B.S. Concentration in Financial Economics

​The B.S. in Economics, Concentration in Financial Economics provides a broader and deeper understanding of finance theory and practice. The requirements for the concentration are the same as those for the B.S. degree, with the addition of finance-focused electives. Students have the option to pursue the Financial Economics Concentration within the BS degree.

For B.S. with financial economics concentration requirements prior to Fall 2022, please refer to the archived Undergraduate Bulletin based on the year of Matriculation

This degree program classifies as STEM (CIP Code 45.0603: Econometrics and Quantitative Economics), and students with this major can apply for a 24-month STEM extension of F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT).

In addition to the requirements for the Economics B.S. degree, students pursuing the finance concentration must take the following courses. (N.B. For Students who matriculated prior to Fall 2023, only one FMKT course may be counted as a Finance Elective)

Financial Economics Core Course

  • ECON 372/FECON 372 Asset Pricing and Risk Management (For Fall 2022 matriculation and earlier, this course cannot be counted as both an elective for the BS major, and as the core course for the Finance Concentration)

Financial Economics Concentration Electives*

THREE courses selected from the following (including a maximum of two FINTECH courses):

  • ECON 256/FMKT 256 Practical Financial Markets
  • ECON 305/FECON 305 History of International Monetary & Financial Crises
  • ECON 307A/FECON 307A Understanding Financial Bubbles and Crises
  • ECON 333/FMKT 333  Private Equity
  • ECON 353 Financial Institutions
  • ECON 368/FECON 368 Behavioral Finance
  • ECON 370/370A/FECON 370/370A Global Capital Markets
  • ECON 373/FECON 373 Corporate Finance
  • ECON 376 Commodities Markets
  • ECON 377A/377 The Economics of Fin Derivatives & Fin Engineering
  • ECON 378/FECON 378 Financial Risk Management
  • ECON 379/FECON 379Emerging Markets
  • ECON 381S/FMKT 381S Inside Hedge Funds
  • ECON 382 Asset Management
  • ECON 383/383A Foreign Exchange Markets
  • ECON 384 Investing in Emerging Markets
  • ECON 390/390S Special Topics courses when Finance related, upon approval
  • ECON 413/FECON 413 Forecasting Financial Markets
  • ECON 451/FECON 451 Housing and the Economy
  • ECON 455 International Finance
  • ECON 461/490S How Markets Work Theory and Evidence
  • ECON 471/FECON 471 Financial Markets and Investments
  • ECON 472S/FECON 472S Goodner Equity Research Project
  • ECON 474S/FECON 474S Eichel Securitization Project
  • ECON 476 Empirical Asset Pricing
  • ECON 477/FECON 477/ECON 514 Fixed Income Markets and Quantitative Methods
  • ECON 490 Special Topics courses when Finance related, upon approval
  • ECON 512 Equity Valuation and Financial Analysis
  • ECON 513 Structuring Venture Capital and Private Equity Transactions
  • ECON 581 Investment Strategies
  • ECON 590 Regulation and Ethics in Financial Markets
  • ECON 590 ESG Investing
  • ECON 673/MATH 581 Mathematical Finance
  • ECON 674/MATH 582 Financial Derivatives
  • ECON 678 Derivatives for Speculation and Risk Management
  • BME 385 Introduction to Business in Technology-Based Companies
  • ENERGY 620 Energy Finance
  • FINTECH 520/590 Financial Institutions: Products & Services
  • FINTECH 533 Financial Engineering (Previous number/name EGR 590 Financial Informatics)
  • FINTECH 534 Quantitative Financial Analysis for Technology-Driven Investment
  • FINTECH 536 Robo-Advising (Previous number EGRMGMT 590)
  • FINTECH 550 Emerging Trends for FinTech
  • FINTECH 552/590Fintech Business Models
  • FINTECH 564 Blockchain
  • FINTECH 590 Advanced Quantitative Financial Analysis
  • MATH 381K Intermediate Mathematical Finance (Duke Kunshan University only)

*FECON courses at the 300-level or above satisfy both the Econ BS and Finance Concentration elective requirements.

In addition to the requirements for the Economics B.S. degree, students pursuing the finance concentration must take the following courses.

  • Financial Economics (FECON) 372 Asset Pricing and Risk Management
  • Two additional electives to be selected from among the following:
    • Financial Economics (FECON) at the 300 level or above
    • Financial Markets (FMKT) courses at the 200 level or above
    • Fintech 520, 533, 534, 536, 550, 552, 564 or Energy 620.

*FECON courses at the 300-level or above satisfy both the Econ BS and Finance Concentration elective requirements.