<p>To illustrate my point about the importance of math/stats to the study of economics in one of the top econ departments, here is what the University of Chicago says (NB: my son completed this program):</p>
<p><a href=“http://economics.uchicago.edu”>http://economics.uchicago.edu</a>
Program of Study</p>
<p>The program in economics is intended to equip students with the basic tools to understand the operation of a modern economy: the origin and role of prices and markets, the allocation of goods and services, and the factors that enter into the determination of income, employment, and the price level.</p>
<p>Students must begin their study with ECON 19800 Introduction to Microeconomics and ECON 19900 Introduction to Macroeconomics. These courses provide a good overview of basic concepts. These two introductory courses are designed for students with limited or no prior course work in economics. While these two courses provide basic economics knowledge, they do not count towards the economics major requirements.</p>
<p>Program Requirements</p>
<p>Economics Placement Test</p>
<p>Students who wish to begin their economics major with Econ 20000 in their first year must pass the economics placement test or complete ECON 19800. No standardized external exams (IB, AP, nor A-Levels) will substitute. The placement test will only be offered Monday evening of the first week of Autumn Quarter.
Core Curriculum</p>
<p>The BA degree in economics requires thirteen courses. These include the four courses of the core curriculum, which consists of The Elements of Economic Analysis I, II, III, and IV. Courses in either the standard or honors sequence may be used to satisfy this requirement. </p>
<p>Core Curriculum</p>
<p>The BA degree in economics requires thirteen courses. These include the four courses of the core curriculum, which consists of The Elements of Economic Analysis I, II, III, and IV. Courses in either the standard or honors sequence may be used to satisfy this requirement. </p>
<p>Standard Core Sequence<br>
ECON 20000 The Elements of Economic Analysis I 100
ECON 20100 The Elements of Economic Analysis II 100
ECON 20200 The Elements of Economic Analysis III 100
ECON 20300 The Elements of Economic Analysis IV 100
Honors Core Sequence<br>
ECON 20010 The Elements of Economic Analysis I: Honors 100
ECON 20110 The Elements of Economic Analysis II: Honors 100
ECON 20210 The Elements of Economic Analysis III: Honors 100
ECON 20310 The Elements of Economic Analysis IV: Honors 100</p>
<p>Three mathematics courses are required (see following section) along with a statistics and an econometrics course. Students then choose a minimum of four additional economics courses to broaden their exposure to areas of applied economics or economic theory.
Mathematics Requirements</p>
<p>Students who have an interest in the major should take calculus at the highest level for which they qualify. Students enrolling in the MATH 13000s sequence must complete MATH 19520 Mathematical Methods for Social Sciences before enrolling in ECON 20000 The Elements of Economic Analysis I.</p>
<p>Students enrolling in the MATH 15000s sequence must complete MATH 15300 Calculus III before enrolling in ECON 20000 The Elements of Economic Analysis I. However, enrollment in ECON 20000 The Elements of Economic Analysis I concurrently with MATH 15300 Calculus III is allowed if a grade of A- or higher is achieved in both MATH 15100 Calculus I and MATH 15200 Calculus II.</p>
<p>Students enrolling in the MATH 16000s sequence must complete MATH 16200 Honors Calculus II before enrolling in ECON 20000 The Elements of Economic Analysis I. Enrollment in ECON 20000 The Elements of Economic Analysis I requires completion or concurrent enrollment in MATH 16300 Honors Calculus III.
Statistics and Econometrics</p>
<p>Students may not use AP Statistics credit in high school to satisfy the statistics requirement. Students with AP credit will need to expand on their training with either STAT 23400 Statistical Models and Methods or STAT 24400 Statistical Theory and Methods I.
One from each of the following should be taken as a three-quarter sequence:</p>
<p>MATH 19620
Linear Algebra<br>
STAT 23400
Statistical Models and Methods<br>
or STAT 24400
Statistical Theory and Methods I
ECON 20900
Econometrics: Honors<br>
or ECON 21000
Econometrics</p>
<p>Students should complete their math, statistics, and econometrics requirements by the end of their third year, as these courses are prerequisites or strongly recommended for a number of upper-level economics courses.
Electives</p>
<p>Of the BA degree’s four elective requirements, three must be economics courses offered by the University.</p>