College Faculty Executive Committee members voted Friday to terminate the economics/international area studies major.
The Department of Economics moved to disestablish the program after a declining number of students expressed interest in it over the years. Though the major will be discontinued, the department still plans to offer many of the same courses included in the program.
At its peak in 1998, about 120 students were enrolled in the major, but after about a decade, just less than 30 students declared it as their field of study. The number of students enrolled in the major was less than 40 by the time admission to the major was suspended in 2010.
“The Academic Senate must approve the discontinuation of the major before it is finalized,” said Kyle McJunkin, director of the College Faculty Executive Committee. He added that he thinks it is appropriate that the department disestablish the program, since all of the students in the major have graduated.
In 2009, Department of Economics faculty members planned to eventually disestablish the program as soon as the students who were enrolled in the major had graduated.
“UCLA offers other majors that faculty say are better suited to educate students about international and regional studies,” said Kathleen McGarry, chair of the Department of Economics. Students can choose from global studies, international development studies, East Asian studies and European studies, among other majors and minors.
“It makes much more sense for students to take a general economics degree and then supplement it with a more specific degree,” she added.
McGarry said she thinks it did not make sense to continue to offer the economics/international area studies major since it was small compared to the other majors in the department.
There are currently 3,315 students enrolled in the economics and business economics programs, and 883 of these students are fourth-year students.
Compiled by Hannah Rosson, Bruin contributor.