Differences between the B.A. and B.S. Degrees

The Economics Department has gained Trinity College approval to make significant changes to the BA degree in Economics.  Currently, the BA and BS degrees in Economics are quite similar, but beginning with the Fall 2022 semester, the BA degree will differ from the BS degree in two main ways:

  • Fewer required courses.  Economics 205 (Intermediate Microeconomics 2) will no longer be required for the BA.  The new BA will require Econ 101, 104, 201, 204, 210, and 5 Economics electives.
  • Fewer math prerequisites.  The math requirement for the BA in Economics will be Math 111 (or Math 105 and 106).  BA students will no longer be required to take Math 112/122 or 202/212.

There are other changes to the BA major requirements as well. Those will be posted later this Spring.

Some additional points to keep in mind:

  • The BS in Economics will be virtually unchanged.
  • Econ 201 will become a bit more quantitative, relative to the version previously taught beginning in Spring 2022.
  • The statistics requirement for the BA degree (Econ 104) has not changed.
  • Economics majors will be required to complete all core courses by the end of their junior year.
  • The Finance Concentration will only be available as a sub-plan of the BS in Economics, but BA students will also have access to many finance courses.
  • The new BA in Economics will NOT be classified as a STEM major; the BS in Economics, however, will continue to carry this designation.
  • Students who declare the BA in Economics during Spring 2022 will do so under the current major requirements, so they will have to use these requirements in their What If reports. 
  • Students who matriculated before Fall 2022 will be eligible to change to the new BA if they wish, and may do so starting in Fall 2022.