The economics curriculum: ECON 101, ECON 301, and ECON 302 together constitute the theoretical core of the economics curriculum. As such, ECON 101 is a prerequisite for all other courses beyond the 100 level in the department, and ECON 301 and ECON 302 are different from 300-level elective courses. Students who major in economics should complete ECON 301 and ECON 302 as soon as possible after they have completed ECON 101 to ensure that they develop a sufficiently strong appreciation of the economic theory that they will be expected to apply in 300-level elective courses. Students are required to complete ECON 301, ECON 302, and ECON 431 at Trinity College. The Writing Intensive Part II requirement is fulfilled by the senior seminar (ECON 431) or the senior thesis (ECON 498-499). In order to enroll in ECON 101 during the first semester of their first year, students must score well enough on the Math Placement Test to be recommended admission into MATH 131 Calculus I.

LEARNING GOALS

The economics department’s learning goals can be found HERE.

REQUIREMENTS

Admission requirements for the economics major and the interdisciplinary computing major with a track in economics and computing—Students must declare the major no later than the Friday after spring break of their sophomore year (fourth semester at Trinity). This deadline applies to students declaring economics as their first or second major. At, or before, this time students must:

  • have satisfactorily completed (i.e., with a grade of B- or better)a ECON 101;
  • have satisfactorily completed (i.e., with a grade of C- or better) a 200-level elective course other than ECON 218 (or, if already in their fourth semester, be currently enrolled in a 200-level elective course);
  • have satisfactorily completed (i.e., with a grade of C+ or better) ECON 301 or ECON 302 (or be currently enrolled in 301 or 302).

Students who have satisfied these requirements will receive an email to schedule an appointment with Professor Halladay, Professor Zannoni, or Professor Zelada-Aprili to declare the major. At that time, an adviser in the department will be assigned.

Bachelor of arts
in economics
Bachelor of science
in economics
Interdisciplinary
computing majorf
Required core
economics courses
(A grade of B- or better is required in ECON 101 and a grade of C+ or better is required in ECON 301 and 302)a
ECON 101
ECON 301
ECON 302
ECON 101
ECON 301
ECON 302
ECON 101
ECON 301
ECON 302
Required quantitative
courses (A grade of C+ or better is required in ECON 218, MATH 207, or MATH 117)
ECON 218
or MATH 207,
or MATH 117
ECON 218,
MATH 207,
or MATH 117
MATH 131b
ECON 218,
MATH 207,
or MATH 117
Electives One 200-level
economics course
other than ECON 218
One 200-level
economics course
other than ECON 218
One 200-level
economics course
other than ECON 218
One any-level
economics course
ECON 312 and 318c
or
ECON 318 and 328c
ECON 318
Four 300-level economics
courses and ECON 431
or
Three 300-level economics
courses and
ECON 498-499d
Four 300-level economics
courses and ECON 431
or
Three 300-level economics
courses and
ECON 498-499d
One 300-level economics
course and ECON 431
Total Number
of Courses
11 13 8e

a A student must meet the B- minimum grade requirement for the major in ECON 101 the first time they take the course. If a student does not meet the minimum grade requirement for the major in ECON 301 or 302, the student may retake the course only once. If retaking the course, students must earn a B- in ECON 301 and 302. A student must also earn a C+ in ECON 218 (Introduction to Statistics) or MATH 207, or MATH 117 to count the course towards the major.

b or any course with a prerequisite of MATH 131

c or ECON 312 and any course with ECON 312 as a prerequisite, or ECON 318 and any course with ECON 318 as a prerequisite.

d Students who complete ECON 498-499 must also complete the 0.5 credit Senior Thesis Seminar (ECON 402-403).

e In addition to requirements in computer science and mathematics.

f Interdisciplinary computing major with a track in economics and computing.

Number of courses, credits, and overall GPA required for the major and interdisciplinary computing major with a track in economics and computing: The department provides three routes to the study of economics: the B.A. (bachelor of arts); the B.S. (bachelor of science), which is more quantitative; and the interdisciplinary computing major with a track in economics and computing. Students who think they may be interested in graduate work in economics are advised to seek the B.S. in economics degree and supplement it with additional mathematics courses as explained below under the heading “Students considering pursuing graduate studies in economics.”

Important: A student must earn a B- in ECON 101 the first time they take the course to meet the requirements of the B.A., B.S., and interdisciplinary computing major with a track in economics and computing. The required intermediary theory courses (ECON 301 and ECON 302) for the B.A., B.S., and interdisciplinary computing major with a track in economics and computing may be retaken only once. If ECON 301 or ECON 302 is retaken, a grade of B- or better is required in the retaken course for completion of the major.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in economics

Requirements for the completion of the B.A. degree are:

  • a grade of B- or better in ECON 101a;
  • a grade of C+ or better in ECON 301 and ECON 302a;
  • a grade of C+ or better in ECON 218, MATH 207, or MATH 117;
  • and a grade of C- or better in each of seven other courses, including:
    • one any level economics course;
    • one 200-level economics course other than ECON 218; and
    • four additional 300-level economic courses and ECON 431, or three additional 300-level economic courses and ECON 498-499. Students who complete ECON 498-499 must also complete the 0.5 credit Senior Thesis Seminar (ECON 402-403), which does not count for major credit.

