How to Apply to Economics at Florida International University: A Department in the Green School of International & Public Affairs, Entered by Admission to FIU and Declaring the Major After 60 Credits, for U.S., International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Economics at Florida International University (FIU, Miami) is taught by the Department of Economics, whose site header places it in the Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs. The department says it offers both a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Economics, plus an Economics minor, and has more than 800 majors. You apply to FIU; the pages I read do not publish a separate admission standard for the school. This guide follows FIU’s own pages for fall 2027 entry and speaks to U.S. applicants, international applicants (including applicants from China) and transfer applicants. FIU’s course catalog (catalog.fiu.edu) is a third-party hosted catalog that I did not open, so degree requirements come from the department’s own pages.

1. What the programs are

• BA and BS in Economics: the department’s undergraduate page says it offers both degrees. The course list below comes from the online BA page (the on-campus “Major in Economics” page has only a short description, and the course numbers and credit counts in the department FAQ match it). How the BS differs from the BA, and the BS course and math requirements, are not published on the pages I read; check the department site or the FIU catalog.
• Online BA in Economics: a fully online BA; the course list below comes from this page. FIU undergraduates entering it must have finished the lower-division requirements, completed 60 semester hours and hold at least a 2.0 GPA.
• Economics minor: 18 credits, namely ECO 2013, ECO 2023, ECO 3101 and ECO 3203 (12 credits) plus two more economics courses (6 credits). Declaring the minor also takes 60 credits and a 2.0 GPA.
• Combined BA/MA: for outstanding economics majors, applying in the junior year. It asks for 75 to 90 credits completed, Calculus I, a GPA of 3.25 or higher, three recommendation letters and approval of the graduate committee; the program page also says the GRE is required. Up to four courses (12 credits) can count toward both degrees.
• STEM designation and honors: not stated on the department pages I read; check with the department or the FIU Honors College.
• The site has a separate business guide. The department notes that business students thinking about economics should not take ECO 3202 (Applied Macroeconomics) and should take ECO 3203 (Intermediate Macroeconomics), since Applied Macro does not satisfy the intermediate requirement.

2. How admission works: admitted to FIU first, then declare the major

• What you apply to: first-year applicants apply through the Common App to FIU (FIU says those who apply through the Common App should not submit a separate FIU application). Admission is assigned by “pathway,” which depends on your academic profile and start term (see below). The pages I read do not say economics is entered at application with capped seats.
• Conditions to declare Economics: the department’s FAQ for undecided majors says to declare you must have completed 60 credits, have at least a 2.0 GPA, and have passed or been waived the CLAST exam, then submit a form that the undergraduate advisor reviews against your SASS report. The page still mentions CLAST and a “Dean’s Office (BBC),” which looks dated; ask the department whether this still applies.
• If you do not meet the conditions yet: after 30 credits you can file an Intended Major Application with the Office of Undergraduate Studies. The department says intending a major gives you ready access to the undergraduate advisor even though you are not yet formally admitted to the major.
• Seat limits and guarantee: the pages I read mention no enrollment cap and no guarantee beyond the 60-credit and GPA conditions.
• Moving in from another program: the pages describe the same declaration process; see the note for business students above.

3. Prerequisites and course sequence

• High school courses (university level): 4 credits of English, 4 of mathematics (Algebra I or higher), 3 of natural science (two with substantial labs), 3 of social science (including economics), 2 of a second language and 2 of additional academic electives. FIU says courses beyond the minimum can improve your chances.
• Math placement: FIU says home-schooled and GED applicants who want a STEM major or the College of Business must take the ALEKS math placement. How placement works for economics majors is not published on the pages I read.
• Lower-division requirements (12 credits): ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics, ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics, MAC 2311 Calculus I or MAC 2233 Calculus for Business, and STA 2122 Introduction to Statistics I or STA 2023 Statistics for Business and Economics.
• Required upper-division courses (18 credits): ECO 3101 Intermediate Microeconomics, ECO 3203 Intermediate Macroeconomics, ECO 3410 Measurement and Analysis of Economic Activity, ECO 4421 Introduction to Econometrics, ECO 4932 or ECO 4933 Topics in Theory, and ECO 4903 Undergraduate Seminar. ECO 3410 and ECO 4421 each satisfy FIU’s Computer Competency requirement and ECO 4903 satisfies Oral Competency. The seminar is usually restricted to students expected to graduate that semester and needs the advisor’s approval.
• Electives: at least five more economics courses (codes ECO, ECP or ECS) for 15 credits, of which at least two come from a listed set that requires an intermediate theory course; another 15 credits of electives may be in economics or other fields. The upper-division program is 48 credits.
• The department’s advice: finish the two principles courses, statistics and calculus first, then the two intermediate courses, then electives. Some sections of the intermediate courses use basic calculus and others do not, depending on the instructor; if calculus is used the basics are taught in the first week, so calculus is not a hard prerequisite but helps. Many electives require Intermediate Micro, and the department says students who enroll without the prerequisite mostly fail or drop.
• Electives list: the department posts electives offered in recent terms (such as Money and Banking, Econometrics, Public Finance, International Trade Theory, Labor) and says many catalog courses have not been offered in a long time.
• Tracks: the catalog lists suggested tracks, but the department says no track is required and that budget limits have made some tracks hard to finish on time.
• One inconsistency: the core-curriculum list on the FAQ page gives the macro principles course as ECO 2103, while the other pages give ECO 2013.

