Economics, BS

Chair:

William Horrace
110 Eggers Hall
315-443-3612.

Faculty

Elizabeth Ashby, Badi Baltagi, Kristina Buzard, Donald H. Dutkowsky, Gary V. Engelhardt, Jerry Evensky, William Horrace, Chihwa (Duke) Kao, Leyla Karakas, Jerry S. Kelly, Jeffrey D. Kubik, Derek Laing, Yoonseok Lee, Chung-Chin (Eugene) Liu, Mary E. Lovely, Robin P. Malloy, Devashish Mitra, Piyusha Mutreja, Inge O’Connor, Jan Ivar Ondrich, John L. Palmer, J. David Richardson, Stuart S. Rosenthal, Abdulaziz Shifa, Perry Singleton, A. Dale Tussing, Michael Wasylenko, Peter J. Wilcoxen, John M. Yinger

Economists analyze the internal functioning of markets and market outcomes. While modern economics focuses on market forces, markets function imperfectly in some cases and that introduces scope for policy action. Our curriculum emphasizes the application of economics to the study of public policy issues and the role of government in a market economy. Examples include analysis of international trade and relations, economic behavior in the workplace, health care, taxation, and numerous other spheres of a global economy. Students who major in economics prepare themselves for a variety of careers. Some move on to graduate study in economics and become professional economists; the majority, however, pursue careers in law, public policy, government, and many aspects of business, including banking and financial analysis, management, and marketing. Consequently, some students choose to pursue double majors and dual degrees. Further information on these programs is available in the Academic Rules and Regulations section of this catalog or in the economics department office.

The department offers both the B.A. degree in economics as well as a B.S. degree in economics. The B.A. has a liberal arts focus and emphasizes the applied and policy aspects of economics. The B.S. is attractive to the more mathematically oriented student.

The B.S. degree has an orientation toward the statistical and mathematical skills necessary to work as a professional economist or pursue graduate work in economics, public policy, or business. Students who want these career tracks or who want to acquire more analytical skills that can be used in a variety of careers should pursue the B.S. degree.

Major Requirements

To Earn a B.S. in Economics

A student becomes an economics major after consulting with an economics advisor on a plan and course of study and bringing them to the department office for approval. To earn a B.S. in economics, a student:

1. Completes calculus courses:

2. Completes 3 to 6 credits of

ECN 203 - Economic Ideas and Issues or the equivalent

3. Completes 30 credits of upper-division economics courses, including:

Upper-Division Electives in Economics

Five other upper-division electives in economics (ECN 300 or higher, excluding ECN 365 , ECN 422 and ECN 470 ), including at least two courses that have a prerequisite of ECN 311 or ECN 302 .

Additional Information

In all, 30 credits of upper-division coursework (courses numbered 300 or higher) in economics are required, in addition to the two courses in calculus, and principles of economics. (In some instances, SOM majors will be allowed to substitute MAS 261 and MAS 362 for ECN 521 .)

The Economics Department applies a two-thirds rule to the upper-division economics courses (item 3 above). Two-thirds of the upper-division coursework must be taken at Syracuse University or its affiliate programs, such as SU Abroad. In practical terms, for the B.S. degree, no more than three of the upper-division courses may be transferred in. Because of the specialized nature of ECN 311 , ECN 505 and ECN 522 , it may be difficult to find acceptable substitutes at other colleges or universities.

Graduation with a B.S. in Economics requires an overall grade point average of 2.0 or higher in the 30 credits of upper-division economics courses. Students who wish to pursue the B.S. degree in Arts and Sciences must petition the economics department to be formally accepted as a candidate.

Scheduling

It is recommended that students sequence their courses in the following manner:

The Principles of Economics (ECN 203 or equivalent) and the two required calculus courses,MAT 295 and MAT 296 , should be completed by the end of the sophomore year or earlier, and before taking ECN 311 .
ECN 311 can be taken in the fall of the junior year or earlier, along with ECN 521 . ECN 522 can be taken in the spring of the junior year or earlier, along with ECN 302 . One (or two) of the five economics upper-division electives should be taken by the end of the junior year or earlier.
ECN 505 and four (or three) of the five economics upper-division electives should be taken in the senior year or earlier.
Senior majors are encouraged to enroll in courses numbered 500-599. Often these classes are designed to be small seminars for the advanced undergraduate. Undergraduate majors who have completed the stated prerequisites for the 500 -level courses should not be discouraged by the possibility that some master’s students may also be enrolled.

Substitutions

Substitution suggestions described above for the B.A. degree apply to B.S. degree majors as well.

Curriculum Suggestions

The curriculum suggestions described above for the B.A. degree apply to B.S. degree economic majors as well.