The bachelor of science degree in economics

Requirements for the completion of the B.S. degree are:

  • a grade of B- or better in ECON 101a;
  • a grade of C+ or better in ECON 301 and ECON 302a;
  • a grade of C+ or better in ECON 218, MATH 207, or MATH 117;
  • and a grade of C- or better in each of nine other courses, including:
    • one 200-level economics course other than ECON 218;
    • ECON 312 and ECON 318, or ECON 318 and ECON 328, or ECON 312 and any course with ECON 312 as a prerequisite, or ECON 318 and any course with ECON 318 as a prerequisite;
    • MATH 131 (or any course requiring MATH 131 as a prerequisite); and
    • four additional 300-level economic courses and ECON 431, or three additional 300-level economic courses and ECON 498-499. Students who complete ECON 498-499 must also complete the 0.5 credit Senior Thesis Seminar (ECON 402-403), which does not count for major credit.

The interdisciplinary computing major with a track in economics and computing

This major is designed for those students who wish to combine an interest in computers with study in economics. In addition to the course requirements in mathematics and computer science, the requirements are:

  • a grade of B- or better in ECON 101a;
  • a grade of C+ or better in ECON 301 and ECON 302a;
  • a grade of C+ or better in ECON 218, MATH 207, or MATH 117;
  • and a grade of C- or better in ECON 318, ECON 431, and additionally
    • one 200-level economics course other than ECON 218; and
    • one 300-level economics course.

Core courses: See OVERVIEW and REQUIREMENTS

Electives: It is recommended that students majoring in economics select cognate courses, in consultation with their adviser, in anthropology, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, public policy, and sociology. ECON 312, ECON 318, and ECON 328 are of particular value in integrating economic theory and economic applications.

Many 300-level courses have prerequisites other than ECON 101 and students are advised to consult the course descriptions below or the course listings in the Schedule of Classes for course prerequisites. Beyond ECON 101, ECON 301, and ECON 302, courses are offered in the following areas in the department:

  • Economic growth and development (226, 229, 317, 323, 356)
  • International economics (315, 316)
  • Mathematical and quantitative economics (218, 252, 312, 318, 328)
  • Monetary and financial economics (103, 221, 243, 309, 310, 333)
  • Gender and behavioral economics (235, 344)
  • Labor, health and welfare (210, 217, 303, 306, 307)
  • Law and industrial organization (308, 334)
  • Urban and environmental (209, 229, 305, 336)
  • Macroeconomic theory and policy (202, 223, 224, 226, 319, 339)
  • Senior seminars offered on a variety of economic topics (431)
  • Independent research (299, 399, 401, 490, 498-99)

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Study away: A maximum of three credits taken away from Trinity may be earned for major credit with a maximum of two at the 300 level. Students are required to complete ECON 301, ECON 302, and ECON 431 at Trinity College. All students who wish to receive credit toward the major for courses taken away from Trinity must complete an application for transfer credit and have the course(s) approved for credit by their faculty adviser and by Professor Christopher Hoag before going away. In addition to having courses preapproved, students must earn grades of B+ or better to receive credit toward the major at the 300 level, and C+ or better to receive credit toward the major at the 200 level or lower, except that ECON 101 requires a higher grade to progress in the major (see above). Permission to receive credit toward the major for courses in other departments or work in special programs at Trinity must be approved in advance by the Economics Department.

Honors: To graduate with honors in economics a student must have (1) completed ECON 301 and ECON 302 with an average grade of B+ or better, with neither grade lower than a B; (2) an average grade of B+ or better in all economics courses taken at Trinity, with a grade of A- or better in at least half of those courses; (3) completed ECON 498-499, a senior thesis, with a grade of A- or better and ECON 402-403. In exceptional cases, a student who has completed ECON 498-499 but who has not met all other criteria for honors in economics may be awarded honors by a vote of the Economics Department.

Students considering pursuing graduate studies in economics: Students who are considering pursuing graduate study in economics should be aware of the emphasis that graduate programs in economics place on proficiency in mathematics. Graduate programs in economics place considerable weight on the applicant’s score on the quantitative section of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), as well as on the student’s performance in undergraduate mathematics courses and quantitatively oriented courses in economics. Students considering pursuing graduate study in economics are especially urged to discuss their interests with their advisers at the earliest possible date.

Accordingly, economics majors thinking about pursuing graduate study in economics are strongly advised to complement their economics course work with additional course work in the mathematics department. At a minimum, course work in mathematics should include: MATH 131. Calculus I and MATH 132. Calculus II and MATH 228. Linear Algebra. Beyond these, additional recommended course work in mathematics would include: MATH 231. Calculus III, MATH 234. Differential Equations, MATH 305. Probability, MATH 306. Mathematical Statistics, and MATH 331. Analysis I. Students are strongly urged to take ECON 312. Mathematical Economics, ECON 318. Basic Econometrics, and ECON 328. Applied Econometrics.