students will receive a text message once they are at the front of the queue.

All advising inquiries can also be sent via email to ugrad@econ.ucsb.edu. An advisor will return your message within 2 business days.

Appointments can be made using this link. Please note that we do not offer appointments during weeks 1 and 2 of each quarter as well as during Pass 1. As a reminder, most inquiries can be addressed via a walk-in session or email, so we ask that appointments be made only for those with more complex issues to address.

Meet Our Peer Advisors

The Department sponsors a Peer Advising Program throughout the academic year. The program employs outstanding Upper-Division students and trains them to offer assistance in many areas. Peer Advisors are students who value community service and demonstrate an enthusiasm for the Department of Economics and the majors available within it.

If you are interested in becoming a Peer Advisor for the Economics Undergraduate Advising Office, requests for resumes are sent out during Winter Quarter.

2023-24 Peer Advisors

Victoria (Tori) Hausch: "I am a third-year Honors Program student double majoring in Economics and Sociology and currently pursuing a career in law. Outside of school, I am the President of Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law fraternity here at UCSB, as well as play for the UCSB Women's Ultimate Frisbee team, the Burning Skirts. This past summer I interned at a local non-profit in Santa Barbara called Women's Economic Ventures that focuses on small business development for women and underserved communities. You can find me hiking and playing frisbee all around SB, and I am excited to be working here in the Economics department and can't wait to help you all with your journeys in Economics! Cheers!"

Aaron Jue-Sans: "I’m a third-year Economics major in the Letters and Science Honors Program. Currently, I tutor a 7th grader in math through the volunteer organization Cub Support, and I do billing and payroll for a tennis club. In my down time, you can find me surfing, playing guitar, or playing ultimate frisbee with Black Out, one of UCSB’s club teams. Please feel free to reach out with any questions about the Economics major!"

Heather Young: "I’m a third year majoring in Economics and Accounting. I am currently the Director of Recruitment for the Undergraduate Accounting Society and I am working on an economics research project about the impact of foodbanks on the local economy. I will also be an audit intern at Deloitte this summer and I will be studying for the CPA Exam once I graduate. Aside from academics, I enjoy reading, backpacking, and spending time with my friends and family. Feel free to ask me any questions you have about recruiting for accounting firms, economics research, how to succeed in the major, or anything else I can help you with!"

Elexis Zamora: "I am a fourth year Economics and Sociology double major. I really enjoy helping others, which leads me to hopefully one day pursue my passion of educating low-income underrepresented groups on financial literacy. After college I plan on taking some time off of school to work at a bank. I hope this will allow me to learn what it is exactly I wish to pursue in graduate school. Other than my career goals I enjoy spending time with my family, my friends, as well as going to the gym or hiking. I also love self-care time, where I do face care and watch my favorite movies and shows. Please reach out or stop by if you have any questions about being first-generation, Latina, a double-major, or simply need some advice!"

Study Abroad

Studying abroad provides an opportunity to expand students' academic and cultural experiences while staying on track to complete the Economics major. The Department strongly encourages students to study abroad in order to enhance their knowledge of Economics while immersing themselves in another culture.

For more information about studying abroad, please visit UCSB EAP’s page dedicated to Economics majors.

Where and When to Study Abroad

We always recommend that students plan to study abroad AFTER they are accepted into the Economics or Economics & Accounting major. If you plan to study abroad the following quarter after you take ECON 10A, please be aware that you will not be eligible for the retake exams while you’re abroad or after you come back.

Students interested in studying abroad should consult with an Economics Undergraduate Advisor to determine the best time period for a study abroad experience.

Examples of excellent study abroad options for Economics majors include:

Fudan University, China
Warwick University, England
University of Glasgow, Scotland
University of St. Andrews in England and Scotland
London School of Economics (summer only)
Global Business Program in Asia, Hong Kong and Shanghai (summer only)
Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
University of Commerce, Luigi Bocconi, Milan, Italy
Maastricht University, Netherlands

Course Approval

Please use this link to view the Economics department's pre-approved listing of EAP courses. Please be sure you read the disclaimer page thoroughly. The courses in this database have been pre-approved for use towards the major. Those listed as NONE cannot be used towards the major.

