Economics

The economics curriculum provides an understanding of the origins, characteristics and functions of our economic organization, and develops the ability to appraise the functioning of the economy and proposals for the economy’s improvement. The curriculum emphasizes the development of tools of economic analysis and the study of current institutional arrangements and their consequences. Attention is focused on the effects of individual and collective actions on the economic process.

The department offers the BA and BS degrees in economics, as well as a minor. The BA degree offers an excellent background for students planning to enter careers or professional schools in business, law or public policy. The BS offers three specializations. The BS specialization in economic analysis is the most quantitative specialization. It is offered for students planning careers requiring the more technical tools of economic theory and econometrics. It is a basic preparation for graduate training in economics, although additional coursework in advanced mathematics and statistics is suggested for those planning to pursue a PhD. The BS specialization in financial economics is offered for students planning employment or graduate study in financial analysis. The BS specialization in economic policy analysis combines empirical statistical tools with additional exposure to courses outside economics related to policy analysis. It is offered for students interested in public policy and planning employment or graduate study in government, healthcare and other non-profit organizations.

The Economics Department views the grade of C- as passing but unsatisfactory. Therefore, a course in which a student earns a grade of C- or less is not acceptable as a prerequisite and may not be used to fulfill the requirements for a major/minor in economics. A course taken under the Pass/Fail option may not be used to fulfill the requirements for a major/minor or prerequisite in economics.

There are no requirements to declare a BA as major; however, no course for the major may be taken more than twice. For statistics and calculus courses, it will be considered as two attempts if students take two similar courses that have different course numbers (for example, MATH 220 and MATH 224/225). Students who fail to receive a grade of C or better in two attempts at core courses will be dropped from the major. Students who achieve grades of B- or better in both college-level statistics (such as MATH 147 or ECON 366), and MATH 224 and 225 may change their major to any of the BS degrees. A grade of B- or better in MATH 220 is acceptable in lieu of MATH 224/225 for the BS in Financial Economics degree and the BS in Economic Policy Analysis degree.

Courses numbered in the 300s and above are upper-level courses open to students with the proper prerequisites.

Note: College level calculus, such as MATH 224/225 or MATH 220, and statistics, such as MATH 147 are required courses for a major in economics. If students do not place into MATH 224, then MATH 223 and, if needed, MATH 108 are also required for completion of the major. If students do not place into MATH 147, then MATH 107 is also required for completion of the major.  

For additional information about the economics major, see the Economics Department website.

Harpur College Requirements

Harpur College students must complete the following requirements in addition to those listed for the major:

  • 126 credits
  • 94 liberal arts and sciences credits
  • Minimum of 46 upper-level credits
  • Completion of the Harpur College writing requirement (four to five courses as described in the All-College Writing section of the Harpur College Undergraduate Information section of the Bulletin. Maximum of one C/J course and two W courses may be transferred).
  • Minimum of 44 credits in residence in Harpur College
  • 2.0 or higher GPA

Harpur College requirements are described in detail in the Requirements for Graduation section of the Harpur College Undergraduate Information section of the Bulletin.

Economics Major — BA Degree

Departmental requirements for a BA degree in economics are 11 full courses in economics and mathematics, distributed as listed below. Students should consult the department for details on qualifying grades in AP and transfer courses. At least seven of the 11 total courses, including two numbered 400-489, must be taken at Binghamton:

  • Introduction to Microeconomics: ECON 160
  • Introduction to Macroeconomics: ECON 162
  • Calculus: MATH 220 or both MATH 224 and 225
  • Microeconomic Theory: ECON 360
  • Macroeconomic Theory: ECON 362
  • Statistics: ECON 366 (or MATH 147, MATH 148, MATH 448, CQS 112) or one full course in statistics from approved list (see department website).
  • Five other full courses in economics numbered above 110, or their equivalent, of which at least three must be chosen from courses numbered 400-489 (hence, practica, internships and honors courses do not count for this requirement); no more than one may be chosen from courses numbered in the 100s.

Economics Major — BS Specialization in Economic Analysis

Departmental requirements for the BS specialization in economic analysis are 16 full courses from economics and mathematics distributed as listed below. Students should consult the department for details on qualifying grades in AP and transfer courses. No course may be counted toward more than one requirement. At least nine of the 16 required courses and six courses in economics, including four numbered 400-489, must be taken at Binghamton:

  • Introduction to Microeconomics: ECON 160
  • Introduction to Macroeconomics: ECON 162
  • Microeconomic Theory: ECON 360
  • Macroeconomic Theory: ECON 362
  • Statistics: ECON 366 (or MATH 147, MATH 148, MATH 448, CQS 112) or one full course in statistics from approved list (see department website).
  • ECON 466
  • ECON 461, 462, 464 or 467; ECON 611 may be substituted with approval of the Economics Department
  • MATH 224/225
  • MATH 222 or MATH 226/227
  • MATH 304 and 323
  • Three additional full courses (or equivalent) chosen from economics courses numbered 400-489 (hence practica, internships and honors courses do not count for this requirement);
  • Two full courses (or equivalent) chosen from courses in economics numbered above 110, no more than one of which may be numbered in the 100s, or from the following courses in mathematics or computer science: MATH 314, 357, 371, 447, 448, 461, 471, 478, CS 140. Other mathematics courses numbered 300 and above may be substituted after approval by the economics undergraduate director.

