Q: What are the requirements for the major?

Economics majors are required to take 10 economics classes that must include 5 core courses and at least two 300-level courses and a 400-level course. Since STA 107 Intro to Statistics is a prerequisite for ECO 230 Intro to Econometrics, a required core class, students should also take STA 107.

Q: What are the requirements for the minor?

Economics minors are required to take 6 economics classes that must include both introductory classes and one intermediate-level core courses and at least one 300-level course or a 400-level course.

Q: How do I declare my major?

Once you have decided to major in Economics, you must meet with a prospective adviser to design a feasible plan for completing the remaining core requirements before the end of the junior year. The adviser must sign the Economics Major Plan form, indicating approval of the plan and that the student has either passed the qualifying examination or been exempted for one of the reasons listed above. The form is available from the Office of the Registrar and Winthrop 208 Office. A signed Economics Major Plan form must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar along with the official major declaration form.

Students are expected to declare the major before the end of the sophomore year. Under normal circumstances, students who have not satisfied the core requirements by the end of the junior year will not be permitted to complete the major.

Q: Can I use Economics advanced placement credits from high school or pre-freshman coursework toward my major?

See the section on Course Credits for official College policy on the use of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, A-level Credits for application to degree requirements. According to the economics department's policy, students can use AP, IB or A-level Credits which have been approved by the College for application to degree requirements to place out of Econ 112 or Econ 111.

AP, IB or A-level Credits can also be used as substitutes of the 10 courses you must take to complete the major.

Q: Can I use an Introductory Microeconomics or Macroeconomics course that I took at another college after matriculation in lieu of an introductory Econ course at Connecticut College?

Yes, provided the Registrar approves the course (see Academic Regulations and Degree Requirements), and provided the department chair agrees that it is equivalent to an introductory course at Connecticut College.

You can also use it as one of the 10 courses necessary to complete the major. However, you must take at least 7 of the 10 courses required for the major at Connecticut College.

Q: How do I get courses taken at other institutions including through SATA and Study Away approved to fulfill requirements for the Economics Major?

The Study Away office provides the following information to all students going on a SATA or Study Away program:

Petitioning to utilize a course prior to leaving campus later this month, you should, if possible, check your Study Abroad/Study Away course selection with your faculty adviser. If you plan to enroll in any course that is intended to be utilized toward a major, minor or general education requirement, it must be approved by the appropriate department chairperson here on campus. A "Course Exception Form" (available from the Office of the Registrar or in DegreeWorks) should be submitted to have a course taken at another institution used toward your major/minor. The normal petition process must be followed to have a course from another institution used toward a general education requirement. Either form may be completed prior to your leaving campus, or upon your return. There are departments that encourage you to complete the paperwork prior to leaving campus. Should you wait until you return, you do run the risk of the substitution not being approved.

The Economics Department requires you to provide the chair of the department with a copy of the syllabus for the course along with a completed copy of the "Course Exception Form" (available from the Office of the Registrar and in DegreeWorks). The chair will determine whether the course can be used to satisfy the requirements for the major. We recommend that you get this approval before enrolling in the course.

Remember that under normal circumstances, majors must take at least seven of the major courses at Connecticut College.

Q: Can I use a business course I took at another college or while studying abroad as one of the 10 courses?

No. Connecticut College does not offer a business major and the economics department does not offer business courses. Therefore, a business course does not fulfill requirements for the economics major.

Many students do, nonetheless, take accounting and related courses at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy or other institutions, but they do not use them to fulfill economics major requirements.

Q: Although I can't use business courses to fulfill the requirements of the major is there some place I can take a business course anyway?

With some planning, students can take accounting courses at the Academic Resource Center on our campus and business courses at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. You can find information on accounting courses You should first contact the Registrar at the USCGA, Mary Crevier, associate registrar, (860) 701-6725, to get a list of courses, since they do not publish it on their website. If you are approved to take the course, she will sign two approval forms, one for the USCGA and one to be delivered to the Office of the Registrar at Connecticut College.

Then you need to complete the "Course Exception Form" available from the Office of the Registrar or in DegreeWorks.

Q: Can I substitute a second 400-level course for the required 300-level course?

Yes.

Q: What courses will count for the required economics course for the IR major?

See the online course brochure under the Government/International Relations department website.