Economics is the study of the way individuals, businesses, and governments choose to allocate resources in order to best satisfy alternative objectives. The study of economics serves a number of purposes: it helps students understand the functioning of markets, of businesses and of financial organizations; it helps students understand public debate about economic policy; it prepares students for graduate study in fields such as business and law; and it prepares students for graduate study leading to teaching and research careers in economics.
Students are required to begin with ECON 0110, an introductory course that stresses the economic problems of our society, and the vocabulary and principles of economic analysis. Students may place out of this course by demonstrating satisfactory performance in an Advanced Placement test, or in a British A-level course in economics.
Since many economics courses emphasize quantitative methods, economics concentrators must fulfill a calculus requirement, and they must take a course in econometrics, the statistical methodology used by economists.
The economics department sponsors a number of alternative concentration options. The standard economics concentration is described immediately below. Four additional concentration options are administered jointly with other departments and are described separately under their respective titles. They are the concentrations in applied mathematics–economics, in commerce, organization and entrepreneurship, in computer science–economics, and in mathematical economics. Students interested in careers in business should consider the business economics track of the commerce, organization and entrepreneurship concentration. Students interested in graduate study in business or economics should also consider the applied mathematics–economics, computer science-economics, and mathematical economics concentrations.
MATH 0060, 0070, or 0090. Note that certain advanced courses may impose additional mathematical prerequisites. The standard mathematics requirement may be met through Advanced Placement tests. AP credit must appear on your Brown transcript.
ECON 0110. ECON 1110 or 1130, 1210, 1620 or 1630, and at least five other 1000-level Economics courses. The total number of required economics courses is nine.
All concentrators in economics programs are encouraged to consult their concentration advisors regularly. Economics concentrators who wish to study abroad should consult first with the department transfer credit advisor.
Students who wish to enroll in the honors program in economics, or a combined program, should consult the department honors and awards advisor to obtain a complete description of the requirements. Courses taken to prepare an honors thesis are in addition to the regular concentration requirements.
Page last updated in February, 2008.