Economics

The B.A. in Economics combines rigorous training in economic theory with application to contemporary issues such as globalization, financial market volatility, and the environment. The Economics program is a tight-knit community, and majors and minors can expect to work closely with faculty and with each other. The economic honors society, Omicron Delta Epsilon, organizes field trips to conferences and brings in visiting speakers and alumni. Recent graduates have gone on to careers in business and government, to law school, and to graduate programs in economics and politics, as well as M.B.A. programs.

All majors will complete a four-course economic theory sequence that includes ISECON 104 and ECON 103 (in either order), and ECON 203 and ECON 204 (in either order). It is strongly recommended that students take ECON 203 and ECON 204 soon after the ISECON 104 and ECON 103 prerequisites to get the most benefit from this theoretical background in their elective courses. Both ECON 203 and ECON 204 should be completed by the end of the junior year, so that the student is prepared for the ECON 491 senior research project, which is only offered during the fall semester. The Econ 491 requirement cannot be satisfied through independent study.

In addition, majors will take ISECON 360 and complete three additional economics electives. ECON 420 is recommended, but not required; skills from ECON 420 are useful in ECON 491, so it is recom-mended that ECON 420 be taken by the end of the junior year. Employers value ECON 420, and graduate programs in economics will expect it. Finally, each major must complete one course in introductory statistics (MATH 141 or PSYC 251) as well as one course in logical argumentation (IHPHIL 100).

If you plan to continue into any graduate program, it is strongly suggested that you meet with a faculty member by your junior year to ensure that you are adequately prepared. Statistics is the only math preparation required if you intend to pursue an M.B.A., law school, or a graduate program in a field other than economics. However, a graduate program in economics will require calculus and linear algebra as well.

INTEGRATIVE STUDIES REQUIREMENTS

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

44 credits

Core Courses

• IIHPHIL 100 Logical Argumentation
• Select one of the following:
• MATH 141 Introductory Statistics
• PSYC 251 Psychological Statistics
• ECON 103 Introduction to Microeconomics
• ISECON 104 Introduction to Macroeconomics
• ISECON 360 History of Economic Thought
• ECON 203 Intermediate Microeconomics
• ECON 204 Intermediate Macroeconomics
• ECON 491 Economic Research Project

Economics Electives

• 12 credits of 300- or 400-level Economics courses; it is recommended that one of these electives be ECON 420.

ELECTIVES

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

120 credits