UGA Specific Information for Economics

Economics is the study of people and choices. It includes the study of the ways in which people make a living; the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services; and the analysis of inflation, unemployment, and efficient use of natural resources.  Macro and microeconomics are the two vantage points from which the economy is observed. 

Macroeconomics looks at the total output of a nation and the way the nation allocates its limited resources of land, labor, and capital in an attempt to maximize production levels and promote trade and growth. 

Microeconomics looks into similar issues, but on the level of the individual people and firms within the economy.  It tends to be more scientific in its approach, and studies the parts that make up the whole economy. 

For students interested in business careers, economics is an essential foundation for business education.  Similarly, when it is viewed in the broader sense of a liberal arts education, economics is a core discipline and an integral part of a well-rounded course of study.  Economics majors develop both analytical and communication skills while focusing on the application of economics to the real world.  In addition to foundational courses in economic theory, the Economics Department offers classes that reflect broader interests, including environmental economics, sports economics, game theory, economic analysis of law, urban economics, and the economics of education.



Class of 2021 Career Outcomes for Economics*

** Includes Self-Employed


Campus Resources

Economics Student Organizations

  • Apollo Society* - open to 2nd year students interested in investment & financial markets 
    • Kennedy Program* - open to 1st year students interested in finance & accounting
  • Corsair Society* - open to 3rd & 4th year students though entry is highly competitive, develops and connects members with alumni in areas of investment banking and consulting
  • Economics Society - open to all students, learn about the various areas of Economics from employer speakers and campus partners
  • Society of Business Intelligence -  focused on developing and building the "hard" skills of all business and non-business students, which include data analytics skills such as Tableau, data visualization, SAS, and many more
  • Society of Entrepreneurs - connects students to resources of the Entrepreneurship Program and the Athens entrepreneurial community
  • Terry Student Researchers - focused on research and creating knowledge on issues affecting the University of Georgia campus and the local Athens community through semester-long research projects either designed by a current TSR member or developed in partnership with another student organization
  • Women in Economicsa community of students who are passionate about economics, offering women the opportunity to network with companies, develop professional skills, and tips & advice for navigating college

* Application required

Consulting Student Organizations

  • Terry Student Consulting - in addition to working with actual clients in a professional environment, develops its members knowledge of consulting through presentations, workshops, and guest speakers
  • Triple Impact Consulting - a student-led club with the mission of equipping members with tools to analyze and better understand the intersection between business and sustainability

Other Terry Student Organizations

  • Atlas Business Society* - open to 1st & 2nd year students, focused on developing business skills & professional etiquette
    • Magellan Program* - open to 1st year students, semester-long program focused on developing business skills & professional etiquette 
  • Alpha Kappa Psi - co-ed professional business fraternity
  • Delta Sigma Pi - co-ed professional business fraternity
  • Finance Society - open to all students, learn about the various areas of finance from employer speakers 
  • Multicultural Business Student Association - open to all students, caters to and develops the professional needs of business students from diverse backgrounds
  • Student Financial Planning Association - open to all students, focuses on connecting students with employers and faculty & building a community of young professionals with an interest in financial planning
  • Women in Finance - open to all students, prepares students from all majors for careers in finance through numerous networking events, socials, and interactive workshops

* Appication required


Additional UGA Career Center Recommendations/Considerations

POTENTIAL CAREER PATHS

  • Financial Planning - Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives.
  • Insurance Underwriter - Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.
  • Management Analyst - Conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively. Includes program analysts and management consultants.
  • Marketing & Survey Research - Research market conditions in local, regional, or national areas, or gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or create a marketing campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution.
  • Economist - Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.
  • Environmental Economist - Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.
  • Real Estate & Urban Planning - Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
  • Legislative Assistant - Develop, introduce or enact laws and statutes at the local, tribal, State, or Federal level. Includes only workers in elected positions.
  • Actuary - Analyze statistical data, such as mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates and construct probability tables to forecast risk and liability for payment of future benefits. May ascertain insurance rates required and cash reserves necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.
  • Auditor - Examine and analyze accounting records to determine financial status of establishment and prepare financial reports concerning operating procedures.
  • Budget Analyst - Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.
  • Financial Analyst - Conduct quantitative analyses of information affecting investment programs of public or private institutions.
  • Underwriter - Manage communications or negotiations between corporate issuers of securities and clients regarding private equity investments. Underwrite the issuance of securities to provide capital for client growth. Negotiate and structure the terms of mergers or acquisitions.
  • Graduate School programs including the Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA), the Master of Arts in Economics (MA Econ), and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) - note: most MBA programs require at least 2 years of work experience prior to admittance
  • And more!

