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Economics

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, ECON301, and ECON 302, courses are offered in the following areas in the department:

  • Economic theory and its history (205, 312, 320, 323, 329, 333)

  • Economic systems and development (207, 208, 212, 214, 231, 245, 249, 313, 317, 321, 324, 332)

  • International economics (216, 315, 316)

  • Labor economics (303)

  • Money and finance (243, 309, 310)

  • Public policy issues (201, 209, 211, 217, 247, 304, 306, 308, 311, 330)

  • Quantitative economics (103, 318, 328)

  • Studies in social policies and economic research (331)

  • Independent research (299, 399, 401, 498, 499)

Admission Requirements a nd the Economics Major—Students who have satisfactorily completed (i.e., with a grade of C- or better) ECON 101 and a 200-level course, and who have satisfactorily completed or are currently enrolled in either ECON 301 or ECON 302 will be admitted to the major upon submission of the declaration of major form to the department chair. At that time, an adviser in the department will be assigned by the department chair.

The Bachelor of Arts Degree

Requirements for completion of the B . A . d egree are: a grade of C- or better in each of 11 economics courses, including ECON 101; at least one 200-level economics course; MATH107 (it is advisable that this be taken early); seven course credits at the 300 or 400 level which must include ECON301, ECON302, and either ECON331 or ECON498-499. Students are required to complete ECON301, ECON302, and ECON331 at Trinity College. The Writing Intensive Part II requirement is fulfilled by the senior seminar (ECON 331) or the senior thesis (ECON 498-499).

The Bachelor of Science Degree

Requirements for the completion of the B . S . d egree are: a grade of C- or better in each of 13 to 14 courses, including ECON101; one 200-level economics course; ECON301; ECON302; MATH107; ECON312 and ECON318or 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; MATH125 and 126, or MATH131 (or any course requiring MATH131 as a prerequisite); four additional 300-level economics courses and ECON331, or three additional 300-level economics courses and ECON 498-499. MATH107 and the other mathematics course(s) should be taken as early as possible. See schema and carefully note prerequisites for individual courses in their descriptions. Students are required to complete ECON301, ECON302, and ECON331 at Trinity College. The Writing Intensive Part II requirement is fulfilled by the senior seminar (ECON 331) or the senior thesis (ECON 498-499).

Study Away—A maximum of three credits taken away from Trinity may be earned for major credit. All students who wish to receive credit toward the major for courses taken away from Trinity must complete an application for transfer credit form with the Office of International Programs and have the course(s) approved for credit by their faculty adviser and by Professor Egan, Department of Economics, before going abroad. 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 chair.

It is recommended that students majoring in economics select cognate courses, in consultation with their adviser, in anthropology, history, philosophy, political science, public policy, and sociology. ECON 312, 318, and 328, are of particular value in integrating economic theory and economic applications. Internships and teaching assistantships do not normally count as credit toward the major; exceptions must be approved in advance by the Economics Department chair.

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science
Required Core Courses
ECON 101
ECON 301
ECON 302
ECON 101
ECON 301
ECON 302
Required Quantitative Courses
MATH 107
MATH 107
MATH 125 and 126
or MATH 131
Electives
One 200-level economics course
One 200-level economics course
One any-level economics course
ECON 312 and ECON 3182
OR
ECON 318 and ECON 328
Four 300-level economics courses
and
ECON 331
OR
Three 300-level economics courses and
ECON 498-499
Four 300-level economics courses
and
ECON 331
OR
Three 300-level economics courses and
ECON 498-499
Total Number of Courses
11
13 to 14

or any course requiring MATH 131 as a prerequisite

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

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 306. Mathematical Statistics, and MATH 331. Analysis I. Students are strongly urged to take ECON 312. Mathematical Economics and ECON318.Basic Econometrics.

Honors—To graduate with honors in economics a student must have (1) completed ECON 301 and 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. 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.

Interdisciplinary Computing Major—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 engineering, the Economics Department requires that each student take a minimum of seven economics courses and receive a grade of C- or better in all of them. These seven courses must include the following:

  • ECON 101. Basic Economic Principles

  • ECON 301. Microeconomic Theory

  • ECON 302. Macroeconomic Theory

  • ECON 318. Econometrics

  • ECON 331. Studies in Social Policy and Economic Research

One of the remaining two courses must be a 200-level course and the other must be a 300-level economics course. Also, please note that MATH 107 is a prerequisite for ECON 318.