How to Apply to Economics at UC Riverside: A Department in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences With Four B.A. Majors, With Admission Routes and Prerequisites for U.S., International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

At the University of California, Riverside (UCR), undergraduate economics is taught by the Department of Economics, which belongs to the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS). UCR’s admissions major list places Economics, Business Economics and Economics/Administrative Studies under CHASS; the department’s own website lists a fourth major, Economics/Law & Society. You apply with the University of California application and the school you apply to is UCR; the admissions pages read for this guide do not give economics majors their own first-year admission cutoff or say whether places are limited. UCR runs on quarters (fall quarter starts in September), so credit is counted in quarter units. This guide follows the official information for fall 2027 entry for U.S., international (including Chinese) and transfer applicants. Business Administration has its own guide on this site; in one line, it is in UCR’s School of Business as a two-year upper-division major that students apply to after completing requirements.

1. Economics degrees

The department says it currently offers four majors, all leading to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). The pages read do not list a B.S. in economics.

• B.A. in Economics: described as rigorous, analytical study with a thorough grounding in micro- and macroeconomic theory and in the theory and application of statistics; suitable for graduate study and for becoming a practicing economist.
• B.A. in Business Economics: differs from Economics in its upper-division electives. Economics offers more flexibility; Business Economics puts greater emphasis on courses with business applications.
• B.A. in Economics/Administrative Studies: described as a highly structured interdisciplinary major within CHASS that some students may find an attractive alternative to Business Administration.
• B.A. in Economics/Law & Society: combines perspectives from several CHASS departments on the law. Its worksheet says the major is open to students with junior standing who have completed LWSO 100 with a C or higher. It does not appear in the admissions major list.
• Economics minor: CHASS minors take 16 to 28 upper-division units. The economics minor requires ECON 2, ECON 3 and MATH 9A (or equivalent) in the lower division; upper division is ECON 102 or 104A, ECON 103 or 105A, and four upper-division economics electives worth four units or more (ECON 190 excluded). A GPA of at least 2.0 is required in the minor’s upper-division courses.
• STEM designation, honors and accelerated degrees: in the admissions major list, Economics is marked only as having a minor, not an accelerated bachelor’s-plus-master’s option. The pages read do not state a STEM designation for the undergraduate economics majors or the requirements of an honors program (not published on the pages read; ask the department’s advisors). The department site has a page for Omicron Delta Epsilon, the economics honor society; its content was not read for this guide.

2. How you get into the major

• At application: you apply to UCR on the UC application. The admissions list also offers an Undeclared (Humanities) program, where you take general education and introductory courses and declare a major later with advisors. The majors page says double majoring is possible in most colleges and schools.
• Changing into economics after enrolling: the department’s advising page says its advisors handle “Major changes & readmits to ECON Dept.” The pages read do not give a GPA threshold, required course grades or a seat limit for changing into an economics major; ask the advisors (appointments go through UCR’s Student Success portal).
• Graduation minimums: each major worksheet says you must complete at least 180 quarter units, including college breadth, lower-division and upper-division major coursework, with an average GPA of at least 2.0 in upper-division major courses. CHASS’s degree page adds that 35 of the last 45 units must be taken at UCR.
• Advising: four department academic advisors, divided by student surname, handle graduation, major changes and internships.

3. Prerequisites and course sequence

High school: the UC a-g subject requirements ask for 3 years of mathematics, with 4 recommended, including geometry. The department and admissions pages set no higher high-school math requirement for economics. The department’s math pathways chart (effective fall 2023) maps routes to MATH 9B, which the Economics and Business Economics majors require: it says MATH 6LA is required based on the MAE score and MATH 6LB based on the MATH 6A grade (the chart does not spell out MAE), and that economics students should not enroll in MATH 4 or MATH 5B.

Courses by major (department worksheets, each marked “Effective 23F”, so check the current version):

• Economics: lower division ECON 2 (macroeconomics), ECON 3 (microeconomics), MATH 9A or 9HA (C- or better) and MATH 9B. Upper division: ECON 104A/104B (intermediate microeconomic theory), 105A/105B (intermediate macroeconomic theory), ECON 101 (statistics for economics) and ECON 107 (introductory econometrics), plus two upper-division electives, three electives from a listed set and one from a narrower list (ECON 102, 103 and 190 do not count).
• Business Economics: lower division ECON 2, ECON 3, BUS 20 (financial accounting), MATH 9A or 9HA and MATH 9B. Upper division has the same ECON 104A/B, 105A/B, 101 and 107; then two courses from ECON 108, 130, 135, 153, 160, 162 and 163, three more upper-division economics electives of four units or more, and one of PSYC 142, SOC 151 or POSC 182E.
• Economics/Administrative Studies: economics lower division is ECON 2, ECON 3 and MATH 9A or 9HA (this worksheet does not list MATH 9B); administrative studies lower division is BUS 10, BUS 20, CS 8 and STAT 8. Upper division requires ECON 104A, 104B, 105A, 101 and 107, two listed upper-division economics courses and two more electives, two upper-division courses from different areas (anthropology, political science, psychology, sociology), and three courses in one of nine concentrations (organizations; human resources and labor relations; business and society; marketing; managerial accounting and taxation; financial accounting; finance; management information systems; production management).
• Economics/Law & Society: ECON 2, ECON 3, ECON 119 (law and economics), ECON 104A/104B, 105A, three upper-division economics electives and two courses from a listed set; the law and society side has PHIL 7, LWSO 100, one research-methods course (POSC 114, PSYC 12 or SOC 4), two lists of electives, and the senior seminar LWSO 193.