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Economics is a great major because it provides a solid business foundation that can lead to a wide range of career options; however, this openness can also be troublesome when trying to narrow your focus to a few specific industries to actively pursue.  As a result, it is critical for economics majors to begin exploring their skills, values, & interests as well as various career opportunities prior to graduating.  Below is a list of common careers that economics majors often pursue as well as tips for success & exploration resources to help get you started.

  • Consume financial news on a daily basis to build your market and industry fluency (don't wait to take FINA 3000 to begin talking the talk)

  • Attend employer networking events through Terry College & the Career Center starting your first semester on campus. Build your industry awareness and self-confidence by engaging employers early

  • Know your Recruiting Timeline:

    • Investment Banking - begins in the Spring semester a full year prior to a Summer internship (i.e. Spring 2022 for Summer 2023 opportunities) and runs into mid-Summer

    • Commercial Banking, Corporate Finance, & Consulting - begins in late July and runs into late September for the next year's Summer opportunities

  • Improve your technical skills & knowledge through trainings on LinkedIn Learning
  • Become Lean Six Sigma and/or Bloomberg Terminal certified, if relevant 

  • Begin exploring careers early.  This is something that must be done outside of the classroom
  • Create your resume during your first semester & update it every semester afterwards
  • Internships are crucial for testing out various industries & also building relevant experience on your resume
  • Consider earning a certificate to supplement your major studies
  • Explore study abroad options during your 1st or 2nd year

RESOURCES - INDUSTRY RESEARCH & INTERVIEW PREP

  • Economics News & Resources
    • Bureau of Economic Analysis - a unit of the US Department of Commerce that provides official macroeconomic and industry statistics, most notably reports about the gross domestic product (GDP) of the United States and its various units—states, cities/towns/townships/villages/counties, and metropolitan areas. They also provide information about personal income, corporate profits, and government spending in their National Income and Product Accounts (NIPAs)

    • Bureau of Labor Statistics - a unit of the US Department of Labor and the principal fact-finding agency for the US government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics 

    • CATO Institute - an American libertarian think thank that publishes books, podcasts, and more with a focus on public advocacy, media exposure and societal influence

    • The Economist - a British weekly newspaper that focuses on current affairs, international business, politics, technology, and culture that takes a stance primarily around classical, social, and most notably economic liberalism

    • National Bureau of Economic Research - conducts and disseminates nonpartisan economic research

    • Crash Course: Economics - YouTube playlist explaining various aspects of Economics in entertaining 10-15 minute snippets

  • General Finance News
    • Bloomberg
      • Note: Released in 1982, the Bloomberg Terminal has become synonymous with the financial services sector. A computer software system provided by the financial data vendor Bloomberg L.P., it enables financial services professionals to access Bloomberg professional Service through which users can monitor and analyze real-time financial market data and place trades on the electronic trading platform. They are quite pricey, costing $20k per year per terminal to operate. Terry College has 12 Bloomberg Terminals in its Benn Capital Markets Lab and students can receive a Bloomberg certification (helpful in competing for investment banking and analyst internships, especially based in the Northeast). Bloomberg Terminals are particularly notable for their dark-background interface and unique custom keyboards with bright yellow and green keys 
    • ​The Deal - subscription-based Financial News service that covers corporate transactions, dealmakers and their advisers to help readers identify opportunities and build their business.
    • Financial Times - daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and published digitally that focuses on business and economic current affairs. Based in London, England and famous for its broadsheet's light pink hue.
    • New York Times' DealBook - financial news service reporting on mergers, acquisitions, venture capital and hedge funds produced by The New York Times
    • McKinsey Quarterly - first published in 1964, it's a business magazine aimed toward senior executives with a focus on management and organizational theory. Authored primarily by McKinsey & Co consultants and former consultants
    • Mergers & Inquisitions - backed by Breaking Into WallStreet, the world's first and largest blog dedicated to careers in the finance industry with a free weekly newsletter featuring interviews 
    • MorningBrew - free daily newsletter that captures financial news in bite-sized, easily digestible snippets. Also produce podcasts and videos.
    • Deal Breaker - publishes financial news, commentary, and analysis about banks, hedge funds, private equity, MBAs, and lifestyle
    • The Wall Street Journal MoneyBeat - provides financial information, business news, analysis, and stock market data
  • Stock Market Coverage
    • Market Watch - provides financial information, business news, analysis, and stock market data. A subsidiary of Dow Jones & Company, along with The Wall Street Journal and Barron's
    • Seeking Alpha - crowd-sourced content service for financial markets started back in 2004, focused on stocks, asset classes, exchange-traded funds, and investment strategies
    • Bloomberg Markets
    • WSJ Markets
  • Finance Training Courses

