How to Apply to Economics at Santa Clara University: Two Degrees from One Department, a B.S. in Commerce in the Leavey School of Business and a B.S. in Arts and Sciences, Chosen When You Apply, on the Quarter System, for U.S., International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Economics at Santa Clara University is taught by the Department of Economics. The department’s page says it offers two undergraduate degrees, one through the College of Arts and Sciences and one through the Leavey School of Business, and students can choose a concentration in data analysis or mathematical economics. Santa Clara runs on quarters, so credit is counted in quarter units, which differ from the semester credits used at many schools. Below is what the official pages say for fall 2027 entry, written for U.S. applicants, international applicants (including those from China) and transfer students. We have separate articles on business and computer science, so they are not covered here.

1. The programs and which school they sit in

• Leavey School of Business: B.S. in Commerce with a major in Economics: at least 175 quarter units (at least 60 of them upper-division), plus the Undergraduate Core Curriculum, the Leavey School of Business curriculum and the departmental major. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required in all courses at Santa Clara and in all courses in the economics major.
• College of Arts and Sciences: B.S. with a major in Economics: the departmental requirements below on top of the University Core and the college requirements. The economics minor is also taken through Arts and Sciences.
• Concentrations (bulletin; both schools’ majors can take them). Data Analysis for Economics: besides the major, ECON 43, one of ECON 173 or 174 and three more courses from ECON 112, 134, 135, 142, 150, 151, 154, 166, 186, 187, 188, 192 or 173/174, all with a C or higher; one course may be replaced by an approved data-heavy course in another social science or business discipline, or an independent study, with the concentration advisor’s approval. Mathematical Economics: MATH 11, 12, 13, 14, 53 and AMTH 106 (MATH 122 and 123 strongly recommended), plus three of ECON 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 187 or 188; students take MATH 11, 12 and 13 instead of MATH 30 and 31.
• Minor: students of any major can minor in economics, offered through Arts and Sciences: ECON 1, 2, 3, 113 and 115, two more approved upper-division economics courses, and MATH 30 and 31 (or MATH 11, 12 and 13; students who matriculated before fall 2025 need only MATH 30 or 11).
• Honors: ECON 3H is an honors section that requires the University Honors Program or the Leavey Scholars Program, or the instructor’s permission. Honors admission itself is not described in the pages I read; not published there.
• STEM designation: not mentioned on the pages I read; not published there.

2. How admission works and how you enter the major

• Choosing a school when you apply: the first-year page says you start by selecting one of three schools (Arts and Sciences, Leavey School of Business or Engineering), and then you can declare a major or remain undeclared. The bulletin says new students are admitted to the University and to a specific school, and in some cases a major, based on the preference on the application; changing schools means applying for an internal transfer, at the earliest at the end of the first year.
• Admission lines by school: the admission page says selectivity between schools and programs does not vary greatly, but readiness for the program of interest is judged from your stated interest, and “for natural science, business, and engineering applicants, readiness at the level of calculus is expected”. No separate admission line for each school is published.
• Declaring economics: the Arts and Sciences page says the department requires you to take at least one economics course with a grade of C- or better before declaring the major, then to fill out the online Program Petition Form on the Registrar’s forms page; you get an email after the department approves it and sends it to the Registrar. This requirement is on the Arts and Sciences page; the Leavey page does not repeat it. The Leavey page describes declaring with the same petition form and points to the MyLeavey portal (login needed; I did not read it). No GPA threshold or cap is stated; not published.
• Grade thresholds in courses: unless noted, upper-division economics courses require a C- or better in ECON 1, 2 and 3. ECON 41 (Data Analysis and Econometrics) requires a C- or better in ECON 1 and 2, MATH 11 or 30 and a statistics course, is open to economics majors (or by permission) and must be taken together with ECON 42.

