Honors may be taken in either the policy or the theory concentration of the major in economics. Honors students are required to participate in a year-long honors program in their senior year and write a thesis under faculty supervision. Students interested in graduate or professional school are especially urged to pursue honors. Interested students must consult with the director of undergraduate studies for permission to enter the honors program. Ideally, students should speak to the economics department advisers early in their sophomore year to begin planning for honors.
A 3.65 overall GPA and a 3.65 average in economics courses are both required. Students who wish to obtain honors register for a three-course sequence beginning no later than the spring semester of their junior year: Introduction to Econometrics (ECON-UA 266), Honors Tutorial (ECON-UA 410), and Honors Thesis (ECON-UA 450). When seeking departmental approval to enroll in the Honors Tutorial (ECON-UA 410), each honors student must submit a plan of study indicating the electives he or she intends to enroll in. At least one advanced elective (ECON-UA 300-399) must be completed prior to, or concurrently with, the Honors Tutorial.
Honors students are required to take at least twelve courses (48 points), as outlined below.
Honors in Policy Concentration
Introduction to Macroeconomics (ECON-UA 1)
Introduction to Microeconomics (ECON-UA 2)
Statistics (ECON-UA 18)
Intermediate Microeconomics (ECON-UA 10) or Microeconomic Analysis (ECON-UA 11)
Intermediate Macroeconomics (ECON-UA 12) or Microeconomic Analysis (ECON-UA 13)
Introduction to Econometrics (ECON-UA 266)
Four ECON-UA electives
At least two of these four electives must be 300-level electives, and one of the four must be chosen from International Economics (ECON-UA 238), Urban Economics (ECON-UA 227), or Money and Banking (ECON-UA 231)
The two honors courses, Honors Tutorial (ECON-UA 410) and Honors Thesis (ECON-UA 450)
Note that honors students may not replace any of the four electives with either or both of the Honors Tutorial and Honors Thesis. Students pursuing honors are strongly encouraged, but not required, to take Advanced Econometrics (ECON-UA 402).
Honors in Theory Concentration
Introduction to Macroeconomics (ECON-UA 1)
Introduction to Microeconomics (ECON-UA 2)
Analytical Statistics (ECON-UA 20)
Microeconomic Analysis (ECON-UA 11)
Macroeconomic Analysis (ECON-UA 13)
Introduction to Econometrics (ECON-UA 266)
Four ECON-UA electives (at least two of which must be 300-level electives)
The two honors courses, Honors Tutorial (ECON-UA 410) and Honors Thesis (ECON-UA 450)
Note that honors students may not replace any of the four electives with either or both of the Honors Tutorial and Honors Thesis. Students pursuing honors are strongly encouraged, but not required, to take Advanced Econometrics (ECON-UA 402).
Joint Honors Program in Economics and Mathematics
Honors students are required to take twenty courses (80 points). A 3.65 overall GPA and a 3.65 average in economics and mathematics courses are required. Honors students must participate in a year-long honors program in their senior year and write a thesis under faculty supervision. Students interested in graduate or professional school are especially urged to pursue honors. Interested students must consult with the directors of undergraduate studies in both departments for advisement and for permission to enter the honors program. Ideally, students should speak to the Departments of Economics and Mathematics early in their sophomore year to begin planning for honors. Note that students may satisfy their research requirement with either the economics honors sequence (ECON-UA 410 and 450) or mathematics Independent Study (MATH-UA 997 and 998).
The economics requirements (eleven courses/44 points) are as follows:
Introduction to Macroeconomics (ECON-UA 1)
Introduction to Microeconomics (ECON-UA 2)
Microeconomic Analysis (ECON-UA 11)
Macroeconomic Analysis (ECON-UA 13)
Analytical Statistics (ECON-UA 20) if not taking Mathematical Statistics (MATH-UA 234)
Introduction to Econometrics (ECON-UA 266)
Plus any three economics elective courses, at least two of which must be theory electives numbered ECON-UA 300-399. Note that students who take MATH-UA 234 instead of ECON-UA 20 for the statistics requirement must take a total of four ECON-UA electives.
The two honors courses, Honors Tutorial (ECON-UA 410) and Honors Thesis (ECON-UA 450); alternates: Independent Study (MATH-UA 997 and 998).
The mathematics requirements (nine courses/36 points) are as follows:
Mathematics for Economics I (MATH-UA 131) or Calculus I (MATH-UA 121)
Mathematics for Economics II (MATH-UA 132) or Calculus II (MATH-UA 122)
Mathematics for Economics III (MATH-UA 133) or Calculus III (MATH-UA 123) or Honors Calculus III (MATH-UA 129)
Linear Algebra (MATH-UA 140) or Honors Linear Algebra (MATH-UA 148)
Honors Analysis I (MATH-UA 238)
Two electives from the following:
Theory of Probability (MATH-UA 233), or Honors Theory of Probability (MATH-UA 238) if not taken in the honors elective category (below)*
Mathematical Statistics (MATH-UA 234)*
Probability and Statistics (MATH-UA 235)*
Combinatorics (MATH-UA 240)
Mathematics of Finance (MATH-UA 250)
Mathematical Modeling (MATH-UA 251)
Numerical Analysis (MATH-UA 252)
Ordinary Differential Equations (MATH-UA 262)
Partial Differential Equations (MATH-UA 263)
Chaos and Dynamical Systems (MATH-UA 264)
Functions of a Complex Variable (MATH-UA 282)
Two honors electives from the following:
Honors Theory of Probability (MATH-UA 238)
Honors Analysis II (MATH-UA 329)
Honors Algebra I, II (MATH-UA 348, 349)
Honors I, II, III, IV (MATH-UA 393, 394, 397, 398)
*Note that if MATH-UA 235 is taken, then MATH-UA 233 or MATH-UA 238 and/or MATH-UA 234 may not be counted toward the major requirements; also note that if MATH-UA 233 or MATH-UA 238 and/or 234 is taken, then MATH-UA 235 may not be counted toward the major requirements.