Some people don’t realize that ϲϿ Davis has a business major. But we do, it’s just filed under the letter “M” for “managerial economics.” Our students take coursework in marketing, finance, management, agribusiness, international business, business law, quantitative analysis and more.
So why do we call our business major “managerial economics?” I don’t know, why do ϲϿ Davis students ride to campus on vintage red double-decker buses imported from London? Because … well, it’s a long story.
But “man econ” (as it’s known) is a dynamic degree that prepares students for a variety of careers in business and beyond. Our students learn how to apply microeconomic theory to solve real-world problems in the realm of business.
Managerial economics offers broad range of careers
There’s a reason why managerial economics is one of the most popular majors on campus. Jobs. Students with a managerial economics degree can pursue careers in banking, finance, marketing, accounting, international management consulting, environmental policy, sustainability consulting, food production and distribution, and agricultural policy.
And the networking! Each year, managerial economics graduates come back to ϲϿ Davis and tell current students what they do all day in the world of work. They share stories of how they got their first job or internship with employers such as , , , , , , and .
Last year our alumni gave us these stories:
- Kayla described a two-year finance rotation program she’s doing with , which provides her with an opportunity to sample accounting, financial planning, sales, product development and other areas before she decides which direction to pursue.
- Ashkun told students that he first worked in investment banking, then earned an MBA and transitioned to using business models to drive positive social change for the underserved at .
- Tiffany, who now works at as a management consulting analyst, noted that she completed several internships during her undergraduate years, including stints at , and .
- Lynda, a co-founder of our career day, has taken multiple companies public during her 30-year career. She shared insights about entrepreneurship and human resources.
Our man econ undergraduates pay close attention to the experiences of their fellow Aggies. They listen to words of wisdom from alumni such as Naeem Ishaq, who graduated from ϲϿ Davis in 2001 and has risen to become chief financial officer of , a multimillion-dollar, online warehouse shopping startup. At one career day, Naeem told students:
“Hopefully, you can see that your career is not a linear path. It goes up, down, and sideways. Early in your career, it’s good to take risks and explore.”
“Hopefully, you can see that your career is not a linear path. It goes up, down, and sideways. Early in your career, it’s good to take risks and explore.”
Managerial economics vs. economics
What’s the difference between a managerial economics major and economics major?
The short answer — managerial economics is more ; economics is more .
Managerial economics majors are awarded a Bachelor of Science degree by the . Economics majors earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from the . Although managerial economics and economics are grounded in economics coursework, more units of calculus and statistics, as well as an introductory computer science course and introductory accounting.
Four areas of emphasis in managerial econ
Our major offers four diverse emphases to choose from:
- Business economics: focuses on analysis, finance and management of business activities.
- International business economics: focuses on international trade and public policy challenges and global markets.
- Environmental and resource economics: examines the connection between the environment and the economy.
- Agribusiness economics: includes farm management, food safety, food markets and other aspects of food production. This emphasis represents the roots of managerial economics at ϲϿ Davis, before it branched out to include general business studies as well. A recent ranking placed ϲϿ Davis as No. 1 in the world for research in agricultural economics and policy.
Start your future at ϲϿ Davis by majoring in managerial economics. Take risks and explore. And while you’re here, feel free to go up, down and sideways.