4. AP and IB credit

• The first-year and transfer pages say AP, CLEP, IB and other exam scores must be sent separately by the testing agency; AP scores must be 3 or higher, and scores received after the application deadline are not considered.
• Which exam covers ECO 2013, ECO 2023 or MAC 2311: FIU has an “accepted exam credits” page that I did not read, so this is not published on the pages I read.

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

• Applications open August 1. FIU’s date table lists both “Fall 2027” and “Early Fall 2027 (June start)” with identical dates.
• Early Action: complete application with documents November 2, 2026; notification December 10, 2026; deposit May 1, 2027.
• All first-year applicants: complete by December 16, 2026; notification January 21, 2027; deposit May 1, 2027.
• Final deadline: March 2, 2027; last decisions April 2, 2027; deposit May 1, 2027.
• Application fee: $30, or an SAT/ACT fee waiver.
• Materials: Common App; official transcripts from every high school or college attended before you submit (incomplete applications are not reviewed); exam scores sent separately; residency documentation from everyone, including international students. The pages I read do not list an essay or recommendation letters as required.
• Testing: first-time-in-college applicants must submit SAT, ACT or CLT scores, which FIU describes as one factor under Florida Board of Governors regulation 6.002. From the 2025–26 application on, the ACT composite uses only English, math and reading, and no science score is required. SAT code 5206; ACT code 0776.
• Pathways: Fall Direct (August start, the most selective), Early Fall Direct (June start, with required summer courses), Spring Direct (January start), and START (for students who chose a STEM, business or engineering major but are not calculus-ready; it can also be used for non-STEM majors and adds support and milestones). For Fall Direct, FIU lists the Fall 2026 admitted-student profile as SAT 1250, 1320, 1380; ACT 27, 30, 32; weighted GPA 4.10, 4.4, 4.70 (the table headings are lower, middle and upper style labels; see the page for their meaning). Early Fall Direct is SAT 1110, 1150, 1200; ACT 22, 24, 25; GPA 3.90, 4.2, 4.40. These are university-wide figures, not economics-specific.

6. By reader

U.S. applicants

• FIU is public and lists separate rates: undergraduate tuition per credit is $205.57 for Florida residents and $660.19 for out-of-state students (the cost page prints no year). Everyone submits residency documentation, used mainly to decide the rate.
• SAT, ACT or CLT is required for first-time applicants (FIU is not test-optional).
• FIU’s “Golden Promise” covers 100% of tuition and fees for first-time-in-college Florida students with a zero expected family contribution who file the FAFSA.
• The pages I read do not state a specific in-state preference rule; the older scholarship dates on the international cost page separate Florida high schools from out-of-state and overseas ones (those are 2024 dates; see below).

International applicants

• Application and fee: the undergraduate application fee for international applicants is $30, non-refundable. International applicants also submit residency documentation. The first-year page says first-year applicants use the Common App; the international apply page only says to begin your application and names no platform.
• English requirement and waivers: the international pages say only that English-proficiency exams must be submitted and, in the FAQ, “TOEFL or IELTS scores if necessary.” The minimum scores and any waiver rules are not published on the pages I read; ask international admissions or check the international apply page.
• Testing: the FAQ says all first-year applicants, international and domestic, must provide SAT or ACT scores for direct admission.
• Credentials: first-year transcripts are required. For international credentials FIU accepts a certified copy issued by the previous institution’s registration office, and the translation is a separate requirement (both are needed). Transfer coursework from a non-U.S. institution requires a course-by-course evaluation, with GPA, from a NACES member.
• Proof of funds: amounts and bank-document rules are not published on the pages I read. After admission, international students receive an I-20 (FIU lists express mail, pick-up by a friend or relative, or regular airmail), pay the SEVIS I-901 fee and book a visa appointment. F-1 and J-1 students must have medical insurance that meets FIU’s requirements.
• International scholarships: the international cost page says international students may qualify for scholarships based on academic merit, talent or cultural background, and describes Admissions Merit-Based (spelled “Premiere” on the page) scholarships, Gold and Blue scholarships (for non-Florida residents a total of $4,000 to $24,000 paid over four years) and out-of-state tuition waivers. That page prints deadlines from 2024 (fall 2025 entry), so it is out of date and only a guide. Its per-credit out-of-state tuition ($618.87) also differs from the cost page ($660.19); use the cost page and your bill.

