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Students may complete a major or minor in Economics. 

The economics curriculum provides students with a strong grounding in economic theory and methods through the core courses, and allows them to tailor their major to their specific interests in advanced theory and/or field courses.  It emphasizes analytical rigor, the use and interpretation of statistical and empirical evidence, and original, independent research.  The curriculum helps students master the methods used by economists to analyze economic issues and assess alternative economic arguments and policies. 

Major Requirements

The economics major consists of 10 semester courses in economics and one semester of college-level calculus. The core courses of ECON B200, ECON B202, and ECON B253 must be taken at Bryn Mawr. The required courses for the economics major are:

• ECON B105 Introduction to Economics
• ECON B200 Intermediate Microeconomics
• ECON B202 Intermediate Macroeconomics
• ECON B253 Introduction to Econometrics 
• Two 300-level electives for which ECON B200 or B202 is a prerequisite, at least one of which is a Writing Intensive 300-level economics elective
• Three additional 200- and/or 300-level economics electives
• A research seminar in economics (ECON B390-399) that fulfills the thesis requirement. Each seminar focuses on a specific field in economics and requires that a student has successfully completed prior coursework in that field. For example, ECON B316 or B348 is a prerequisite for ECON B396. In exceptional cases, ECON B403 Independent Research may be substituted for this requirement; this requires preapproval of the instructor and the department chair.
• A minimum of one semester of college-level calculus (or its equivalent)

Students who earn a grade below 2.7 in ECON B105 are advised not to major in Economics.

Majors are advised to complete ECON B200, B202, and B253 during sophomore year. They must be completed by the end of junior year or before any study away.

Majors should complete a Writing Intensive economics course before taking a research seminar.

Minor Requirements

The minor in economics consists of 6 semester courses in economics and one semester of college-level calculus.   The required courses for the economics minor are:

• ECON B105 Introduction to Economics
• ECON B200 Intermediate Microeconomics or B202 Intermediate Macroeconomics
• ECON B253 Introduction to Econometrics
• Three electives, one of which must have ECON B200 or B202 as a prerequisite
• A minimum of one semester of college-level calculus (or its equivalent)

  A minor plan must be approved before the start of the senior year.

More Important Information for Majors and Minors

Students with questions about the Economics major or minor are encouraged to meet with an Economics faculty member.

• Because ECON B200, B202 and B253 have a 200-level economics elective as a prerequisite, prospective majors should try to enroll in a 200-level economics elective the semester after completing ECON B105.
• If a student has taken ECON 105 or H104/6, they cannot take another introductory course elsewhere for credit.
• Not all Haverford and Swarthmore 200-level courses are the equivalent of Bryn Mawr's 200-level electives. The following Haverford and Swarthmore courses do NOT count towards the BMC major or minor, nor do they fulfill the "elective" prerequisite for the three BMC core economics courses: 
  • Economics SW 033 (Financial Accounting)
  • Economics H201 (Analytical Methods in Economics)
  • Economics H210 (Linear Opitimization)
  • Economics H247 (Financial Accounting)
  • Economics H277 (Ethical Leadership in Business and the Professions)
• Only ONE of the following two Haverford electives can count towards the BMC major of minor (i.e. if you take both, you only get credit towards the BMC major or minor for one of them), and neither fulfill the "elective" prerequisite for the three BMC core economics courses:
  • Economics H205 (Corporate Finance)
  • Economics H206 (Microfinance; Why Low-Income Families and Small Business lack access and how to make it better)

Honors

An economics major with a minimum GPA of 3.70 in economics, including economics courses taken in the second semester of the senior year, will graduate with honors in economics.

Advanced Placement

The department will waive the ECON 105 prerequisite for students who score a 5 on both the Microeconomics and Macroeconomics AP exams or a 6 or 7 on the Economics Higher Learning Exam of the International Baccalaureate. The waiver does not count as course credit toward the major or minor; majors and minors receiving advanced placement must still take a total of ten and six courses in economics, respectively. Students qualifying for advanced placement should see the department chair to confirm the waiver, plan their course work in economics and receive a permission number to enroll in the elective that will substitute for Econ 105.

Study Away and Transfer Credits

We encourage students to spend a semester abroad during their junior year. Majors must complete the required core courses (ECON B200, B202 and B253) before studying away. Up to two courses taken abroad may be counted for credit toward the major. If a student wants a particular course to count toward the economics major, the student must obtain approval from the department chair before confirming registration at the host institution.