Brown University

Source: https://bulletin.brown.edu/the-college/concentrations/econ/ Parent: https://bulletin.brown.edu/the-college/concentrations/

Economics is the study of how individuals, businesses, and governments allocate resources to satisfy their objectives. The study of economics helps students understand markets, firms, financial organizations, and public debate about economic policy, including taxation, government expenditure, trade, globalization, health, and welfare. The concentration in Economics prepares students for graduate study in fields such as business and law, for graduate study leading to teaching and research in economics, and can be a stepping-stone to employment in business, finance, non-profit, and government organizations. Students may choose the standard concentration, the business track, or the public policy track, all of which have a corresponding professional track. If you are interested in declaring a concentration in Economics, please refer to this page for more information regarding the process.

Students are required to begin with ECON 0110, an introductory course that stresses current economic issues, and the concepts and principles of economic analysis. Intermediate level courses in microeconomics (ECON 1110 or  ECON 1130), macroeconomics (ECON 1210), and econometrics (ECON 1620 followed by ECON 1629 or ECON 1630 ) round out the list of foundation courses for the concentration. Economics concentrators must also fulfill a math requirement (ECON 0170).

The economics department sponsors a number of concentration options. The most popular is the standard economics concentration, described below. The standard concentration has an optional Business Economics track, as well as a Public Policy track, both described below. Three 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, mathematical-economics , and computer science–economics. The first two are especially recommended for students interested in graduate study in economics.

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.

Standard Economics Concentration

1 : Students who place out of ECON 0110 on the basis of qualifying scores on the AP, IB, or A-level exams must take an additional 1000-level course (6 instead of 5).

2 : Students can satisfy the mathematics requirement with qualifying scores on the AP, IB, or A-level exams (but not the math department's self placement exam). Note that certain advanced economics courses may impose additional math prerequisites.

3 : Students may apply, at most, one Economics course whose number is in the range of 1000 to 1099 toward the concentration. Note that ECON 1960 (thesis course) does not count toward the concentration.

Professional Track

The requirements for all undergraduate professional tracks within concentrations are standardized and additional information can be found here:

https://bulletin.brown.edu/undergradproftrack/

Business Economics Track

1 : Students who place out of ECON 0110 on the basis of qualifying scores on the AP, IB, or A level exams must take a sixth 1000-level Economics elective (which need not come from the Business Economics group). Note that at most one economics elective in the 1000-1099 range may be applied towards the concentration.

2 : Or Econ 1460, if previously taken (it is not being offered in the near future).

3 : Students can satisfy the mathematics requirement with qualifying scores on the AP, IB, or A-levels exams (but not the Math department's self placement exam). Note the certain advanced economics courses may impose additional math prerequisites.

4 : Students may apply, at most, one Economics course whose number is in the range of 1000 to 1099 toward the concentration. Note that ECON 1960 (thesis course) does not count toward the concentration.

Professional Track

The requirements for all undergraduate professional tracks within concentrations are standardized and additional information can be found here:

https://bulletin.brown.edu/undergradproftrack/

Public Policy Track

1 : Students who place out of ECON 0110 on the basis of qualifying scores on the AP, IB, or A level exams must take a sixth 1000-level Economics elective (which need not come from the Public Policy group).

2 : Students can satisfy the mathematics requirement with qualifying scores on the AP, IB, or A-levels exams (but not the Math department's self placement exam). Note the certain advanced economics courses may impose additional math prerequisites.

3 : APMA 1650, APMA 1655, CSCI 1450, or MATH 1620 can substitute for ECON 1620

4 : Note that at most one economics elective in the 1000-1099 range may be applied towards the concentration.

5 : A complete list of Capstone courses can be found on the Economics Department website.

Professional Track

The requirements for all undergraduate professional tracks within concentrations are standardized and additional information can be found here:

https://bulletin.brown.edu/undergradproftrack/

Honors

To graduate with honors, students must satisfy the following requirements by the end of Junior year:

• Complete at least 70% of the courses required for the concentration.
• Have earned a grade of “A” or “S with distinction” in at least 70% of grades earned in the economics concentration, or 50% in the joint concentrations in APMA-Econ, CS-Econ, and Math-Econ (excluding courses transferred to Brown without a grade, and those taken Spring 2020).
• Economics Concentratorsmust find a faculty thesis advisor in the economics department.
• Joint Concentratorsmust find a primary faculty thesis advisor in either economics or the partner department. CS-Econ concentrators must have a secondary reader in the other department by the fall of senior year. APMA-Econ and Math-Econ do not require a secondary reader, unless the primary advisor deems it necessary. Joint concentrators need to satisfy the honors requirements of the economics department if their thesis advisor is in the economics department; while they need to satisfy the honors requirements of the partner department if their thesis advisor is in the partner department.

During Senior year, thesis writers must:

• Enroll in ECON 1960 with their thesis advisor in the fall and spring semesters.
• Submit a thesis proposal to their thesis advisor and the Undergraduate Program Coordinator by mid-September.
• Submit their work in progress to their thesis advisor and the Undergraduate Program Coordinator by mid-December.
• Depending on the nature of the thesis work, the thesis adviser may require the student to successfully complete one or more courses from among the data methods, mathematical economics and/or financial economics course groups in the fall of senior year, if they have not already done so.
• Complete an honors thesis by the deadline agreed upon with their advisor and obtain the final approval of their advisor by mid-April.
• Thesis writers are encouraged, but not required, to participate in the departmental Honors Thesis Presentation session held in May, with a brief presentation of their work and findings.
• *Please refer to the Economics Department Honors Thesis page for specific deadlines.