B.S. in Economics, Finance Concentration

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

​The B.S. in Economics, Finance Concentration provides a broader and deeper understanding of finance theory and practice. In general, the requirements for the concentration are the same as those for the B.S. degree, with the addition of a core finance course and three upper-level finance electives (five electives total).

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).

Requirements: 15-16 Courses

Math Requirement

Completion of a higher-level math course (MATH 212 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 111L Laboratory Calculus I OR MATH 105L Laboratory Calculus and Functions I AND MATH 106L Laboratory Calculus Functions II
  • MATH 122 Introductory Calculus II OR MATH 112L Laboratory Calculus II OR MATH 122L Introductory Calculus II with Applications
  • MATH 202 Multivariable Calculus for Economics or MATH 212 Multivariable Calculus OR MATH 219 Intermediate Calculus OR MATH 222 Advanced Multivariable Calculus OR any higher-level math course with MATH 212 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 
    • ECON 205D3,5 Intermediate Microeconomics II
  • Macroeconomics
    • ECON 210D Intermediate Macroeconomics
  • Finance
    • ECON 372 Asset Pricing and Risk Management

Upper-level General Economics Electives 

Two courses selected:

  • ONE course at ECON 300-level or higher6
  • ONE course at ECON 400-level or higher6

Finance Concentration Electives 

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

  • ECON 256 Practical Financial Markets
  • ECON 305/305S History of International Monetary & Financial Crises
  • ECON 307A Understanding Financial Bubbles and Crises
  • ECON 333  Private Equity
  • ECON 353 Financial Institutions
  • ECON 368 Behavioral Finance
  • ECON 370/370A Global Capital Markets
  • ECON 373 Corporate Finance
  • ECON 376 Commodities Markets
  • ECON 377A/377 The Economics of Fin Derivatives & Fin Engineering
  • ECON 378 Financial Risk Management
  • ECON 379 Emerging Markets
  • ECON 381S Inside Hedge Funds
  • ECON 382 Asset Management
  • ECON 383/383A Foreign Exchange Markets
  • ECON 384 Investing in Emerging Markets
  • ECON 390 Special Topics courses when Finance related, upon approval
  • ECON 413 Forecasting Financial Markets
  • ECON 451/490 Housing and the Economy
  • ECON 455 International Finance
  • ECON 461/490S How Markets Work Theory and Evidence
  • ECON 471 Financial Markets and Investments
  • ECON 472/490S Goodner Equity Research Project
  • ECON 474S Eichel Securitization Project
  • ECON 476 Empirical Asset Pricing
  • ECON 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 520/5904 Financial Institutions: Products & Services
  • FINTECH 5334 Financial Engineering (Previous number/name EGR 590 Financial Informatics)
  • FINTECH 5344 Quantitative Financial Analysis for Technology-Driven Investment
  • FINTECH 5364 Robo-Advising (Previous number EGRMGMT 590)
  • FINTECH 5504 Emerging Trends for FinTech
  • FINTECH 552/5904 Fintech Business Models
  • FINTECH 5644 Blockchain
  • FINTECH 5904 Advanced Quantitative Financial Analysis
  • MATH 381K Intermediate Mathematical Finance (Duke Kunshan University only)
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 is 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 accep 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 Prerequisites are enforced for ECON 205D. They include ECON 201, and either MATH 202 or MATH 212 or MATH 222.
  • 4 Students are limited to counting a maximum of TWO Fintech courses toward the finance concentration requirements.
  • 5 Economics 205D will no longer be offered beginning Fall 2025 when it will be replaced by Econ 301D.
  • 6 Econ classes 500-599 count as 300-level electives and Econ classes 600-699 count as 400-level electives.