Note: the above courses can be costly and are sometimes included as a part of Terry major coursework or student organization membership. They are listed here for the sake of transparency as individuals may choose to purchase them individually.

CONSULTING & CASE INTERVIEW PREP

  • Ace the Case ($$) - case interview questions and solutions for practice interview prep
  • ArgoPoint - case interview tips
  • Case In Point: Complete Case Interview Preparation by Marc Cosentino ($$) - demystifies the case interview process used for recruiting in consulting, private equity, strategic planning, marketing, logistic, operations, and human capital. This book takes you inside a typical interview by exploring the various types of case questions
  • Management Consulted - YouTube page featuring a library of case interview examples from McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Deloitte, and more, covering all types of case studies: profitability, market study, market sizing, and M&A

BOOKS & PODCASTS

  • Books
    • Options, Futures, & Other Derivatives - John Hull
    • Security Analysis & The Intelligent Investor - Benjamin Graham
    • The Handbook of Fixed Income Securities - Frank Fabozzi
    • Liar’s Poker - Michael Lewis
    • Average is Over - Tyler Cowen
    • The Fast Track: The Insider's Guide to Winning Jobs in Management Consulting, Investment Banking, & Securities Trading - Mariam Naficy
  • Podcasts

Supplemental Career Research Dashboard

Additional Career Research Resources

  • O*NET - The O*NET database includes information on skills, abilities, knowledges, work activities, and interests associated with over 900 occupations (Login using your 810/811)
  • Occupational Outlook Handbook - The OOH can help you find career information on duties, education and training, pay, and outlook for hundreds of occupations
  • Firsthand - Explore a library of guides, articles, and other resources to help you explore careers, plan your job search, and learn about different work environments. Create a free account with your UGA email
  • Candid Career - Whether you are just beginning to explore career options, preparing for a job interview, or looking to change careers, CandidCareer.com can help by providing you with access to thousands of informational video interviews with real professionals through an easy to use website. We can all learn from the experiences of others and the Career Center makes this valuable resource available to UGA students so they may be informed and ready for what lies ahead. (Login using your 810/811)
  • GoinGlobal - View jobs/internship in other countries and country career guides (Login using your 810/811)
  • Glassdoor - Glassdoor is a free jobs and career community that offers the world an inside look at jobs and companies. What sets us apart is our "employee generated content" – anonymous salaries, company reviews, interview questions, and more – all posted by employees, job seekers, and sometimes the companies themselves. Now with nearly 3 million salaries and reviews, you have all the information you might need to make your next career decision. 
  • Big Interview - Online practice interview platform. Practice basic interview questions or questions based on your industry interests or competencies! Also provides practice interview questions for graduate/professional schools. Just sign-up using your uga email address! 
  • Terry Connect - TerryConnect is an online platform where Terry students can connect one-on-one with Terry alumni — and each other — for networking, coaching and professional opportunities. Through TerryConnect, students enjoy access to Terry’s influential alumni base, as well as flash mentoring sessions with peers, discussion boards, special interest groups and more.

Employment Websites

GENERAL EMPLOYMENT WEBSITES

  • Handshake - login with your UGA myID & password to search for internships & jobs
  • GoinGlobal - login with your UGA myID & password; click "GoinGlobal" to access international jobs & internships
  • Idealist - non-profit jobs
  • USAJobs - federal jobs

MAJOR & CAREER-SPECIFIC EMPLOYMENT WEBSITES


Professional Associations/Resources

Employers/Position Title Reported by Class of 2021 Economics majors

The information below represents employers and position titles from the Class of 2021 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.

