Economics, Quantitative Economics Track, B.A.

Requirements for the Quantitative Economics Track:

Quantitative Economics permits students who have a strong interest in mathematics to enhance their understanding of economic theory by concentrating on course work where the use of mathematics is especially productive. It is designed primarily for those who expect to go to graduate school, particularly in economics. Advisors: Professors Stephen J. Schmidt, Shelton S. Schmidt, and D. Klein

Mathematics courses should be selected in consultation with your economics advisor. The senior thesis, ECO 498 -ECO 499 , should make use of the quantitative nature of the track.

• ECO 101 - Introduction to Economics
• ECO 241 - Microeconomic Analysis
• ECO 242 - Macroeconomic Theory and Policy
• ECO 243 - Introduction to Econometrics
• ECO 498 - Senior Thesis, Part I
• ECO 499 - Senior Thesis, Part II

•  

• three courses from among

• ECO 338 - Quantitative Methods in Economics
• ECO 341 - Current Topics in Microeconomics
• ECO 352 - Contemporary Problems in Macroeconomics
• ECO 353 - Seminar in Econometrics

•  

• two additional economics courses; and
• three mathematics courses above the level of MTH 110  

Requirements for Honors:

To earn departmental honors in economics, participants in the program must (1) have a minimum grade average of 3.3 or higher in ECO 241 , ECO 242 , and ECO 243 ; (2) be nominated for honors by the department at the end of the first term of thesis work; (3) pass an honors oral examination on their senior thesis in the second term of thesis work; (4) earn a minimum of “A minus” on the senior thesis; (5) receive approval of the final thesis from the honors oral examination committee; and (6) participate in the department’s honors seminar. In addition, the student must satisfy all College requirements for departmental honors.

Course Selection Guidelines

Course Sequence: Students intending to major in economics should take ECO 101  in the first year, and complete MTH 101  or MTH 110  in the first year if possible, early in the sophomore year if not. They should also take one or more 200-level electives in the first or second year, since these courses are not open to junior and senior majors. In the sophomore year they should take the core ECO 241 -ECO 242 -ECO 243  sequence; the sequence need not be taken in numerical order but ECO 243  should normally not be taken first. Majors should complete several 300-level elective courses as juniors prior to enrolling in senior thesis, including where possible courses in the area of economics in which the thesis will be written; interdepartmental majors should complete at least one such course in the junior year, and preferably more.

Placement: The economics department gives credit for ECO 101  to students receiving a score of 5, 6, or 7 on the Higher Level International Baccalaureate exam, a grade of A or B on the economics A-levels, and a score of 4 or 5 on both the AP Microeconomics and Macroeconomics exam, but does not give credit for ECO 101  to students who have taken only one of the two AP exams, regardless of the score received.

Prerequisites: ECO 101  is a prerequisite for all courses in the department, unless otherwise indicated.