Introduction

Welcome to the Undergraduate Program

Welcome and thank you for your interest in UNM's B.A. in Economics program! Our department views economics learning as a pathway to careers and opportunities that are both personally rewarding while contributing to societal well-being. Our motto is “do well, but do good.” To that end, we strive to provide students with the underlying theory, application, assessment, and connection to our community, region, and the planet.

Our Undergraduate program offers a B.A. in Economics or a minor in Economics, both on campus and online. Beginning in Academic Year 2023-2024, the Department of Economics is excited to offer a Shared Credit Master of Arts in Economics Plan III (coursework only). Learn more here!

We hope you take some time to navigate our website and learn more about our undergraduate program.

What Can You Do with an Economics Degree?

Learning economics will improve your understanding of the world. Economics is about how societies and markets allocate scarce resources; how individuals, businesses, and governments behave and interact and why there are tradeoffs in all decisions and policy options. There really is no such thing as a free lunch!

Economists address a wide array of issues in their everyday work, such as assessing the impact of access to education and health care on individual and societal outcomes, evaluating the effectiveness of environmental and public health policies, managing the federal budget deficit and its impact, and explaining why countries are poor and what to do about it. Our students learn macroeconomic relationships that explain economic growth, unemployment, inflation, and exchange rate fluctuations. They also study the microeconomics of individual and firm decision-making and how the government affects markets, including with respect to labor/leisure tradeoffs, human capital development, natural resource use, and discrimination. Majors develop analytical and quantitative skills including modeling and data analysis.

Learn about the various careers of economics majors here and check out the video below:

Why Economics at UNM?

Economics classes have been taught at UNM for more than a century, with undergraduate degrees being awarded since the late 1920s.

Dedicated, Diverse, and Award Winning Faculty

Work with award-winning researchers, dedicated teachers, and community leaders. Our department takes our motto of “do well, but do good” seriously. Economics faculty and students engage in impactful research and outreach for the state and people of New Mexico. In addition, faculty members and teaching graduate students are committed to a quality undergraduate experience by focusing on best practices in equity and inclusivity, teaching about social and global challenges, and providing opportunities to develop research skills in lower-level division courses.

Develop Marketable Skills for a Variety of Career Opportunities

Econ students excel at skills employers consistently rank as most important: data literacy, critical thinking, complex problem-solving, and collaboration skills. Our graduates distinguish themselves in consulting, big data, banking, finance, government, international organizations, and the non-profit sector. They also earn advanced graduate degrees in Economics, Business, Public Policy, Geography, and Law.

Earn a BA and MA in Economics in 5 Years

Our undergraduates are encouraged to participate in any number of shared credit programs. These programs allow students to earn an undergraduate and graduate degree in 5 years at reduced costs by double counting pre-approved undergraduate course credit as graduate course credit.

• Shared Credit B.A./M.A. in Economics is our applied economic analysis program, focusing on developing theoretical and data analysis skills to provide practical problem-solving expertise. Students can choose to specialize in high-demand fields including Quantitative Analysis, Public Policy, Water Resources, or a directed specialization.
• A. Econ/M.P.A. (Master of Public Administration). This interdisciplinary program is well suited for students that wish to use their economic major to issues of public policy across management, government, and non-profit organizations.
• B.A. Econ/M.S. in Geography and Environmental Studies. This interdisciplinary program is well suited for students that wish to apply economics methods to environmental, natural resource, and sustainability challenges. 

Customized Learning

Steven Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics, says it best - “since the science of economics is primarily a set of tools, as opposed to a subject matter, then no subject, however offbeat, need be beyond its reach.” Our program only requires 33 credit hours and is flexible, giving you the opportunity to focus on areas you find most satisfying. We have courses for the business-bound, pre-graduate studies, social policy, development and international studies, environmental, data analysis, and much more! See the UNM Course Catalog to check out our courses.

Variety of Enriching Educational Experiences Available

There are many ways in which your educational experience is enriched at UNM. Many of our faculty have won awards and fellowships for their teaching and design of courses. Our courses use the most recent advances in instruction – including flipped classrooms, the Stock Market^TM Game Challenge, Federal Reserve FOMC mimic meetings, quality-reviewed online offerings, capstone projects, data analytics, and course themes based on contemporary issues. In addition, you can Enrich Your Degree by participating in our departmental honors program, studying abroad, joining the Econ Club community, and much more.

New Mexico

New Mexico is known as the 'Land of Enchantment' - and with good reason. Pristine wilderness landscapes range from painted desert to still alpine lakes and steaming hot springs. Cliff dwellings, pueblos, and missions reflect the influence of Native American and Hispanic culture, which still infuses New Mexican life today from its food to its adobe houses. Albuquerque itself is bisected by the Rio Grande and under the watchful eye of the 10,679 feet high Sandia mountains, which offer endless outdoor fun, including hiking, picnicking, mountain biking, rock climbing, cross country skiing, and on especially snowy winter days, even downhill skiing. Discover more at New Mexico True.