Major/Minor in Economics
Major/Minor in Economics
Students who study economics receive an education in an important area of the social sciences, dealing with such major social concerns as economic growth and development, unemployment, inflation, poverty, urban decay and finance. A study of these and other problems, together with a solid theoretical and statistical base, provides an essential element in the broad understanding of society. Courses in economics also have a vocational benefit. They prepare students for graduate work in economics, finance and business, as well as professional schools such as laws, journalism and social work. In the past our students have done very well in gaining acceptance to such graduate and professional programs. Education in economics, particularly, helps students prepare for careers in teaching, government and business. It is noteworthy that in recent years economists have been more successful than graduates of virtually all other academic disciplines in achieving employment related to their educational backgrounds.
Instructions to Declare an Economics Major or Minor
Declaring a MAJOR
- Complete the Economics Major Concentration form. Click the “Submit” button and then click “Print Now” to SAVE AS PDF. In Adobe Acrobat, sign and date your form and save the changes.
- Download and complete the fillable Declaration form. In Adobe Acrobat, sign and date where required; save the changes.
- From your QMAIL email address, send both of your signed forms to econdept@qc.cuny.edu. Emails sent from non-QMAIL addresses will not be opened.
- A staff member will forward your forms to a faculty advisor who will usually sign it within one week, and then your forms will be forwarded to Registrar.
VIA IN-PERSON ADVISEMENT:
- Complete the Economics Major Concentration form. Click the “Submit” button and then click “Print Now” to print your concentration form. Sign and date your form.
- Download and complete the fillable Declaration form. Print, then sign and date where required.
- Consult the walk-in ADVISEMENT schedule to see when in-person advisement is available; no appointment is necessary but note that in-person advisement is only available at certain times. Bring both forms with you when you go for in-person advisement.
- Your faculty advisor will sign your forms and you will bring them to PH-300A where a staff member will forward a scanned copy to Registrar.
Declaring a MINOR
- Complete the Economics Minor concentration form. Click the “Submit” button and then click “Print Now” to SAVE AS PDF. In Adobe Acrobat, sign and date your form and save the changes.
- Download and complete the fillable Declaration form. In Adobe Acrobat, sign and date where required; save the changes.
- From your student QMAIL address, send both of your signed forms to econdept@qc.cuny.edu. Emails sent from non-QMAIL addresses will not be opened.
- A staff member will forward your forms to a faculty advisor who will usually sign it within one week, your forms will then be forwarded to Registrar.
VIA IN-PERSON ADVISEMENT:
- Complete the Economics Minor concentration form. Click the “Submit” button and then click “Print Now” to print your concentration form. Sign and date your form.
- Download and complete the fillable Declaration form. Print, then sign and date where required.
- Consult the walk-in ADVISEMENT schedule to see when in-person advisement is available; no appointment is necessary but note that in-person advisement is only available at certain times. Bring both forms with you when you go in for in-person advisement.
- Your faculty advisor will sign your forms and you will bring them to PH-300A where a staff member will forward a scanned copy to Registrar.
Economics Major Requirements
1. C- or better in each of the 11 courses (including MATH 131) used to obtain a major in economics. A higher grade in MATH 131 cannot be used to satisfy the following two averages. The P/NC option may not be utilized for any course required for the economics major, including MATH 131 or the equivalent.
2. C average in 6 required courses for the major in Economics: 101, 102, 202, 201, 249, and 382.
3. C average in 10 Economics or Business courses (6 required plus 4 elective) for the major in Economics. If more than 4 electives are taken, the best 4 are counted in the average.
4. Of the 10 required and elective Economics or Business courses, at least 6 (not counting MATH 131) must be taken at Queens College so that not more than 4 can be transferred.
5. Courses that can be taken as electives include Economics and Business courses that are 200 level and above. BUS 160W and ECON 393 cannot be used as electives.
Major in Economics Requires 7 Courses and 4 Electives as follows:
| 1 | MATH 131: Calculus with Applications to the Social Sciences I or 141 or 151. We strongly encourage students to seek placement in Math 141 (or 151). |
| 2 | ECON 101: Introduction to Macroeconomics |
| 3 | ECON 102: Introduction to Microeconomics |
| 4 | ECON 202: Price Theory or ECON 225 |
| 5 | ECON 201: Macro-Economic Analysis or ECON 226 |
| 6 | ECON 249: Statistics as Applied to Economics and Business or MATH 241 |
| 7 | ECON 382: Introduction to Econometrics (which requires ECON 249 and MATH 131) or BUS 384 |
| 8 – 11 | Four Economics Elective |
You can achieve High Honors in Economics if you maintain a 3.5 in all courses required for the major and you take ECON392W for one of your electives.