3. Prerequisites and course sequence

• High school courses (admission page and bulletin): history and social science 3 years; English 4; mathematics 3 required, 4 recommended; laboratory science 2 required, 3 recommended; language other than English 2 required, 3 recommended, 4 preferred; visual and performing arts 1 recommended; college-preparatory electives 1. No separate economics preparation is listed beyond calculus-level readiness for business applicants, and no math placement test is mentioned; not published there.
• Common economics requirements (both schools): ECON 1 Principles of Microeconomics (4 units), ECON 2 Principles of Macroeconomics (4), ECON 3 International Economics, Development, and Growth (4), ECON 41 Data Analysis and Econometrics (4), ECON 42 Data Analysis Applications (2), ECON 113 Intermediate Microeconomics I (5), ECON 114 Intermediate Microeconomics II (5), ECON 115 Intermediate Macroeconomics (5) and one of ECON 181 International Trade or ECON 182 International Finance and Open Economy Macroeconomics; plus a statistics course (MATH 8, OMIS 40, MATH 122 or AMTH 108) and a calculus sequence: MATH 30 and 31 (Calculus for Business), or MATH 11, 12 and 13 (Calculus and Analytic Geometry).
• Leavey School of Business major: the above plus three upper-division economics electives, at least two taken after ECON 113 and 115; ECON 41 and 42 also satisfy the OMIS 41 requirement in the Leavey core. The department’s elective list includes ECON 122 Money and Banking, 126 Economics and Law, 129 Economic Development, 140 Behavioral Economics, 156 Real Estate Economics, 172 Game Theory, 183 The Economics of Artificial Intelligence, 184 The Economics of Intellectual Property and 185 The Economics of Innovation. The department page writes “three upper-division economics courses (five for non-business majors)”; the bulletin says three for Leavey.
• Arts and Sciences major: the above plus five upper-division economics electives, at least two taken after ECON 113 and 115.
• Intermediate course prerequisites: ECON 113 needs a C- or better in MATH 30 and 31 (or 11, 12 and 13); ECON 115 needs a C- or better in MATH 11 or 30; ECON 114 needs a C- or better in ECON 113.
• AP / IB / A-Level credit (bulletin credit evaluation page): AP Microeconomics 4 or 5 earns ECON 1 (4 units, which can satisfy a social science core requirement); AP Macroeconomics 4 or 5 earns ECON 2 (4 units); IB Higher Level Economics 6 or 7 earns ECON 1 and ECON 2 (8 units). AP Calculus AB 4 or 5 earns MATH 11 plus elective credit (8 units); Calculus BC 3 earns MATH 11 (4 units) and 4 or 5 earns MATH 11 and 12 plus elective credit (12 units); AP Statistics 4 or 5 earns MATH 8 for Arts and Sciences and Engineering or OMIS 40 for Business; IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches 6 or 7 earns MATH 11 and 12, and Applications and Interpretation 6 or 7 earns MATH 8 and 11. Cambridge A-Levels are considered for selected subjects with an A or B, decided by the department. The page says waived courses always satisfy the major requirements of the department that offers them but only some meet Core requirements; CLEP is not accepted; and transferred-in credit (including AP/IB and courses from other institutions) is capped at one-half of the quarter units required to graduate.

4. Rounds, deadlines and materials (fall 2027 entry)

• Early Decision I (binding): apply by November 1, decision in late December, deposit by January 7; you must withdraw other applications. Early Action (non-binding): apply by November 1, decision in late December, confirm by May 1. Early Decision II (binding): apply by January 7, decision in mid-February, deposit by March 1. Regular Decision: apply by January 7; the key-deadlines page says decisions in late March while the bulletin says by the first week of April, so the two differ; confirm by May 1. Winter first-year entry closes October 1.
• Application fee: $75, non-refundable; Common App, NACAC or College Board fee waivers are accepted.
• Materials: the Common Application and the Santa Clara supplement; an official high school transcript (grade 9 through the most recent term); one academic teacher evaluation or counselor recommendation; the Secondary School Report; a mid-year report (the first-year page says Regular Decision applicants and those deferred from Early Action, due by the end of January; the bulletin says Early Decision II and Regular Decision); and an optional supplemental essay (150–300 words, on an issue you care about and how a Santa Clara education can help you address it). Transcripts are uploaded by your school through Credentials Inc., E-Script, MaiaLearning, National Student Clearinghouse, Naviance, Parchment or Scoir, or mailed sealed.
• Testing: test optional. The test-optional page says the policy is extended through 2027, so you need not submit SAT or ACT for the 2027 term and are not disadvantaged in admission or merit scholarships; for fall 2028 and later it is under review. Santa Clara superscores. The official pages do not agree: the international overview still says test optional for fall 2025 terms with no word beyond, and the requirements page describes a two-year policy from fall 2021 applicants. Rely on the test-optional page and confirm with admissions.
• Review: holistic — course rigor, high school GPA (first year through junior year, plus first-term senior grades possibly), optional test scores, a teacher evaluation and activities. No minimum GPA or score is published.

