Mathematics and Economics Major

Program Requirements

  • Total units required: 57

Required Courses

CSE 131Introduction to Computer Science3
Econ 1011Introduction to Microeconomics3
Econ 1021Introduction to Macroeconomics3
Econ 4011Intermediate Microeconomic Theory3
Econ 4021Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory3
Econ 413Introduction to Econometrics3
or Econ 413W Introduction to Econometrics with Writing
Math 131Calculus I3
Math 132Calculus II3
Math 233Calculus III3
Math 309Matrix Algebra3
Math 310Foundations for Higher Mathematics3
or Math 310W Foundations For Higher Mathematics With Writing
SDS 3200Elementary to Intermediate Statistics and Data Analysis3
or SDS 3211 Statistics for Data Science I
or Math 493C Probability
Total Units36

Elective Courses

Majors must complete seven electives drawn from the lists below. Three electives must be drawn from the Economics list and three electives must be drawn from the Mathematics list. The remaining elective may come from either department or from the preapproved elective list below.

Economics

One of the three Economics electives can be any Economics course with Econ 4011 or Econ 4021 as a prerequisite, including from an approved study abroad program. The other two economics electives must come from the following list:

Econ 404Behavioral Economics and Experimental Economics3
Econ 407Market Design3
Econ 410Macroeconomics of Inequality3
Econ 4111Optimization and Economic Theory3
Econ 4151Applied Econometrics3
Econ 4160Topics in Econometrics: Microeconometrics3
Econ 4210Topics in Financial Economics: Asset Pricing3
Econ 4211Topics in Financial Economics: Investments3
Econ 435Open Economy Macroeconomics3
Econ 437The Economics of Financial Intermediation3
Econ 445Public Finance3
Econ 452Industrial Organization3
Econ 4567Auction Theory and Practice3
Econ 460Urban Economics3
Econ 467Game Theory3
Econ 471Development Economics3
Econ 480Labor Economics3
Econ 484Computational Macroeconomics3

Mathematics

The three Mathematics electives must come from the following list:

Math 312Differential Equations and Dynamical Systems *3
Math 318Introduction to Calculus of Several Variables *3
Math 371Graph Theory3
Math 410Introduction to Fourier Series and Integrals3
Math 4111Introduction to Analysis3
Math 4121Introduction to Lebesgue Integration3
Math 415Partial Differential Equations3
Math 416Complex Variables3
Math 429Linear Algebra3
Math 449Numerical Applied Mathematics3
Math 450Topics in Applied Mathematics3
Math 456Topics in Financial Mathematics3
Math 493CProbability *3
Math 495CStochastic Processes3
*

Students choosing both Math 312 and Math 318 must complete four L24 Mathematics electives from the list above. Math 493C can be taken for elective credit in the major if SDS 3200 (or SDS 3211) is completed to satisfy the core requirements.

Preapproved Electives

One elective in the major can come from the following list:

SDS 420Experimental Design3
SDS 439Linear Statistical Models3
SDS 4392Advanced Linear Statistical Models3
SDS 459Bayesian Statistics3
SDS 460Multivariate Statistical Analysis3
SDS 461Time Series Analysis3
SDS 462Mathematical Foundations of Big Data3
SDS 475Statistical Computation3
SDS 494Mathematical Statistics3

Additional Information

  • Students may declare a prime or a second major in Mathematics and Economics via L24 (Math) or L11 (Econ), and that will determine their major advisor.

  • Students cannot declare more than one major or minor in the Department of Economics. This restriction includes dual majors, such as Mathematics and Economics (and Economics and Computer Science). Dual majors are considered "in the department" even if they are declared in another department.

  • All courses in the major must be completed with the letter grade option, and a grade of at least C- must be earned in each.

  • It is possible to earn the Financial Economics Specialization in conjunction with this major (prime or second).

  • It is recommended that students completing Math 203 and Math 204 should bypass Math 309 and Math 310. However, they must complete one upper-level Mathematics elective from the list above (with the exception of Math 318) in lieu of Math 309 and Math 310.

  • With instructor permission, students may use any of the following for Economics elective credit: Econ 501, Econ 502, Econ 503, Econ 504, Econ 511, or Econ 513.

  • Transfer credit, including study abroad approval, for mathematics courses, for probability/statistics courses, or for CSE 131 is approved by the respective departments and is accepted by the Department of Economics for major credit.

  • Majors may receive a maximum of 6 units of transfer credit from other colleges/universities to replace Econ 1011 and Econ 1021 (3 units of transfer credit per course). A minimum grade of C- must be earned. Preapproval by the Academic Coordinator in the Department of Economics is required.

  • Majors selecting an approved study abroad program (for one semester) may receive transfer credit for Econ 413. Note: Many study abroad programs in Europe do not offer the equivalent of Econ 413 in the spring semester. A grade of C (or higher) is required in study abroad course work. Preapproval from the Department of Economics’ study abroad advisor is required.

  • Majors selecting an approved study abroad program (for one semester) may also receive transfer credit for up to two economics electives. (Majors completing two economics electives abroad are required to complete four economics electives in the major.) A grade of C (or higher) is required in study abroad course work. Preapproval from the department's study abroad advisor is required.

  • Majors selecting an approved study abroad program for a full year of study will be handled on a case-by-case basis in terms of meeting degree requirements.

  • AP credit for Econ 1011, Econ 1021, Math 131, and/or Math 132 is accepted in the major. Consult with the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Economics for International Baccalaureate and British A-level policies.

  • For further details on policies and procedures, please refer to the Undergraduate Guide and the Department of Economics' website, or schedule a meeting with the department's Academic Coordinator.

Contact Info

Contact:Dorothy Petersen, Academic Coordinator
Phone:314-935-5644
Email:dottie@wustl.edu
Website:http://economics.wustl.edu