Employer Position Title(s)
ABC Consultants Group Account Manager
Académie de Versailles English Language Assistant
Acadia Jr. SEO Analyst
Acworth Primere Dental Care Administrative Staff
ALDRIDGE PITE HAAN, LLP Paralegal
AlphaSights Client Services Associate
Amazon.com, Inc. Area Manager
Amazon.com, Inc. Area Manager
Amazon.com, Inc. Area Manager
Amazon.com, Inc. Associate Account Manager
AmeriCorps VISTA Service Member
Ameriprise Financial Marketing and Administration Specialist
Ameris Bank Personal Banker
Amherst Holdings LLC Analyst
Amplifi Solutions Consultant
Anytime Fitness Assistant Manager
Apex Supply Sales, Management, and Leadership Development Trainee
Arrive Logistics Account Executive
Atlantic Union Bank Analyst
ATNS USA FCM Specialist
ATNS USA FCM Specialist
ATNS USA FCM Specialist
ATNS USA FCM Specialist
ATNS USA FCM Specialist
Avison Young Financial Analyst - Capital Markets
Ballard Designs Inventory Planning Assistant
Bank of America Wealth Management Analyst
Bay Point Media, LLC Film Finance/Development Intern
BDO USA, LLP STS Transfer Pricing Associate
Benevis Revenue Cycle Specialist
Boom Lab Project Manager Associate
Boston Consulting Group Associate Consultant
Boston Consulting Group Associate
Burns & Wilcox Broker Assistant
CallRail SDR
Capitol Buying/Operations
Capstone Financial, LLC Financial Services Representative
Capstone Financial, LLC Financial Services Representative
Capstone Financial, LLC Financial Services Representative
Capstone Financial, LLC Financial Services Representative
Capstone Financial, LLC Financial Services Representative
Centennial Aviation Academy Administrative Assistant
CentricsIT SDR
Chick-fil-A Leadership Program
Chick-fil-A Assistant Director
Chubb Chubb Associate
Chubb Associate-Environmental Underwriting
Chubb Associate-Environmental Underwriting
Chubb Associate-Environmental Underwriting
Chubb Associate-Environmental Underwriting
Clean Hands- Safe Hands Business Development Specialist
Colby & Co. PLC Accounting Assistant
Cox Communications Project Management Specialist
Deloitte Engagement Financial Advisor
Deloitte GPS Business Technology Analyst
Delta Analyst
Department of Commerce Analyst
Deutsche Bank AML Transaction Monitoring Investigations - Analyst
Development Authority of Walton County Economic Development Manager
Dunbelt Marketing Not Specified
Energy Impact Center Research Analyst
Envision Athens Project Coordinator
EY People Advisory Services Staff
EY Tech Consultant
EY Tech Consultant
EY Transfer Pricing Staff
First Horizon Advisors Client Specialist
FIS Business Process Analyst
FIS Business Process Analyst
FIS Business Process Analyst
Fiserv, Inc. Project Management Professional
Fiserv, Inc. Program Analyst
Fisher Investments Client Service Associate
Florida Financial Advisors Independent Financial Advisor
Forge Group Analyst
FortisPay Marketing Communications Coordinator
Freddie Mac Analyst
FTI Consulting Power and Renewables Consultant
FTI Consulting Corporate Finance and Restructuring Consultant
Georgia Department of Insurance & Safety Fire Special Assistant
Georgia West Realty Inc. Real Estate Agent/Salesperson
Global Payments Inc. Software Engineer
Gunnemann and Chally, LLC Legal Research Analyst
HR Path Associate Consultant
Inveniam Associate
Itineris Functional Analyst
Jamestown Investor Relations Analyst
JLL Performance Manager
JLL Performance Manager
JLL Performance Manager
JLL Performance Manager
Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. Legal Assistant
JPMorgan Chase & Co. Commercial Banking Analyst
K&L Gates Government Affairs Fellow
Kate Arnold Wines Business Analyst
Keybridge, LLC Senior Research Assistant
Keyence Corporation Sales Engineer
Kimberly-Clark Professional Financial Analyst
KPMG Customer Solutions Associats
Lemonade CX Specialist
Level Up Ventures Venture Analyst
Mather Economics Associate Consultant
McWhirter Realty Partners Brokerage Associate
Media Analytics Analyst Inspire Brands
Micromeritics Instrument Corporation ERP Operations Analyst
Morgan Stanley Customer Service - Stock Plans
National Storage Affiliates Pricing Analyst
NCR Coperation Business Operations Consultant
NCR Corporation Business Analyst
Nolan Transportation Group Carrier Sales Representative
Nolan Transportation Group Carrier Sales Representative
Norfolk Southern Corp. Market Analyst
Northside Hospital Financial Analyst
Not Specified Wood Salesman
Novatech, Inc. Data Analyst
Oliver Wyman Actuarial Analyst
OptionsSwing Inc. Technical Analyst
Oracle Cloud Technology Consultant
Oracle Business Development Consultant
Origami Risk Business System Analyst
Origami Risk Business Systems Analyst
OTR Capital Operations Coordinator
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Risk Analyst
PepsiCo Sales Management Associate
Primrose Schools Site Analytics Coordinator
Procure Analytics Analyst
Publicis Sapient Product Manager
PwC Management Consulting Specialist
PwC Technology Consulting
QGenda Business Development Representative
RaceTrac Customer Accounts Analyst
Rodl & Partner USA IT Support Analyst
Rodriguez MD LLC Front Office Administrator
RSM US LLP Associate Risk Advisor
RTI International Associate Research Economist
Sage Mountain Advisors Financial Analyst
Serviot Administrative Assistant
Sherwin Williams Management and Sales Trainee Program
Situs AMC Analyst
Small Business Access Partners Loan Assistant
Star Asia International Import Operations Coordinator
Sterling Seacreast Pritchard Client Service Assistant
Stifel Investment Banking Analyst
Synergetics Associate Healthcare Operations Consultant
Synovus Commercial Credit Analyst
Talent Path Data Analyst
Textron Specialized Vehicles Financial Analyst
The Home Depot Software Engineer
The Home Depot Supply Chain Analyst
The Home Depot Inventory Planning & Replenishment Analyst
The Simpson Organization Tenant Services Coordinator
Travelers Insurance Underwriting Professional Development Program Bond & Specialty Insurance FI P&C
Truist Securities LDP Credit Analyst
Trustpilot ADR
U.S. Securities and Exchange Comission Program Analyst
United Rentals Sales Development Program
United States Department of Treasury IT Specialist
United States Representative Drew Ferguson Legislative Intern
UPS Marketing Analytics Specialist
VanEck Junior Portfolio Operations Analyst
Wells Fargo Investment Banking Analyst
Western & Southern Life Financial Representative
Westrock Financial Analyst
WITHIN Integrated Media Strategist
* denotes no responses received.
*Source: Areas above marked with an Asterisk (*) have been created utilizing data taken from the UGA Career Outcomes Survey. The "Employers Hiring...," "Job Titles of...," "Career Outcomes for...," and "Graduate/Professional Schools and Programs..." information listed above represent UGA Class of 2021 Graduates. The lists are not exhaustive and therefore do not represent all potential career options. Click here for more detailed Career Outcomes information regarding this major.

