Major Requirements

The foundation of the curriculum in economics consists of 01:220:102, 103, 203, 204, and 322. It also requires one term of statistics (01:960:211 or 285) with a grade of C or better. Course 01:960:285 is preferred to 211, and, if possible, 01:960:285 should be taken in the term immediately prior to the one in which the student takes 01:220:322. One term of calculus (01:640:135 or equivalent) with a grade of C or better also is required. Second terms of both calculus and statistics are strongly recommended. These seven courses (five in economics, one in statistics, and one in mathematics) plus seven electives within economics (or, under certain options, a limited number of courses from related fields) constitute the major. Engineering students who take 01:220:200 Economics Principles and Problems may use this in place of 01:220:102 and 103, provided they take eight electives instead of seven. Credit is not given for 01:220:200 and for 01:220:102 or 103.

An economics major may take a maximum of three electives that have only 01:220:102 and 103 (or only 200) as prerequisites. Traditionally most transfer courses that count as economics electives fall into this category. An economics major who has taken 200 in lieu of 102 and 103 may take a maximum of four electives that have only 102 and 103 as prerequisites.

For both first-year and transfer students, a maximum of three economics courses taken outside the Department of Economics at Rutgers-New Brunswick/Piscataway may be applied toward the major. Transfer students who wish to apply transfer courses toward the major must first obtain approval from the undergraduate adviser. Enrolled economics majors who wish to take an economics course outside Rutgers-New Brunswick/Piscataway must have prior approval from the undergraduate adviser. Some exceptions are made for certain courses offered by the Department of Environmental and Business Economics at Cook College. Students should consult the economics department for further information.

Economics majors can get elective credit for two accounting courses offered by the Rutgers Business School-Undergraduate program. Students may take 33:010:272 and 276. These courses will count toward the required seven electives (as one or two of the permitted courses from outside the New Brunswick/Piscataway Department of Economics). Accounting courses are considered courses that only require 01:220:102 and 103.

The Department of Economics does allow economics majors to receive one credit for an approved internship. See 01:220:397 for more information or contact the undergraduate adviser.

To declare a major in economics, a student must have a minimum grade of C in both 01:220:102 Introduction to Microeconomics and 01: 220:103 Introduction to Macroeconomics. The student also must attain a minimum grade of C in the calculus course required by the department.

To satisfactorily complete the major, students must have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 in the major. A grade of C or better is required in 102, 103, 203, 204, the required statistics course, and the required calculus course. In addition, only one course with a grade of D can count toward the major.

Students who find a particular area of study within economics especially interesting may wish to explore it in some depth. Accordingly, the curriculum offers the following options for focused study within economics:

Detailed descriptions of these options and all the department's courses and nondepartmental courses approved under these options can be found on the department's web site.