Why Pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Economics
Economics studies how people, businesses and governments allocate their resources to meet human needs. At UT San Antonio, the BS in Economics offers a solid foundation in economic principles while emphasizing the quantitative aspects of the field. You’ll gain essential skills in analysis, critical thinking and computer programming, preparing you for careers across various sectors such as healthcare, banking, consulting and business analysis. With the freedom to choose from a diverse array of courses both inside and beyond the Alvarez College of Business, you can create a personalized academic path to align with your interests and career goals.
For those who prefer a program that emphasizes business applications over quantitative analysis, explore the BBA in Business Economics.
Economics at UT San Antonio
David Beheshti, assistant professor in the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, explains why you should major in Economics.
STEM Designated Degree Program
This program in the Carlos Alvarez College of Business is included on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s STEM Designated Degree Program list.
STEM Designated Degree Programs provide several benefits, including:
- High career growth potential and competitive salaries
- Development of transferrable skills such as adaptability, critical thinking, research and analysis
- International students on an F-1 visa are eligible for up to 24 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Admission Requirements
When you apply to UT San Antonio, you select the major you'd like to study. The choice of major will not impact if you get admitted to the University (all students must meet UT San Antonio's general admission requirements); however, some majors will require additional admission requirements to be able to declare the major your freshman year.
| Economics: To major in Economics, you must meet UT San Antonio’s general admission requirements and have completed MAT 1053 Mathematics for Business (TCCN: MATH 1324) or higher with grade of C- or better. Students who do not meet these requirements, but meet general admission requirements, will be admitted into Business Studies, where students will be able to work towards meeting the pre-requisites needed to declare their business major. |
Please note that the BS in Economics will be available starting Fall 2026. Students who are interested in applying for Spring or Summer 2026 terms should apply to the BBA in Economics.
Apply on ApplyTexas Apply on CommonAppScholarships
Pro Tip: Even if you don't think you will qualify for financial aid, you should still submit the FAFSA! Information from the FAFSA could impact certain scholarships that are even merit-based.
UT San Antonio Scholarship Hub
Through one general scholarship application, you can automatically be considered for dozens of scholarships at UT San Antonio, including scholarships that are available for this major. In order to access all available scholarship applications on the UT San Antonio Scholarship Hub, you must be an admitted student. If you are a student applying for admission, but have not yet been admitted, you may sign in and complete the Scholarship Hub’s General Application as long as you have authenticated your myUTSA ID and Passphrase. Once you are admitted to UT San Antonio, please sign back in to the Scholarship Hub to see if there are any additional scholarship opportunities available for you to pursue.
UT San Antonio Scholarship Hub Business Scholarships
Distinguished Scholarship
UT San Antonio offers an automatic merit-based scholarship to incoming new freshman and transfer students who display exceptional scholastic achievement in high school by the priority deadline. Non-resident and international students awarded a Distinguished Scholarship for a minimum of $1,000 for the academic year will be granted a waiver for non-resident tuition if scholarship eligibility is maintained. This means out-of-state and international students could pay in-state tuition! For fall admitted freshmen, this scholarship is valued up to $20,000 for up to four years. For fall or spring admitted transfer students, this scholarship is valued up to $6,000 for up to two years. Renewal eligibility must be maintained and funding must be available.
Distinguished ScholarshipsUT San Antonio Bold Promise
Although not a scholarship, UT San Antonio is committed to cover tuition and mandatory fees 100% for eligible students who come from low and middle-income Texas families.
UT San Antonio Bold PromiseCareers, Salary & Skills
UT San Antonio prepares you for future careers that are in demand. See possible careers below. This data is pulled by a third-party tool called Emsi, which pulls data from sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, other government databases and more to give you regional and national career outlook related to this academic program. On top of the resources your college will provide, the University Career Center offers several resources to help students identify and develop the global skills necessary to successfully pursue and achieve lifelong career goals.