Graduate/Professional Schools attended by Class of 2021 Economics majors

The information below represents graduate/professional schools and programs reported through the Class of 2020 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.

Graduate School Program(s)
Duke University Law, JD
Florida State University Law, JD
Georgetown University Business Analytics, MS
Georgia Institute of Technology City and Regional Planning; Public Policy, Master's
Georgia State University Law, JD
Georgia State University Finance, MS
Georgia State University Law, JD
Georgia State University Law, JD
Georgia State University Law, JD
Harvard University Medicine, MD
Indiana University Medicine, MD
John Marshal Law Shool Law, JD
Mercer Univeristy Law, JD
Mercer University Law, JD
Mercer University Law, JD
Notre Dame Law, JD
Shorter University Business Administration and Sports Management, MBA
Southern Methodist University Management, MSM
Stanford University International Policy, MA
Temple University Dental Medicine, DMD
University of Chicago Social Sciences, MS
University of Georgia Business Analytics, MS
University of Georgia Business Analytics, MS
University of Georgia Analytics, MS
University of Georgia Business Analytics, MS
University of Georgia Law, MSL
University of Georgia Business Analytics, MS
University of Georgia Marketing Research, MMR
University of Georgia Public Administration, MPA
University of Georgia Business Analytics, MS
University of Georgia Business Analytics, MS
University of Georgia Law, JD
University of Illinois Law, JD
University of Mississippi Law, JD
University of South Carolina Law, JD
University of South Carolina Law, JD
University of Virginia Law, JD
University of Wisconsin-Madison Sociology, PhD
Wake Forest University Business Analytics, MS
Washington University Law, JD
* denotes no responses received.