AP, IB and A-level credit: admissions says AP scores of 3 or higher earn UCR credit (applied to subjects or breadth, as each campus decides); an IB diploma with 30 or more points earns 30 quarter units and IB Higher Level certificates with 5 or higher earn 8 quarter units each; A-levels and similar exams with grades A*, A, B or C earn 12 quarter units. Which AP exam replaces ECON 2, ECON 3 or MATH 9A is not stated on the pages read; check the UCR General Catalog or ask an advisor. Official scores must come directly from the testing agency (by July 15).

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

• UC application: opens August 1. The first-year page gives the filing period as “Oct. 1–Nov. 30”; the international page says “Nov. 1–30” in one place and “Oct. 1–Nov. 30” in its timeline, so both versions appear; confirm on the UC application site. The pages carry no year, so check that the dates are for fall 2027 entry. The fee is $80 per UC campus, with fee waivers available on the application.
• Essays: first-year applicants answer 4 of 8 personal insight questions (350 words each); transfer applicants answer one required question plus 3 of 7 others.
• Recommendation letters: the UCR pages read do not mention them.
• Testing: UCR does not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarships (test free). If submitted, scores may only be used as an alternative way to meet minimum eligibility or for course placement.
• Review: comprehensive review. The international page says UCR calculates an Academic Index Score for first-year applicants, using a capped GPA, AP/IB courses, Eligibility in the Local Context, low family income and first-generation status.
• Timeline: first-year decisions begin in March; the Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) is due May 1; housing contract and first payment by May 10 for guaranteed housing; final high school transcript July 1; AP, IB and A-level scores July 15 (the international timeline also lists July 1 for transcripts, test scores and documents); fall quarter begins in September.

5. By type of applicant

U.S. applicants

• GPA minimum: grades 10 and 11 a-g GPA of at least 3.0 for California residents and 3.4 for non-residents (grade 9 and 12 courses can satisfy subject requirements with a C or better). Subjects: history/social science 2 years, English 4, mathematics 3 (4 recommended, including geometry), laboratory science 2 (3 recommended), language other than English 2 (3 recommended), visual and performing arts 1, college-preparatory elective 1.
• In-state preference: the pages read do not state a preference for California residents; the differences are the GPA line above and the tuition below.
• Out-of-state students: out-of-state and international first-year and transfer students are automatically considered for the Achievement Scholarship for Nonresidents (see section 6).

International applicants

• Minimum grades: the international page says first-year applicants need a 3.4 GPA on a 4.0 scale (it says equivalent to 85 percent), based on a-g courses in grades 10 and 11; for a different curriculum, the grading scale of that system is used.
• English (required if your native language is not English and your secondary education was in a country where English is not the language of instruction; complete by December of the final school year): TOEFL iBT 80 or higher (before January 2026) or 4.5 or higher (new scale effective January 2026); IELTS 6.5 or higher (IELTS One Skill Retake and MyBest TOEFL not accepted; the digital SAT Reading and Writing score is not approved as English proof); Duolingo 115; ACT English Language Arts 24; SAT Writing and Language 31; AP English Language or Literature 3 or higher; IB English A (SL 6–7, HL 5–7); or a C or better in a UC-transferable college English composition course. The page notes a campus may require a higher score and some campuses may interview.
• Visa and funds: a valid passport and an F-1 or J-1 visa are needed; after admission the International Students and Scholars office helps with visas. The proof-of-funds requirement is not described on the pages read; ask UCR international admissions.
• Credential evaluation: the University of California publishes a page of requirements by country (see the China section). UCR says its selection process is the same for international and U.S.-educated applicants.
• Scholarships: international first-year and transfer students are considered automatically for the Achievement Scholarship for Nonresidents.

Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the UC and UCR pages read do not say whether gaokao scores are considered and do not mention the huikao; no UCR page written specifically for applicants from China was read (not published on the pages read; email admissions).
• Transcripts: the UC “requirements by country” page says that for the Chinese national curriculum you list all courses and marks from grade 9 through grade 12 exactly as they appear on official academic records, and, if admitted, prepare the upper-middle-school Graduation Certificate and official lower and upper middle school records (grades 9–12). IB and IGCSE/GCSE/GCE routes have their own instructions (the IGCSE/GCSE/GCE route asks for at least 5 O-Level subjects and at least 3 academic GCE A-Level exams).
• Other: the international page gives UCR’s score-reporting codes (TOEFL/AP/SAT 004839; ACT 0456) and links a Mandarin version of the parent and guardian brochure.