If there is a course you want to take that is not listed in the database, or if the university you are going to is not listed in the database, you will need to have this course/that university reviewed. In order to do so, you will need to complete the EAP Course Approval Form, which can be downloaded from the sidebar. After you fill out the form, it should be sent to Professor Benelli, whose contact information can also be found in the sidebar.

Honors Program

The Department of Economics Honors program begins during a student's sophomore year with ECON 96. It progresses to ECON 194 in their junior year and concludes with a ECON 196A-B in their senior year, where they will complete an Honors Thesis. Upon completion of the program, students will receive Distinction in the Major, which is placed on the student’s transcript and diploma upon graduation.

Honors Admittance

Access to the ECON 196 series requires the completion of ECON 10A, ECON 100B, ECON 101, and ECON 140A and 140B with a minimum GPA of 3.50 (ECON 140B may be taken concurrently with ECON 196A). A student's overall GPA must also be at least 3.50.

Graduating with Distinction in the Major requires a minimum GPA of 3.50 in ECON 140B and 196A-B.

Honors Courses

ECON 96

Prerequisite: Approval by the Department based on performance in ECON 1 and 2. Course is designed for majors and usually offered Winter and Spring Quarters.
Description: This is a small seminar class that gives sophomores the opportunity to read and discuss selected texts and research papers in Economics. The objective is to expose students to a wide range of research topics in order to give them a flavor of the research opportunities available. It is ideal for students who are interested in pursuing their own Economic research in the future.

ECON 196A

Prerequisite: 3.50 GPA in ECON 10A, 100B, 101, 140A and 140B. If the 140B requirement has not been met, it must be taken concurrently with 196A. Usually offered Fall Quarter.
Description: Students undertake independent research project(s) under the direction of a faculty member. The research results are presented as an honors paper at the end of the second term (196B).

ECON 196B

Prerequisite: ECON 196A and ECON 140B. Usually offered Winter Quarter.
Description: Students undertake independent research project(s) under the direction of a faculty member. The research results are presented as an honors paper at the end of this term.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

The Department of Economics strongly encourages undergraduates to engage in Economic research during their time at UCSB. All research opportunities offered by the Department are only open to students in either the Economics or Economics & Accounting Majors. Students can do individual research with a faculty member or engage in research through one of our research programs. Please see the Career Connection section for more information.

Research Courses

ECON 194

Prerequisite: Full-major standing and by invitation. If you’re interested, please see the Undergraduate Advisor.
Description: This class is intended as an introduction to Economic Research and a possible lead-in to designing and conducting an original research project in next year’s Senior Honors Sequence — ECON 196A and 196B. The class will include presentations on research methods, research ethics, paths to graduate school and short talks by Economics faculty and graduate students on research ideas and conduct. There will be a couple of short assignments, and the final product will be a brief (two- to three- page) research proposal to be presented in class.

ECON 199

Prerequisite: Upper-Division standing in the major; 3.0 Upper-Division GPA and a 3.0 GPA in preceding 3 quarters; completion of two Upper-Division courses in Economics; consent from your instructor and the Department.
Description: Coursework will consist of the student’s original academic research, supervised by a faculty member. This course is not intended for internships. No more than 2 units can be earned in any one quarter.

Download the Econ 199 Proposal Form from the sidebar and complete with your faculty advisor.

ECON 199RA

Prerequisite: Upper-Division standing in the major; 3.0 Upper-Division GPA and a 3.0 GPA in preceding 3 quarters; completion of two Upper-Division courses in Economics; consent from your instructor and the Department.
Description: Coursework will consist of faculty supervised research, where the student assists with faculty research. Units do not count toward the major. No more than 2 units can be earned in any one quarter.

Download the ECON 199 Proposal Form from the sidebar and complete with your faculty advisor.

Academic Integrity

The UCSB Student Conduct Code exists to support the highest standards of social and academic behavior and ensure an environment conducive to student learning. It is expected that students attending the University of California, Santa Barbara understand and subscribe to the ideal of academic integrity, and are willing to bear individual responsibility for their work. Any submission that fulfills an academic requirement must represent a student’s original work. Any act of academic dishonesty will subject a person to University disciplinary action.

More Information on Academic Integrity