Economics Major, B.A.

The faculty of economics is a community of teacher-scholars engaged in theoretical, empirical and historical approaches to the study of the global economy and the varieties of capitalism extant in the world today. The faculty aims to create a collaborative teaching, learning and research environment emphasizing global awareness, environmental sensitivity and the synergies between theory and practice. Students majoring in economics are expected to acquire competencies in theory and empirical analyses, to adopt either an international or political concentration in their course work or to design their own major in consultation with two faculty members in economics. Individually designed majors are required to complete all core economics course requirements. Majors are required to participate in our lecture series and are strongly encouraged to spend either a semester, year or summer studying abroad. Majors are also encouraged to work with a faculty member in economics on at least one research project. A 3-credit internship in a major international city such as Washington, D.C., is recommended.

Requirements for the Major

The economics major requires a minimum of 36-39 credits in economics at the 200 level or above.

All majors must take the following core economics courses:

ECON 205Principles of Macroeconomics

3.0

ECON 206Principles of Microeconomics

3.0

ECON 305Macroeconomic Analysis

3.0

ECON 306Microeconomic Analysis

3.0

ECON 452History of Economic Thought

3.0

ECON 470Seminar

3.0

ECON 480Econometrics

3.0

All majors must also take:

ECMG 212Statistics for Economics & Management

3.0

or

MATH 112Applied Statistics

3.0

 

MATH 201Calculus I

4.0

An internship (ECON 399—3 credits) is recommended. All majors are strongly encouraged to participate in a study abroad semester, year or summer.

Focus Areas

All Economics majors focus in either International Economics, Political Economy, Financial Economics, or a General Specialization. Economics major may also create an individualized interest focus in economics. 

Economics (General)

Majors with a focus in Economics (General) are required to take all of the courses required of all majors listed above plus five courses from the following courses (15 credits):

ECMG 303Principles of Finance & Investment

3.0

ECON 304International Political Economy

3.0

ECON 307Economics and Finance of Sports

3.0

ECON 309Monetary Policy & Financial Markets

3.0

ECON 310Environmental Economics

3.0

ECON 316Game Theory

3.0

ECON 317Economics of Development

3.0

ECON 320The Economics of Gender

3.0

ECON 324International Trade

3.0

ECON 326Industrial Organization

3.0

ECON 328Labor Economics

3.0

ECON 410Public Economics

3.0

ECPS 414/ECPS 514Environmental Policy

3.0

ECON 460International Finance & Open Economy Macroeconomics

3.0

ECMG 478/ECMG 578International Financial Management

3.0

PSCI 303Public Policy Analysis

3.0

Financial Economics

Majors with a focus in International Economics are required to take all of the courses required of all majors listed above plus the following courses (9 credits):

ECMG 303Principles of Finance & Investment

3.0

ECON 309Monetary Policy & Financial Markets

3.0

ECMG 478/ECMG 578International Financial Management

3.0

In addition, the Financial Economics focus requires two additional courses from the Elective Requirement list that are different from the required courses listed above.

Individualized Interest - 15 credits

Economics majors may develop, in consultation with their economics faculty adviser, an individual interest focus that specializes on a particular career interest. Examples of include international economic development and the economics of gender.

International Economics

Majors with a focus in International Economics are required to take all of the courses required of all majors listed above plus three of the following courses (9 credits):

ECON 304International Political Economy

3.0

ECON 324International Trade

3.0

ECON 460International Finance & Open Economy Macroeconomics

3.0

MGMT 314International Business

3.0

In addition, the International Economics focus requires two additional courses from the Elective Requirement list that are different from the required courses listed above.

Political Economy

Majors with a focus in Political Economy are required to take all of the courses required of all majors listed above plus three of the following courses (9 credits):

ECON 304International Political Economy

3.0

ECON 326Industrial Organization

3.0

ECON 410Public Economics

3.0

PSCI 303Public Policy Analysis

3.0

In addition, the Political Economics focus requires two additional courses from the Elective Requirement list that are different from the required courses listed above.

Elective Requirements

International Economics, Political Economy, and Financial Economics require 6 credits from the list of courses below that are different from the required courses taken for the focus area:

ECMG 303Principles of Finance & Investment

3.0

ECON 304International Political Economy

3.0

ECON 307Economics and Finance of Sports

3.0

ECON 309Monetary Policy & Financial Markets

3.0

ECON 310Environmental Economics

3.0

ECON 316Game Theory

3.0

ECON 317Economics of Development

3.0

ECON 320The Economics of Gender

3.0

ECON 324International Trade

3.0

ECON 326Industrial Organization

3.0

ECON 328Labor Economics

3.0

ECON 410Public Economics

3.0

ECPS 414/ECPS 514Environmental Policy

3.0

ECON 460International Finance & Open Economy Macroeconomics

3.0

ECMG 478/ECMG 578International Financial Management

3.0

PSCI 303Public Policy Analysis

3.0

Students planning to pursue a doctorate in economics should also take:

ECON 480Econometrics

3.0

MATH 202Calculus II

4.0

MATH 253Multivariable Calculus

4.0

MATH 304Differential Equations

3.0

MATH 339Linear Algebra

3.0

MATH 351Probability and Statistics

3.0

MATH 453Introduction to Real Analysis

3.0