Economics Major
The Bachelor’s of Arts in Economics provides a range of coursework in economics and related fields to prepare students for a wide range of careers in economics-related occupations.
Goal 1: Students will understand how all issues in economics involve making choices in the context of scarcity.
Outcome 1.1: Students will be able to explain the concept of opportunity cost.
Outcome 1.2: Students will understand the concept that decision-making takes place at the margin and explain how this affects the behavior of consumers and firms.
Goal 2: Students will understand how economic agents interact.
Outcome 2.1: Students will be able to explain the supply and demand model and how it is applied to input and output markets as well as the macro economy.
Goal 3: Students will be able to identify important economic variables, understand how they are measured, and explain what they tell us.
Outcome 3.1: Students will be able to define and know the approximate value of some key macroeconomic variables in the US, including GDP growth, inflation, unemployment, and interest rates. Furthermore, students will know how these variables are measured, how they affect us and understand the difference between “nominal” and “real” values.
Goal 4: Students will understand how public policy impacts the economy.
Outcome 4.1: Students will be able to explain how fiscal and monetary policy work.
Outcome 4.2: Students will be able to explain how markets sometimes “fail” and how public policy can address these problems .
The traditional undergraduate programs includes a minimum of 120 credits distributed across three components: A General Education component divided into Signature Courses, Variable Courses, and an Integrative Learning requirement; a Major and Divisional component; and Free Electives. In addition to course requirements as specified in each area, students must complete one certified course in each of the following overlay areas1:
- Diversity, Globalization or Non-western Area Studies,
- Ethics Intensive
- Writing Intensive, and
- Diversity
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Overlay requirements are part of the 120 credit requirements
General Education Signature Courses
See this page about Signature courses.
General Education Variable Courses
See this page about Variable courses. Six to Nine courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Social/Behavioral Science: | ||
| ECN 101 | Introductory Economics Micro | 3 |
| Natural Science: | ||
| A natural science course with a laboratory, or two courses without a laboratory | ||
| Math: | ||
| Students can take any Math "Beauty" course to fulfill the requirement of the GEP. However, we recommend: | ||
| MAT 131 | Linear Methods | 3 |
| MAT 132 | Math of Games & Politics | 3 |
| MAT 134 | Math of Uncertainty:Rules/Prob | 3 |
| MAT 155 | Fundamentals of Calculus | 3 |
| MAT 161 | Calculus I | 4 |
General Education Integrative Learning Component
See this page about Integrative Learning Component. Three courses:
Economics majors must take one course from each of the following three categories:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Any Statistics Course, including: | ||
| MAT 118 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| MAT 128 | Applied Statistics | 3 |
| MAT 322 | Mathematical Statistics | 3 |
| DSS 210 | Business Statistics | 3 |
| Any Calculus Course*, including: | ||
| MAT 123 | Differential Calculus | 3 |
| MAT 155 | Fundamentals of Calculus | 3 |
| MAT 161 | Calculus I | 4 |
| *Note: This course is not required for those who earned credit for AP Calculus or completed calculus for the Math Beauty requirement. These students must choose an alternate course from the list below. However, students are encouraged to take additional math courses. | ||
Students may choose from the following for the remaining ILC course(s):
- Any additional math course (this is in addition to the Beauty requirement and the statistics requirement). For students considering graduate school in economics, we highly recommend additional courses in calculus or linear algebra.
- Any Computer Science (CSC) course
- Any Social Science Course
- Any Geographic Information Systems (GIS) course
- THE 373 Economic Ethics
-
PSY 127 Behavioral Economics
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECN 101 | Introductory Economics Micro | 3 |
| ECN 102 | Introductory Economics Macro | 3 |
| ECN 290 | Professional Prep Seminar | 1 |
| ECN 301 | Microeconomic Theory | 3 |
| ECN 302 | Macroeconomic Theory | 3 |
| Any six additional ECN 300/400-level economics courses 1 | 18 | |
● For students completing ECN410 Econometrics, only five (5) economics electives are required (in total) | ||
| Experiential Learning Requirement 2 | ||
○ Includes ECN491, Service-Learning course, Study abroad, The Washington Center, Independent Study – research, Summer Scholars, Winter Immersion Program (WIP), or Honors Thesis. | ||
| Total Hours | 31 | |
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MAT 311, MAT 322, MAT 423, ASC 401, DSS 420, DSS 435, DSS 470, FIN 201 and FIN 302 can be substituted for the above requirements at a maximum of two substitutions.
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*ECN290 and Experiential Learning are required starting with students entering in Fall 2023.
Requirements for Departmental Honors
Requirements for departmental honors are found under Honors Programs and in the brochure published annually by the Director of Honors programs.