- AllianceBernstein
- Andeavor
- Deloitte
- FDIC
- Frost
- Hartford Insurance
- JPMorgan Chase
- NuStar Energy LP
- USAA
- Wells Fargo
Minors & Certificates
After selecting a major area of study and enrolling at UT San Antonio, degree-seeking students can choose from a variety of minors and certificates to supplement their education. Although not required, minors and certificates can help students customize their UT San Antonio experience based on their passions and unique career goals.
Explore All Minors & CertificatesFrequently Asked Questions
The Bachelor of Science in Economics at UT San Antonio is a STEM-designated program that provides a strong foundation in economic principles and emphasizes the discipline’s quantitative aspects. Students develop in‑demand skills—including analytical reasoning, critical thinking, data analysis, statistical inference and computer programming—while assembling a versatile toolkit grounded in mathematics, statistics and economic theory to address complex resource‑allocation challenges. The degree’s flexible elective structure allows students to tailor their coursework to match personal interests and career aspirations. Beyond the classroom, you’ll also have access to advising and career resources that connect your coursework to internships, professional development and post-graduation opportunities.
The primary difference lies in the academic focus and structure of each degree program. If you choose the BBA in Business Economics, you’ll complete the Carlos Alvarez College of Business Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) along with your core curriculum and economics degree requirements, offering a stronger business component combined with economic theory. With the right course selection, students can pursue a minor in a business-related area such as accounting, business analytics or finance. If you opt for the BS in Economics, you’ll still fulfill the core curriculum and economics requirements, but not the general business requirements. The BS degree is more quantitative and analytical. This path provides greater flexibility, allowing you to customize your degree with complementary skill sets that align with your career goals. With careful course planning, you may be able to declare up to two minors. Both degrees require 120 credit hours.
With a BS in Economics from UT San Antonio, you can prepare for careers in various industries because this major is highly adaptable. The program helps you develop skills applicable to roles in business, public service, law, policy, consulting, banking and business analysis. The BS program also emphasizes quantitative and programming skills, which are especially valuable in data-driven roles. You can also choose this degree as a foundation for pursuing a graduate degree in economics or law school. Additionally, the college offers career support, internship assistance and professional development resources to help you secure full-time opportunities after graduation.
Yes. This program can assist you in preparing for graduate study in economics and related fields. The Carlos Alvarez College of Business Department of Economics aims to help students develop the theoretical and quantitative skills needed for advanced degrees in economics, and its curriculum supports this goal. If you plan to pursue a PhD, you’re encouraged to use your free electives to further strengthen your academic background.
Yes. In this program, you can gain research experience through both coursework and faculty-guided opportunities. The economics curriculum includes ECO 4813: Seminar on Research in Economics, where you’ll learn how to read academic literature, develop a research question, design a model or empirical strategy, write a research paper and present your findings. You can also pursue Independent Study (ECO 4913), which involves faculty-directed reading, research, writing and Internship in Economics (ECO 4933), which may include work experience in research or applied economics in a business or public agency setting. The college also promotes broader experiential learning opportunities, including internships, student organizations and academic research.
The Honors Experience
Realize your full potential at The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Honors College. Rooted in experiential learning, our classes and programs are hands-on, project-based, and customizable to fit your individual goals. Students in any majors can get invited to our Honors College. Turn your passions into marketable skills for the future!
Why Join Honors?
"If you want to succeed, you will succeed at UTSA."
Why UT San Antonio?
Take what you learn in the classroom and apply it through real world experiences. Participate in a global immersion program, intern at a business or non-profit organization, join a business student organization, or conduct academic research to gain marketable skills and competencies in your chosen profession.
The college offers personalized career preparation programs and support for business students to find competitive internships and full-time positions. From Wall Street to major technology companies and Big Four accounting firms, our Roadrunners are making their mark in the world. Our new Career Compass program provides comprehensive professional development experience equipping business students with the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to thrive in today’s job market.
The Alvarez College offers personalized career preparation programs and support for business students to find competitive internships and full-time positions. Our Roadrunners are working on Wall Street, with major technology companies and at Big Four accounting firms.
Student Success
The Alvarez Student Success Center is a one-stop resource designed to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional goals. Receive tutoring, find internships, connect with industry professionals and enhance your professional development skills through the center’s comprehensive programming.