Department of Economics
Faculty
Distinguished Professor
Kajal Lahiri, Ph.D.
University of Rochester
Professors Emeriti
Bruce Dieffenbach, Ph.D.
Harvard University
Terrence W. Kinal, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota
Hamilton Lankford, Ph.D.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Irene Lurie, Ph.D.
University of California, Berkeley
Thad W. Mirer, Ph.D.
Yale University
Donald J. Reeb, Ph.D. (Collins Fellow)
Syracuse University
O’Leary Professors
Betty C. Daniel, Ph.D.
University of North Carolina
Michael J. Sattinger, Ph.D.
Carnegie Mellon University
Kwan Koo Yun, Ph.D.
Stanford University
Professors
Pinka Chatterji, Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins University
Michael Jerison, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin
Laurence J. Kranich, Ph.D. (Department Chair)
University of Rochester
Adrian Masters, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Hany A. Shawky, Ph.D.
Ohio State University
Baris Yörük, Ph.D.
Boston College
Associate Professors
Diane M. Dewar, Ph.D.
University at Albany
Chun-Yu Ho, Ph.D.
Boston University
Yue Li, Ph.D.
University of Pittsburgh
Zhongwen Liang, Ph.D.
Texas A & M University
Gerald Marschke, Ph.D.
University of Chicago
Rui Zhao, Ph. D.
University of Minnesota
Assistant Professors
Cuicui Chen, Ph.D.
Harvard University
Benjamin Griffy, Ph.D.
University of California, Santa Barbara
Byoung Gun Park, Ph.D.
Yale University
Daiqiang Zhang, Ph.D.
Texas A&M University
Lecturers
Kenneth Bulko
PhD., University at Albany
J.D., Albany Law School
Lewis Segal, Ph.D.
Northwestern University
Adjuncts (estimated): 16
Teaching Assistants (estimated): 3
The General Program B.A. and B.S. majors in economics are useful as training for employment in business, government, and nonprofit agencies and as preparation for further study at the graduate level. They also provide an excellent undergraduate background for study in professional schools of law, accounting, business administration, public administration, public policy, social work, and others. The B.S. in Business Economics is a combined major and minor program that includes both the economic study of resource allocation and the development of business methods, practices and problem-solving. Students in Business Economics develop abilities in decision-making, policy analysis and deriving and communicating conclusions based on data in areas of business activity and services. The flexible program offers students a range of opportunities to develop their interests in business and economics. The undergraduate economics majors qualify as Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) degrees for the purpose of extending Optional Practical Training. The department also offers the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in economics.
Careers
Graduates of the undergraduate economics program work as financial analysts, finance and credit officers for insurance companies and banks, economic analysts for corporations, policy and legislative fiscal analysts, and business officers for nonprofit and government organizations, as well as administrators and heads of businesses and government agencies. Compared to the General Program B.A. and B.S., the Business Economics combined major and minor provides students with an enhanced background that widens career prospects in business areas.
Admission
Students may not declare any of the majors in the economics department until they have completed both A ECO 110 and A ECO 111 with grades of C or better. For exceptional circumstances, students who do not meet these requirements may appeal by written petition to the department chair. Appeals received by the first day of classes each semester will be evaluated before the final date for adding semester-length courses.
Transfer students who have not completed both A ECO 110 and A ECO 111, or their equivalents, with grades of C or better will not be formally admitted to any of the department's majors when they enter the University. Transfer students who are not admitted, but who want to major in any of the economics programs, may declare their intention to major and will be advised by the department as intended majors for one semester. After satisfying the admission criteria, students may be admitted to a major.
Course Progression Restrictions
Students must complete A ECO 110 with a C or better to register for A ECO 300. Students must complete A ECO 111 with a C or better to register for A ECO 301.