5. By reader

1. U.S. applicants

• Admission, courses and testing are as above. Santa Clara is private and its fee schedule lists one full-time tuition rate, with no in-state or out-of-state split. Whether California residents get preference is not stated; not published. California residents also have a March 2 Cal Grant GPA Verification Form.
• Costs (2026-27 tuition and student fees schedule): full-time (12 or more units) tuition $64,956 a year, $21,652 a quarter; fewer than 12 units, $1,804 per unit; Student Engagement and Well-Being Fee $780 a year; first-year orientation fee $425; new-student placement exam fee $22; tuition insurance plan $162 a year (full-time undergraduates are enrolled automatically, with an opt-out); a standard residence hall double is $13,383 a year (the table lists many room types at other prices; dining plans are priced in points). The schedule lists no business or economics surcharge, only “Leavey Global Program Fees” marked TBD.
• Scholarships and aid: the test-optional page says all students are reviewed for merit scholarships whether or not they submit scores, and about the top 15% of applicants receive merit scholarships. For need-based aid file the FAFSA and CSS Profile: Early Decision I and Early Action November 15, Early Decision II January 15, Regular Decision February 1, winter entry October 1. The aid page says 83% of students receive some financial aid.

2. International applicants

• International applicants are judged on the same general criteria and use the same Common Application, select a school in it, and additionally supply English proficiency and financial information. The application fee is $75.
• English (if English is not your first language, any one): IELTS 6.5; TOEFL iBT 90 for tests before January 21, 2026, and 4.5 on the new scale after that; Duolingo 120; SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 630; ACT Reading 27 and English 27. Scores are valid two years; TOEFL MyBest, ITP Plus, the at-home edition and Essentials are not accepted. Alternatively, four years at a school where English was the sole language of instruction (the English page gives one rule for anglophone countries and one for others; the bulletin says the entire secondary school career at a school taught in English). You may self-report first and send official scores later.
• Credentials: secondary school documents must be official with a certified English translation; foreign university transcripts must be evaluated course by course by World Education Services (WES).
• Funds and scholarships: complete the Santa Clara Financial Resource Statement showing the full first-year cost; an I-20 is issued only after you are admitted and have paid the deposit. Santa Clara is need-aware for international students and offers no need-based aid; first-year international students are considered for merit scholarships (except the Johnson Scholars). There is also a $180 annual international student fee.
• Interviews: the university offers no in-person interviews, but accepts a video interview from InitialView or Vericant as an optional supplement; interview registration deadlines are November 23 for Early Decision I and Early Action, January 15 for Early Decision II and February 16 for Regular Decision.

3. Applicants from China

• Santa Clara’s international overview, application requirements and English pages do not say whether the gaokao is considered, what school-exam (huikao) materials are needed, or give any China-specific note; not published. Contact the international admission counselors (ugradintl@scu.edu is the address given). The overview mentions an official WeChat account for admission policies, news and events, with the QR code on the page.
• What the site does say for all international applicants (English scores, official secondary transcripts with translations, WES evaluation of university work, and proof of funds above) applies to Chinese applicants too.

