REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR IN ECONOMICS

(View NEW RULES for Students Matriculating Fall 2005 and Later)

1. All Economics majors must complete a minimum of ten courses with a grade point average of at least 2.00.  These courses include nine Economics courses and one course in quantitative analysis as specified in (4) below.  Major requirements are not reduced for multiple majors, although some courses can satisfy the requirements for more than one major. (Please note that students may not pursue a double major in Economics and Mathematical Economic Analysis.)

2. The following courses are required for all Economics majors:

ECON 211, ECON 212, ECON 370, and either ECON 355, 375, or 455.

We suggest that Economics majors take ECON 211 and 212 in the freshman year and take ECON 370 in the first semester of their sophomore year, leaving the junior and senior years for advanced electives.  This plan is optional, but please note that failure to take prerequisite courses in earlier years may cause scheduling problems in later years.

3. Given that item (2) has been satisfied, at least three of the remaining five required Economics courses must be selected from the following courses in applied economics:

ECON 301, 340, 355, 375, 415, 416, 417, 420, 421, 430, 435, 436, 437, 438, 439, 440, 445, 448, 449, 450, 451, 452, 455, 461, 472, 480, 481, 482, 483, 484, 485, 486 or 495.

Please note that if you count ECON 355, 375, or 455 as one of the required courses in item (2), you may not also count that course as one of the three courses satisfying item (3).

4. The quantitative methods course may be selected from the following:

ECON 382, 400, 446, 471, 475, 477
ACCO 305
CAAM 210, 211, 321, 322, 335, 336, 353, 376, 378, 400, 435, 436, 437, 451, 452, 453, 454, 460, 474, 475, 483
COMP 212, 312, 314, 440, 480, 482
STAT 305, 310, 331, 381, 400, 410, 421, 431, 450, 486,
or an equivalent or higher-level course approved in advance by the chairman of the undergraduate committee.

5. We strongly recommend that students take two semesters of calculus (MATH 101/102 or MATH 111/112) and a course in probability and statistics (ECON 382/STAT 310).  Failure to take these courses will limit the range of electives available to the student.

6. No more than three of the nine Economics courses may be transferred from other schools, if those courses were taken after matriculation at Rice. Additional transfer credits in Economics may count toward meeting University graduation requirements but not toward fulfillment of the departmental major requirements.  The required course in quantitative analysis may also be transferred. AP credits and credits awarded to transfer students for courses taken prior to matriculation at Rice are not counted among the three allowed courses, but all students must complete more than half of their upper-level major work at Rice. In order to transfer either ECON 211 or ECON 212, the student must pass a qualifying examination.  Students wishing to take either the ECON 211 or ECON 212 qualifying examination must apply to the Economics Department office in Baker Hall 259.  For additional information on transfer credits, consult “Procedures for Transfer Credit,” available in the Economics Department office.

7. Students may graduate with “Honors in Economics” by achieving a B+ (3.33) average in all Economics courses and doing two semesters of independent research (for details, consult “Economics 403/404 – Senior Independent Research,” available in the Economics Department office).

8. For additional course information, consult “Economics Course Descriptions,” compiled by the Rice chapter of the Omicron Delta Epsilon National Economics Honor Society.

9. Please note that it is the responsibility of the student to satisfy all degree requirements, including the “University Credit Requirements” and “University Distribution Requirements” specified in the General Announcements.  Students are advised that the relevant departmental requirements are those in effect on the day that the student declares Economics as their major.  Consult with the appropriate departmental adviser, who must sign all registration forms for each major.

10. Students who are considering either graduate work in economics or a business or governmental job in which analytical and quantitative skills are required, should seriously consider obtaining the alternative major in Mathematical Economic Analysis.

*Students matriculating Fall 2004 and earlier may follow the new rules, if they prefer.

UNDERGRADUATE COMMITTEE

James Brown, Chairman
George Zodrow, Senior Adviser
Peter Mieszkowski, Junior Adviser
John Bryant, Sophomore Adviser
Anna Bogomolnaia, Mathematical Economic Analysis
Richard Boylan, Managerial Studies
Peter Mieszkowski, Policy Studies
Anna Bogomolnaia, 5-Year MA Program

 

Revised: September 7, 2006