Major/Minor Information

The programs offered by the Department of Economics are designed to (1) provide a general understanding of the functioning of the economic system and the role of institutions, groups, and regions within that system; and (2) prepare the student for employment in industry, the professions, and government, or to pursue graduate work toward such advanced degrees as the M.A., M.B.A., M.S., or Ph.D. in related fields.

Note: Students planning to pursue a Ph.D. in Economics are advised to take more math courses besides taking Mathematical Economics (220:391); Calculus II (640:122) , Calculus III (640:221), Linear Algebra (640:250), Mathematical Reasoning with Proofs (640:300) and Elementary Differential Equations (640:314).

Economics Major Requirements (45 credits)

45 credits: Six core courses (102/103/203/204/222/322)  + Nine electives
All courses toward Economics major degree should be at least C and above C.

First Year

  • 50:220:102 Microeconomic Principles (3)
  • 50:220:103 Macroeconomic Principles (3)
    Take calculus class (50:640:118 or 50:640:121); one of the prerequisites for Econometrics

Sophomore and Junior Years

  • 50:220:203 Intermediate Economic Theory: Microeconomics (3)
  • 50:220:204 Intermediate Economic Theory: Macroeconomics (3)
  • 50:220:222 Foundations of Econometrics (3)
  • Some of nine economics elective

Junior and Senior Years

  • 50:220:322 Econometrics (3)
  • Some of nine economics electives

Departmental Honors Program

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Students seeking the distinction of graduating with “Honors in Economics” and the experience of intense investigation of a particular topic in economics may do so in the honors program. Eligibility for such a project is judged by the student’s qualifications and availability of an appropriate supervising professor with a student with the GPA=3.5 above. The supervisor works individually with the student over a two-term sequence, 50:220:495-496, during the student’s last three terms before graduation. Total credits earned are determined by the department according to the nature of the project; a grade is not given until completion of the two-term sequence and department approval of an honors thesis embodying the project. Interested students should contact their academic advisors.

Requirements and Restrictions for Independent Study Projects

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Enrollment in 50:220:491 Independent Study Projects in Economics requires prior approval by the department and the participating faculty member. All independent study projects require at least the same rigors of training, instruction, research, and grading as do other upper-division economics courses. To enroll in 50:220:491, students must have completed nearly all of the course requirements for the major in economics and have achieved a grade-point average in economics of at least 3.0. A student is limited to enrollment in only one independent study project within the economics department each term and a maximum of two during the degree program with a student with the GPA=3.5 above.

Economics Major Required Form Information (click here)

See the course catalog

 

Economics Minor Requirements (21 credits)

All courses toward Economics minor degree should be at least C or above.

  • 50:220:102 Microeconomic Principles (3)
  • 50:220:103 Macroeconomic Principles (3)

    (Choose one from the following group)
  • 50:220:203 Intermediate Economic Theory: Microeconomics (3) or
  • 50:220:308 Managerial Economics (3) or
  • 50:220:313 Economics of Labor (3) or
  • 50:220:318 Cost-Benefit/Effective Analysis (3) or
  • 50:220:321 Applied Game Theory (3) 

    (Choose one from the following group)
  • 50:220:204 Intermediate Economic Theory: Macroeconomics (3) or
  • 50:220:320 Inflation, Unemployment and Public Policy (3) or
  • 50:220:325 Financial Market and Institutions (3) or
  • 50:220:329 Economics of International Finace (3) or
  • 50:220:392 Business Cycles and Forecasting (3)
  • Three economics electives (9 credits)

Economics Minor Required Form Information (click here)

See the course catalog