B.A. in Economics

FAQs for B.A. requirements beginning Fall 2022

For B.A. requirements prior to Fall 2022, please refer to the archived Undergraduate Bulletin based on the year of Matriculation

Economics courses develop the critical and analytical skills essential for understanding economics and institutions, in both their contemporary and historical settings. Although no particular vocational or professional goal is emphasized, these courses provide the academic background necessary for positions in industry or the non-profit sector, for work in many branches of government service, for law school, and for graduate study in business administration, economics, and the social sciences.

Students who contemplate graduate study in economics should strongly consider the BS instead of the AB degree.

Requirements: 11-12 Courses

Math Requirement

Completion of a higher-level math course (MATH  111 or higher) demonstrates proficiency in lower-level math courses; therefore, lower-level requirements may be waived for students who have successfully completed higher-level math courses.

  • MATH 21 OR MATH 111L Laboratory Calculus I OR MATH 105L Laboratory Calculus and Functions I AND MATH 106L Laboratory Calculus Functions II
  • OR any higher-level math course with MATH 111 as prerequisite.

Core Economics Courses

For students entering Fall 2022 or later, core classes must be completed before senior year, but students are encouraged to complete them no later than sophomore year.

  • ECON 101D1 Economics Principles 
  • Econometrics (see FAQs for more information about this new sequence)
    • ECON 104D2 Statistical Foundations of Econometrics and Data Science
    • ECON 204D Econometrics Data Science
  • Microeconomics
    • ECON 201D Intermediate Microeconomics I 
  • Macroeconomics
    • ECON 210D Intermediate Macroeconomics

Applied Economics Course*

Choose ONE of the following:

*The Applied Economics course list is being developed and will be expanded. New courses will be posted to this webpage when approved.

Upper-Level Economics Electives

  • Four Economics General Electives at the 300-level3 or 400-level, of which one must be a 300- level and one must be a 400-level

    (ECON 500-549 may only be counted toward the major with approval from the director of undergraduate studies.)4
General Restrictions
  • A maximum of two economics transfer credits will be accepted toward the major. This applies to courses taken in the United States and to study abroad courses. One exception if the London School of Economics full-year (fall and spring) program, from which a maximum of four courses may be counted toward the major.
    • Effective for courses taken after the Spring 2018 semester, we will no longer accept transfer credits for the following courses: ECON 104, ECON 201, ECON 204, ECON 205, ECON 208, and ECON 210. Courses that are part of “Duke In …” programs count as Duke courses and not transfer courses (please note that a few “Duke In …” programs are hybrids in which some courses count as Duke courses but students may also take transfer courses at the foreign institution). Also, inter-institutional courses are not considered transfer courses, nor are pre-matriculation credits. If you have questions about whether a course taken away from Duke would be considered a transfer course, please consult the director of undergraduate studies or associate director of undergraduate studies before taking the course.
  • DukeHub enforces prerequisites for many Economics courses.
  • 1 Beginning Fall 2023, all students will be required to take Economics 101. The Economics Department will no longer accept AP, IPC, or transfer credit to fulfill this requirement. Students matriculating prior to Fall 2023 with credit for both AP Macro and AP Micro (4 or higher) may receive credit for ECON 101. To receive credit for ECON 101 using an international standardized exam, please visit the Trinity College policy for qualifying scores.
  • 2 Stat 432/MAT 343 may be substituted for Econ 104.
  • 3 For students entering prior to Fall 2022, Economics 205D can substitute for one 300-level general elective.
  • 4 Econ classes 500-599 count as 300-level electives and Econ classes 600-699 count as 400-level electives.