Academic Catalogs

Economics, Associate of Arts Degree Major

This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit https://catalog.cccd.edu.

Banner Code: 3_AA_ECON

Control Number: 18214

Financial Aid Eligible


Economics is the study of how effectively society meets its human and material needs. It provides a logical, ordered way of looking at various problems. It draws upon history, philosophy, and mathematics to deal with subjects ranging from how an individual household or business can make sound decisions to societal issues such as unemployment, inflation, and environmental decay. Critical thinking is stressed more in economics than it is in any of the social sciences or in the business department. Economics also stresses computer proficiency and communications skills.

Program Level Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

  1. Apply the economic problem of scarcity and how it relates to choice, opportunity cost, and marginal decision making for individuals and society.
  2. Use supply and demand models to analyze markets, evaluate fluctuations, and determine changes in prices.
  3. Quantitatively analyze economic activity of individuals, firms, and the public sector.

Associate Degree Requirements

Unit Requirement

Complete at least 60 units of acceptable college work with a minimum of 12 units completed in residence at Coastline. Earn an overall grade point average of 2.0 or higher from all colleges attended and a 2.0 or higher grade point average at Coastline.

*Students must be in good academic standing (not on probation and/or disqualification) during the semester graduation is petitioned.

Program of Study

Complete the required courses in one of the programs as detailed In the Requirements for the Major section of this catalog. All coursework must be completed with a grade of C or higher.

General Education

Complete one of the three General Education options below (visit the General Education page for details):

Option 1 — AA/AS Local Degree GE: designed for students pursuing an Associate degree and who may or may not be planning to transfer to a four-year university. The degree is transferable to many colleges and universities.

Option 2—CSU GE Breadth: designed for students who are planning to transfer to a university in the CSU system. It may also be appropriate for transfer to some independent colleges and universities.

Option 3—IGETC: designed for students who are planning to transfer to a university in the CSU or UC system. It also may be appropriate for transfer to some independent colleges and universities.

Global and Multicultural Studies Requirement

Complete at least 2.5 units from any Global and Multicultural Studies courses. See what courses fulfill the Global and Multicultural Studies Requirement.

Course Title Units
Required Core
Complete the following:
ECON C170Principles of Microeconomics3
ECON C175Principles of Macroeconomics3
Program Electives
Select one of the following:4-5
Business Calculus
Calculus 1
Select two of the following:8-9
Financial Accounting
Managerial Accounting
Introduction to Statistics
Calculus 2
Units Required for the Major18-20
Local General Education, CSU General Education, or IGETC patternVaries
Electives to satisfy unit requirementVaries
Total Units60
 Recommended Electives
Course Title Units
ACCT C100Introduction to Accounting3
BUS C110Business Law/Legal Environment of Business3
MATH C285Introduction to Linear Algebra and Differential Equations5
PHIL C115Logic and Critical Thinking3