About the Department
Faculty and students in the UC Santa Cruz Economics Department study some of the most important economic questions in the world today. Our faculty conduct research to advance economic theory, better understand complex economic issues, and to inform policy debates in various areas, including development, the environment, health, labor, public economics, international trade, and monetary, fiscal, and regulatory policies. In the classroom, the department imparts economic knowledge to the next generation of students so that we, as a society, can better confront these complex challenges.
Teaching strengths
We view our role at the university as one of providing for both the professional development and academic growth of our students, and we keep that at the forefront of curriculum planning and strategic goals. We offer three undergraduate programs, a minor, two combined majors with other departments, a Ph.D. program, and a professional master’s program (with a STEM curriculum).
At the undergraduate level, UC Santa Cruz economics majors are among the most popular on campus, serving diverse students with a broad range of interests. We offer a full suite of quantitative courses, to meet the ever-increasing demand for quantitative analysts in industry and research. We also offer an accounting concentration, which prepares students for rewarding, CPA-level careers. And we prepare students for graduate work in economics, business, and other fields.
Meanwhile, our master’s program students study a technical and quantitative STEM curriculum and pursue analytical careers in business, data science, finance, accounting, consulting, and government. And students in our Ph.D. program pursue careers in academia, government, and research institutions.
Research strengths
Our department’s three major research areas are:
- applied microeconomics
- macroeconomics, finance, and international finance
- behavioral economics, econometrics, and theory.
Our work includes pure and applied theoretical research, as well as experimental economics. Learn more about our approach to research and see our latest publications and research news on our Research Overview page.
Alumni success stories
Alessandra Cassar: Economics Professor at the University of San Francisco
During her time at UC Santa Cruz, Alessandra Cassar was co-director of the Economics Department’s affiliated Learning and Experimental Economics Projects (LEEPS) laboratory. Now, as a faculty member at University of San Francisco, she uses a combination of laboratory and field experiments to study evolutionary influences on human behavior.
Artemis Patrick: CEO of Sephora North America
Artemis Patrick is Sephora North America’s first female CEO, paving the way for women in C-Suite positions. Her experience as an undergraduate in the Economics Department at UCSC helped her hone her listening skills and build the values that guide her work today.
Andy Sartori: Launching a successful meal-prep business
Alumnus Andy Satori is leading an online meal-prep delivery service that helps people eat with purpose. During his time studying economics, serving as a teaching assistant, and competing in an entrepreneurship contest, he built the skills to become a business leader.
More alumni stories
More student stories
Are you one of our alumni? If so, we’d love to stay in touch. Be sure to update your contact and employment information with the campus, so that we can celebrate your successes and keep you in the loop on opportunities. You can also follow the Economics Department on social media at the links on the bottom of this page.
Support us
Equations can change the world—but not in isolation. Our department depends on private donations to fund the vital work being done by our faculty, staff, and students to expand both our global impact and our academic relevance. Your gift will help with projects like expanding our experiential learning and career preparation programs for students, and initiating new policy-shaping research locally, nationally, and globally.
Economics Department by the numbers
#42
among top U.S. economics departments for impactful research, according to RePec
3rd
most popular major on campus (business management economics)
1 in 5
of our undergraduates take at least one independent study course
500+
degrees awarded per year, on average
3.86
years average time-to-degree for undergraduates entering as first-years
7
faculty members ranked among the top 5% of economists in research productivity