Applicants from China

• The FIU admissions pages I read have no China-specific notes, and they do not say whether the gaokao is considered. This is not published on the pages I read.
• The international pages offer “Chat with our students” and “Schedule a meeting” contacts. Ask how the gaokao, Chinese school transcripts and exam records are handled, and what English scores are required.

7. Costs and scholarships

• Cost page: undergraduate tuition per credit is $205.57 (Florida residents) and $660.19 (out-of-state); additional fees (athletic, health, parking, online and others) may apply by program and enrollment status. The international page’s 30-credit estimate for fall and spring is about $6,565.88 in-state and $18,964.75 out-of-state, including $20 athletic, $187.38 health, $181.40 parking and $10 Panther ID fees, but its per-credit numbers are older (see above).
• FIU says about 89% of full-time undergraduates receive some aid. The FAFSA opens October 1 and the early award priority date is December 1.
• No program or college surcharge for the Economics major appears on the pages I read; FIU says additional fees depend on program and enrollment.
• The international cost page lists these benefits under its out-of-state tuition waiver section: guaranteed Honors College admission, Honors College early-assurance programs with the medical and law schools, and priority registration. Check FIU for which awards they attach to.

8. Internships and research

• The department’s advising page says it handles course descriptions, course equivalency, internship credit (read the instructions and complete the onboarding form), general career options and graduate-school preparation.
• The department runs a free tutoring lab for undergraduates, in person (VH-136) and on Zoom, with posted hours Monday to Friday.
• The “Why Study Economics?” page lists employers that FIU economics majors and minors have worked for, including the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, the U.S. Department of Labor, the International Monetary Fund, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the City of Miami. The page words this as employers where students have worked, not as guarantees.
• Undergraduate research: no dedicated program appears on the pages I read.

9. Transfer

• University rules: $30 fee; transcripts from all colleges attended; at least a 2.0 GPA; good academic and conduct standing. With 60 or more transferable credits you need not submit a high school transcript or SAT/ACT/CLT scores. With 30–59 credits you can skip them if you have a C or better in ENC 1101 (or equivalent) and in a college-level math course, and a 2.0 transfer GPA. With fewer than 30 credits, or without college math and English, you must submit a high school transcript and official SAT/ACT/CLT scores. Students with an Associate of Arts from a Florida public college qualify automatically through the 2+2 partnership (specialized programs excepted) and enter as juniors.
• Getting into economics: FIU says transfer students entering with an associate degree must apply to the college or program of their choice in addition to the university application. To declare economics the 60-credit and 2.0 GPA conditions above apply. The department accepts equivalents of ECO 2013, ECO 2023, MAC 2311 and STA 2122, and 3000-level electives.
• Department limits on transfer credit: the major needs 33 upper-division economics credits and the department accepts no more than half from other colleges, so at most 16. The 18 required upper-division credits (ECO 3101, 3203, 3410, 4421, 4932/4933 and 4903) and two 4000-level electives must be taken at FIU. You must show evidence (transcript, syllabi, exams) that courses are equivalent, judged by the undergraduate advisor. Florida law requires FIU to accept any course passed with a C or better at another Florida public university with the same course number as an FIU course. University-wide caps are 60 lower-division and 30 upper-division credits.
• Deadlines (2027): U.S.-educated transfers: spring December 1, summer A/C March 8, summer B April 26, fall July 8; deposits December 10 (spring) and July 27 (fall). Transfers educated at a non-U.S. institution: fall application May 16, documents May 24, deposit June 6 (columns include Document Deadline, Deposit and DCF Documents Deadline; see the page for details).
• FIU also offers a transfer equivalency database and transfer guides (transfer.fiu.edu), which I did not open.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Common App, $30 fee; SAT, ACT or CLT required; residency documentation
• Early Action November 2, 2026; all first-year December 16, 2026; final March 2, 2027
• After 60 credits and a 2.0 GPA, declare the Economics major through the department

International applicants (including China):

• $30 fee; SAT or ACT required; ask international admissions for the English-score minimums (not listed on the pages I read)
• Transcripts received before the application; certified copies and translations for foreign credentials
• After admission: I-20, SEVIS fee, qualifying medical insurance
• China: how the gaokao and school records are handled is not published; ask admissions

Transfer applicants:

• Fall July 8 (U.S.-educated); 2.0 GPA; no high school transcript with 60 or more credits
• The department counts at most 16 upper-division transfer credits; same-number C-or-better courses from Florida public universities must be accepted

Sources: Florida International University, Economics: undergraduate; Major in Economics; Online BA in Economics; Minor in Economics; FAQs for majors; FAQs for undecided majors; Department transfer credit policy; Economics electives; Combined BA/MA; Advising and tutoring; First-year applicants; Admission standards; First-year pathways; Transfer applicants; Cost and aid; International students; International apply; International cost and aid; International FAQ. The first-year and transfer deadline pages name fall 2027 dates; the international cost page prints scholarship dates from 2024 and some department pages look dated. Check FIU for the latest details.