6. Internships and research

• The department page mentions the Economics Association student organization, the Hazel Awards for student recognition and a career planning page; I did not read the details.
• The bulletin lists ECON 192 Santa Clara Urban Issues Research Lab, a data-intensive research practicum on economic, social, business and policy issues in Santa Clara County and nearby, which needs a B or better in ECON 41, 42 and 43 and can be taken up to three times, and ECON 199 for directed reading or research. Economics-specific internship credit and named internship employers are not described in the pages I read; not published there.

7. Transfer

• Entry terms: fall and winter. Fall: rolling admission from January 7 to April 15, decisions from February to mid-May, deposit by June 15. Winter: the application opens August 1, closes October 1, decisions mid-November, deposit by November 30. Spring entry is only by special exception approved by the dean of admission.
• Eligibility: at least 8 semester or 12 quarter transferable units at an accredited institution; applicants with fewer follow the first-year process. SAT/ACT is optional if you have fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter units. There is no specific GPA requirement, but course rigor and consistency of full-time enrollment matter, and applicants out of school for two or more years may be asked for more recent work.
• Recommended courses (recommended, not required): Leavey School of Business — two English composition, one calculus (two recommended for economics or finance), financial and managerial accounting, macroeconomics and microeconomics; the page lists a GPA of 3.5. College of Arts and Sciences — two English composition, two college-level math courses for B.S. majors, one natural science with a lab; GPA 3.3. The page describes these as average GPAs, not thresholds.
• Second-choice school: because the Leavey School of Business and the School of Engineering are competitive, strong applicants can also be considered for Arts and Sciences (as undeclared) if you tick this in the Common Application. If you enroll you must stay in the school that admitted you for one year before petitioning to move.
• Credit transfer: only courses with a C or better; pass/no pass does not transfer; unaccredited schools, trade schools and correspondence courses do not; California community college courses generally transfer if designated transferable to the University of California. A maximum of 58.33 semester units (87.5 quarter units) transfers into Arts and Sciences or Leavey. The site also has a transfer admission agreement and transfer-credit pages that I did not expand.
• Materials: the Common Application for transfer or Santa Clara’s own transfer application; a $75 fee (waived within the Common Application for those currently or most recently at a community college); official transcripts from all colleges; the final high school transcript (grades 9–12); a mid-term report (not required but highly recommended). Transfer students must submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile with the application to be considered for federal and institutional aid.
• International transfer students: foreign coursework needs a WES course-by-course evaluation, and no credit is considered without it; applicants below the English minimums are denied; the Financial Resource Form is required.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Common Application plus Santa Clara supplement; $75; Early Decision I / Early Action November 1; Early Decision II / Regular Decision January 7; SAT/ACT optional
• Choose Arts and Sciences or the Leavey School of Business when you apply; after enrolling, earn a C- or better in one economics course, then declare the major
• AP Microeconomics or Macroeconomics 4–5 earns ECON 1 or 2

International applicants (including China):

• Same dates; English scores as above; Financial Resource Statement; no need-based aid
• China: gaokao and huikao requirements are not published; ask the international admission counselors

Transfer applicants:

• Fall rolling January 7 to April 15; winter October 1; recommended courses are not hard thresholds, and the page’s GPAs are 3.5 (Leavey) and 3.3 (Arts and Sciences)
• Foreign university transcripts need a WES evaluation; transfer applicants file the FAFSA and CSS Profile with the application

Sources: Santa Clara University, Department of Economics; Economics: Leavey School of Business programs; Economics: College of Arts and Sciences programs; Bulletin: Economics in the Leavey School of Business; Bulletin: Economics in the College of Arts and Sciences; Bulletin: admission of undergraduate students; Bulletin: AP/IB and other credit; First-year students; Test-optional policy; First-year key deadlines; International students; International application requirements; Undergraduate English proficiency; Transfer students; 2026-27 tuition and student fees schedule; Financial aid. Most application pages do not print a year (the bulletin is marked 2026-27, and the test-optional page names the 2027 term). Check Santa Clara for the latest details and confirm the dates are for fall 2027 entry.