Click here to complete your Economics Major concentration form.
You must complete both forms and email them to an advisor for signature.
Economics 100, 101, and 102 have all been approved to satisfy certain PLAS (Perspectives in the Liberal Arts) requirements, the general education requirements that apply to students who matriculated in fall 2009 or later. Each of these economics courses satisfies two requirements: “Areas of Knowledge and Inquiry: Analyzing Social Structures” and “Global Contexts: United States.” PLAS requires two courses in the Social Structures category, but they must be from two different departments. Hence, students who have taken both Economics 101 and Economics 102 can receive PLAS credit for only one course.
Why take MATH 141 (or 151) as opposed to MATH 131? We strongly encourage taking MATH 141 (or 151) over MATH 131. There are several good reasons for this:
First, it opens up many doors. MATH 141 (or 151) provides access to other courses in Math and Computer Science. Instead MATH 131 is a dead-end. Second, it is a great investment. MATH 141 (or 151) will provide you with the mathematical skills you need to excel in courses such as ECON 201 and 202, and BUS 249, 353, 382 or 386. Third, MATH 141 (or 151) is a pre-requisite for the Financial Modeling Minor, which is a great addition to your Economics major if you are interested in a career in quantitative finance or economics.
All of the full-time faculty serve as advisors for prospective majors. The office of the Department of Economics is located in Powdermaker Hall Room 300A.
Economics Minor Requirements
1. C- or better in each of the 7 courses (including MATH 131) used to obtain a minor in economics. A higher grade in MATH 131 cannot be used to satisfy the following two averages.
2. C average in 4 required courses for the minor in Economics: 101, 102; and two of ECON 202, 201, and 249.
3. C average in 6 Economics or Business courses (4 required plus 2 elective) for the minor in Economics. If more than 2 electives are taken, the best 2 are counted in the average.
4. Of the 6 required and elective Economics or Business courses, at least 4 (not counting MATH 131) must be taken at Queens College so that not more than 2 can be transferred.
5. Courses that can be taken as electives include Economics and Business courses that are 200 level and above. BUS 160W and ECON 393 cannot be used as electives.
Minor in Economics Requires 5 courses and 2 Electives as follows:
| 1 | MATH 131: Calculus with Applications to the Social Sciences I or 141 or 151. We strongly encourage students to seek placement in Math 141 (or 151). |
| 2 | ECON 101: Introduction to Macroeconomics |
| 3 | ECON 102: Introduction to Microeconomics |
| 4 | ECON 202/ECON 225: Price Theory or ECON 201/ECON 226: Macro-Economic Analysis or ECON 249/MATH 241: Statistics as Applied to Economics and Business |
| 5 | ECON 202/ECON 225: Price Theory or ECON 201/ECON 226: Macro-Economic Analysis or ECO 249/MATH 241: Statistics as Applied to Economics and Business |
| 6 – 7 | Two Economics Elective |
To declare your Economics Minor, use this form.
You must complete both forms and email them to an advisor for signature.
Economics 100, 101, and 102 have all been approved to satisfy certain PLAS (Perspectives in the Liberal Arts) requirements, the general education requirements that apply to students who matriculated in fall 2009 or later. Each of these economics courses satisfies two requirements: “Areas of Knowledge and Inquiry: Analyzing Social Structures” and “Global Contexts: United States.” PLAS requires two courses in the Social Structures category, but they must be from two different departments. Hence, students who have taken both Economics 101 and Economics 102 can receive PLAS credit for only one course.
Why take MATH 141 (or 151) as opposed to MATH 131? We strongly encourage taking MATH 141 (or 151) over MATH 131. There are several good reasons for this:
First, it opens up many doors. MATH 141 (or 151) provides access to other courses in Math and Computer Science. Instead MATH 131 is a dead-end. Second, it is a great investment. MATH 141 (or 151) will provide you with the mathematical skills you need to excel in courses such as ECON 201 and 202, and BUS 249, 353, 382 or 386. Third, MATH 141 (or 151) is a pre-requisite for the Financial Modeling Minor, which is a great addition to your Economics major if you are interested in a career in quantitative finance or economics.
All of the full-time faculty serve as advisors for prospective majors. The office of the Department of Economics is located in Powdermaker Hall Room 300A.