6. Costs and scholarships

• Tuition stability: under the UC Tuition Stability Plan, tuition is set for each entering class and then stays flat until graduation, for up to six years. The cost page shows the 2026-27 budget for students entering in 2026-27; figures for the 2027 entering class are not on the pages read.
• California residents (university housing): UC tuition and fees $15,588; campus and technology fees $1,202; student health insurance $2,824; housing $13,793; food $7,282; books and supplies $1,700; transportation $1,275; personal $2,875; the site totals $46,539.
• Out-of-state and international students (university housing): the same $15,588 tuition and fees plus non-resident supplemental tuition of $39,270; housing, food and insurance are as above (transportation $1,100, personal $2,525); the site totals $85,809 (the line items on that page add up to slightly less than the printed total; rely on the site). First-term-only charges are a $300 orientation fee for new freshmen and a $315 student records fee. The cost page lists no extra economics or CHASS charge.
• Achievement Scholarship for Nonresidents: up to $89,100 over four years for first-year students and up to $44,550 over two years for transfers. Requirements: confirmed non-resident, UC-eligible, SIR by May 1 (first-year) or June 1 (transfer), and a 3.0 GPA each quarter. No separate form.
• Internships and research: the advising page lists “Internships” among advisors’ responsibilities; specific programs are not described on the pages read.

7. Transfer students

• Basics: at least 60 semester (90 quarter) units of UC-transferable credit; a GPA of at least 2.4 in transferable courses (2.8 for non-residents); some majors require more. The international page says CHASS applicants should “strive to surpass the 2.8 minimum,” which stands alongside the 2.4 baseline, so check your residency category. No more than 14 semester units may be Pass/Not Pass.
• Seven-course pattern, finished by the end of the spring term before fall entry: two transferable English composition courses; one course in mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning; four transferable courses from at least two areas (arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, physical and biological sciences), each at least 3 semester units.
• Major preparation: UCR’s transfer majors guide lists only MATH 9A for Economics, Business Economics and Economics/Administrative Studies, while the department worksheets’ lower division also includes ECON 2, ECON 3 (and MATH 9B for some majors). Both appear on the official pages; use ASSIST.org agreements. CHASS breadth can be Cal-GETC or the CHASS breadth pattern; Cal-GETC is not required for admission.
• Deadlines: the UC application is also October 1 to November 30; California community college students can file a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) application September 1 to 30; the Transfer Academic Update is due January 31; decisions begin in April; the SIR is due June 1. Transfer applicants cannot disregard college records and apply as first-year students.
• Economics-specific transfer rules: the pages read do not give department-specific transfer conditions beyond the above; for moving into economics after enrolling, see section 2.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Submit the UC application October 1 to November 30 ($80); answer 4 personal insight questions
• A-g GPA: 3.0 for California residents, 3.4 for non-residents; SAT/ACT not considered
• At least 3 years of high-school math (including geometry), 4 recommended; the Economics and Business Economics majors need MATH 9A and 9B

International applicants (including China):

• GPA of at least 3.4; prove English (TOEFL 80 or 4.5 on the new scale, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 115, etc.)
• For the Chinese curriculum, list grade 9–12 courses and marks as on official records; provide the graduation certificate and official records if admitted
• Automatically considered for the Achievement Scholarship (up to $89,100); ask admissions about proof of funds

Transfer applicants:

• 90 quarter units, GPA 2.4 (2.8 for non-residents), the seven-course pattern; MATH 9A is major preparation
• California community college students: TAG in September, UC application October 1 to November 30

What the pages did not say

• Separate admission cutoffs or seat limits for economics majors, and GPA thresholds for changing into economics: not published on the pages read; ask the economics advisors or admissions.
• Exactly how AP or IB credit replaces ECON 2, ECON 3 or MATH 9A: not read; check the UCR General Catalog.
• STEM designation, honors program and specific internship or research programs: not published on the pages read.
• How gaokao or huikao results are treated and proof-of-funds requirements: not published on the pages read; ask admissions.

Sources: UC Riverside and the University of California, Department of Economics undergraduate program; Economics major; Business Economics major; Economics/Administrative Studies major; Economics/Law & Society major; Economics minor; Undergraduate advising; Economics worksheet; Business Economics worksheet; Economics/Administrative Studies worksheet; Economics/Law & Society worksheet; Math pathways chart; CHASS degree requirements; First-year admission; International applicants; Out-of-state applicants; Transfer admission; Transfer majors preparation guide; Majors; Cost of attendance; UC requirements by country. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are the 2026-27 figures on the site). Check UC Riverside for the latest details.