Economics Major — BS Specialization in Financial Economics

Departmental requirements for the BS specialization in financial economics are 16 full courses distributed as listed below. Students should consult the department for details on qualifying grades in AP and transfer courses. No course may be counted toward more than one requirement. At least nine of the 16 required courses and six courses in economics, including four numbered 400-489, must be taken at Binghamton University:

  • Introduction to Microeconomics: ECON 160
  • Introduction to Macroeconomics: ECON 162
  • Microeconomic Theory: ECON 360
  • Macroeconomic Theory: ECON 362
  • Statistics: ECON 366 (or MATH 147, MATH 148, MATH 448, CQS 112) or one full course in statistics from approved list (see department website).
  • Calculus: MATH 220 or both MATH 224 and 225
  • ECON 466 and 467
  • CS 105
  • Financial Accounting: ACCT 211
  • Financial Management: FIN 311
  • Five other full courses in economics numbered above 110, or their equivalent, of which:
    • no more than one may be chosen from courses numbered in the 100s;
    • at least three must be chosen from courses numbered 400-489, and
    • at least three must be chosen from the following list of courses: ECON 350, 414, 436, 437, 439, 440, 442, 450, 454, 458, 461, 462. The department may also designate special topics courses as suitable to satisfy this requirement. Such courses will be identified prior to the start of the semester and announced to students by email.

Economics Major — BS Specialization in Economic Policy Analysis

Departmental requirements for the BS specialization in economic policy analysis are 16 full courses, distributed as listed below. Students should consult the department for details on qualifying grades in AP and transfer courses. No course may be counted toward more than one requirement. At least nine of the 16 total courses and six courses in economics, including two numbered 400-489, must be taken at Binghamton:

  • Introduction to Microeconomics: ECON 160
  • Introduction to Macroeconomics: ECON 162
  • Microeconomic Theory: ECON 360
  • Macroeconomic Theory: ECON 362
  • Statistics: ECON 366 (or MATH 147, MATH 148, MATH 448, CQS 112) or one full course in statistics from approved list (see department website)
  • Calculus: MATH 220 or both MATH 224 and 225
  • ECON 445 or an approved 400 level economics course (see department website)
  • ECON 466
  • CS 105 (CS 110 also accepted);
  • Two courses chosen from either PLSC or ENVI or another course approved by the director of undergraduate studies. PLSC courses used to satisfy this requirement must be numbered above 300;
  • Five other full courses in economics numbered above 110, or their equivalent, of which:
    • at least three are numbered 400-489; and
    • at least three must be chosen from the following list of courses: ECON 314, 317, 331, 345, 413, 414, 430, 431, 433, 436, 437, 440, 443, 444, 448, 450, 461, 462. The department may also designate special topics courses as suitable to satisfy this requirement. Such courses will be identified prior to the start of the semester.

Honors Program

Honors Programs Students in either BA or BS degree programs may earn honors in economics in two ways:  the curriculum honors program and the J. C. Liu Honors Thesis program. Completion of the curriculum honors program alone leads to a degree with honors in economics. Completion of the J. C. Liu Honors Thesis program may earn honors, high honors or highest honors in economics.  Completing both programs earns high or highest honors in economics.

Curricular Honors Program

Students must earn a GPA of 3.7 or better in their major coursework. Students will be paired with a faculty advisor for Honors. Students will work with their advisor who will recommend the appropriate three courses to fulfill Curricular Honors.

J. C. Liu Honors Thesis Program

This is a two-semester program that includes ECON 498 Honors Research Design (four credits) and ECON 499 Honors Thesis (four credits); and submission of a thesis judged worthy of honors in conjunction with ECON 499. ECON 498 or 499 may be counted as lower-level electives toward the economics major, but will not count toward the requirement of courses numbered 400-489.

Admission to the honors thesis program and to ECON 498-499 is limited to majors with a 3.3 GPA in economics and a 3.0 GPA overall. Requests for admission to the program should be directed to the instructor of ECON 498 in the second semester of the junior year. Students planning to graduate in December of their fourth year should be aware that they must begin the program with ECON 498 in the fall of their third year, and complete ECON 499 in the spring of their third year

Economics Minor

To declare a minor in economics, students must have completed 60 credits and have an overall GPA of 3.0.

Departmental requirements for a minor in economics are seven full courses distributed as listed below. At least four of the courses must be taken at ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ:

  • Introduction to Microeconomics: ECON 160
  • Introduction to Macroeconomics: ECON 162
  • Calculus: MATH 220 or both MATH 224 and 225
  • Microeconomic Theory: ECON 360
  • Statistics: ECON 366 (or MATH 147, MATH 148, MATH 327, MATH 448, CQS 112)
  • Any two full courses in economics in addition to the above five, at least one of which must be chosen from courses numbered 400-489

At least four of the courses in the student's minor program must be in addition to those counted toward fulfillment of the requirements for the student's major(s) and/or other minor(s). Therefore, students whose major/minor requirements in other fields include more than three of the courses listed above will need to substitute additional 300+ level economics elective courses to meet the requirements for the economics minor.

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