Degree Requirements for the Major in Economics
General Program B.A.: a minimum of 36 credits as follows: A ECO 110, 111, 300 or T ECO 300, 301 and 320; A MAT 101 or A ECO 210, or A MAT 106, or A MAT 111 or 112 or 118; and 18 additional credits in economics at the 300 level or above, one of which must have a suffix of W taken at the University. The courses A ECO 300 or T ECO 300, 301, and 320 must be taken at the University unless completed elsewhere prior to matriculation.
General Program B.S.: a minimum of 40 credits as follows: A ECO 110, 111, 300 or T ECO 300, 301, 320, and 420W; A MAT 111 or 112 or 118, A ECO 410 or A MAT 113 or 119; and 15 additional credits in economics at the 300 level or above, including at least 6 additional credits from among A ECO 400-489 or 499Z. The courses A ECO 300 or T ECO 300, 301, 320, 420W, and at least 6 credits from among A ECO 400-489 or 499Z that fulfill the additional credits requirement above must be taken at the University unless completed elsewhere prior to matriculation.
Degree Requirements for the Combined Major and Minor B.S. in Business Economics
B.S. in Business Economics: a minimum of 60 credits as follows: A ECO 110, 111, 300 or T ECO 300, 301, 320; A ECO 210 or A MAT 106 or A MAT 112 or A MAT 118; A ECO 374 or A ECO 374W or A ECO 380 (Contemporary Economic Issue/Industrial Organization); A ECO 466W; B FIN 210, B ACC 211, B ITM 215, B LAW 200 or B LAW 220; three courses (9 credits) chosen from B ACC 222, B FIN 300, B LAW 321, B MKT 310, B MGT 341 or B ITM 330; 2 economics electives (6 credits) at the 300 level or above; 3 additional courses (9 credits) from economic electives at the 300 level or above or from the business electives listed above, or from up to 6 transfer credits of business electives. Students who major in Business Economics may not minor in Business or in Economics.
Honors Program B.S. in Economics
The honors program is designed to provide capable and motivated students with a greater understanding of economics and to better prepare students for graduate and professional schools.
Students may apply to the honors program after completing any two of A ECO 300 or T ECO 300, 301, and 320. To be accepted and to complete the program, the student must have an average of at least 3.40 in all courses applicable to the major and 3.25 in all courses taken at the University. Interested students should see the department’s Director of Undergraduate Studies even before completing the required courses, for advice on choosing elective courses and on meeting the other requirements of the honors program.
The honors student must complete all requirements of the General Program B.S. in economics, including A ECO 499Z (the Senior Honors Research Seminar) as part of the program. In addition, the honors student must submit a senior honors thesis acceptable to the Economics Honors Committee.
A plan for the senior honors thesis normally arises from consultation with faculty concerning a suitable topic and method of inquiry. The student, with advice and consent of the Economics Honors Committee, will choose a faculty adviser who will assist the student in completing the thesis. Work on the thesis may begin in the junior year, but it must be completed while the student is enrolled in A ECO 499Z.
If all requirements stated above are met, the department will recommend that the student be awarded the B.S. degree with honors in economics.
Combined Bachelor's/Master's Programs
A combined B.S./M.A. program in economics provides students of recognized academic ability and educational maturity the opportunity to fulfill integrated requirements for the undergraduate and graduate degrees. Also available is a combined program leading to a bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S.) in economics and a master's degree in public administration (M.P.A.). With careful planning, it is possible to earn both degrees in five years.
To qualify for the bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S., as approved), students must meet all requirements for the undergraduate major and minor described previously, the minimum credit liberal arts and sciences requirement, the general education requirements, and the residency requirements. To qualify for the master's degree (M.A. or M.P.A.), students must meet all requirements as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin including the completion of required graduate credits and any other conditions such as a research seminar, thesis, comprehensive examination, professional experience, and residence requirements. Up to 12 graduate credits may be applied simultaneously to the bachelor's and master's programs.
Students may be admitted to one of the combined degree programs at the beginning of their junior year, or after the successful completion of 56 credits. A grade point average of at least 3.20 (M.P.A.) and three supportive letters of recommendation from faculty are required. Students interested in learning more about the programs should contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Economics.
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