Different Math requirements for undergraduate Economics?

College Majors
1

<p>Hello all. I’m an international student currently doing a 2 year transfer program, hopefully transferring in Aug 2015. </p>

<p>I’m interested in majoring in Economics but I’m baffled at the varying degrees of qualifications. For instance, University Minnesota Twin Cities requires Cal I for a B.A in Economics and up to Cal II for a B.sc while at Binghamton, the minimum requirement for a B.A is merely Business Calculus (which I’m currently doing after a mix-up at my current institution, and honestly it’s a LOT easier than the calculus I did in high-school). And then we have San Jose State Uni, who only requires Finite Mathematics and Business Calc for both B.A and B.Sc while San Fran State requires Cal I. </p>

<p>The biggest question is that will I jeopardize the chances of going to Grad school for Economics if I chose a university with lower calculus requirements? Currently I’m looking into Iowa State Uni and University of Minnesota Twin Cities as well as San Fran State for an undergraduate degree in Economics. Are there other (better) schools I should be looking into? Should I be wary of these schools? I understand that the best program for economics will be UC Berkeley / UCLA / Harvard / Stanford, but I can’t afford to get into these schools so I’m settling for less. </p>

<p>Also what are the recommended Maths / Stats courses I take? Next sem I’m taking Introductory Statistics. I’m also planning on taking Cal I. Also, is there a huge difference between a B.A / B.Sc? Is there more preference for one over the other? Thanks</p>

2

<p>From my related research (read: not experience), it is highly suggested to take higher levels of math (traditional calulus courses instead of business calculus etc) if you plan to take graduate coursework in Economics. If you take business calc now to transfer, then that should be fine if you end up taking the traditional calculus series later on.</p>

<p>As far as Statistics goes: most, if not all, Econ programs will require Introductory Statistics and Econometrics at a minimum (for both BA and BS).</p>

<p>BA/BS program differences: Typically BA programs allow for a wider range of freedom on major elective courses while a BS fills some or most of the elective courses with quantitative courses, such as higher level math courses and/or higher economic analysis courses. For example, a BA in Econ will require Micro, Macro, Stats, Econometrics, and intermediate/advanced micro/macro, and the rest of the remaining credits will allow the student to select from a range of courses as elective credit toward the major. However, a BS will typically require the same core as a BA plus a few additional requirements that stay on the quantitative side, which take from the amount of major elective credits that the student would come up with his or herself. Technically, there shouldn’t be a preferrence for one over the other so long as a student has taken the proper courses in each for his or her goals (i.e. the higher math and quantitative courses for grad school aspirations).</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>