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 and Shelton S. Schmidt.

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

• At least one seminar course.

• ECO 498 - Economics Senior Thesis 1
• ECO 499 - Economics Senior Thesis 2

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• As well as three courses from among:

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

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

Requirements for Honors in Economics:

Departmental honors require that a student enroll in and successfully complete the Honors Program. The eligibility requirements for the honors program in economics are, in additional to the college-wide requirements, (1) a minimum grade average of 3.3 in Economics 241, 242, and 243, (2) nomination for honors at the end of the first term of thesis work by the advisor and first-term oral examiner, (3) presentation in the honors poster session in the second term of thesis work, (4) a minimum grade of “A minus” on the senior thesis; and (5) a presentation in the Steinmetz Symposium in the Spring term.

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 105   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.